Talking with Jared Isaacman about NASA and the future and jets.

Key Concepts

• Private spaceflight
• NASA Administrator
• Government bureaucracy and reorganization
• SLS (Space Launch System)
• Nuclear electric propulsion (NEP)
• Nuclear thermal propulsion (Nerva)
• In-situ resource utilization (ISRU)
• Artemis program
• Commercial space industry
• Hubble Space Telescope

Summary

Introduction

Jared Isaacman discusses his experiences since his private spacewalk, including his unexpected consideration for the NASA Administrator position and his perspectives on the future of NASA and space exploration.

NASA Administrator Consideration

• Isaacman states he had "no idea" about being considered for NASA Administrator, emphasizing his lack of political activity and focus on space missions.
• He expresses a preference for appointed positions over elected office, citing his collaborative approach.
• Despite not getting the position, he values the experience and believes he could have made a difference.
• He commends Janet Petro, the acting administrator, and stresses the need for a confirmed administrator to provide political support for NASA's programs.

NASA's Future and Reorganization

• Isaacman identifies two critical areas for NASA: reorganization and a focus on nuclear electric propulsion.
• He argues that NASA, like the government in general, suffers from excessive bureaucracy and slow decision-making, hindering progress.
• He advocates for eliminating "pet projects" to concentrate resources on ambitious, impactful endeavors, drawing a parallel to SpaceX's focus on core objectives.
• He uses Elon Musk's decision to discontinue Falcon 1 to focus on Falcon 9 as an example of prioritizing key objectives over maintaining smaller, less impactful projects.

Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP)

• Isaacman proposes a scaled-up, multi-billion dollar nuclear electric propulsion program as the next major project for senators in SLS states, providing a transition after lunar objectives are met.
• He emphasizes the importance of NEP for deep space exploration, where solar power is less effective, and to reduce reliance on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU).
• He differentiates NEP from nuclear thermal propulsion (Nerva), citing drawbacks of Nerva such as open-air testing concerns (radioactive contamination) and the need for hydrogen refueling.
• He envisions NEP as a "nuclear spaceship" or "tug" for efficient mass transport between locations like Lagrange points and Mars.
• He highlights the advantages of NEP, including the use of highly enriched uranium reactors for surface power and the minimal technical risks involved in scaling up existing technology.
• He argues that nuclear reactors will be essential for propellant manufacturing on Mars, making NEP a logical step.
• He also mentions potential DoD applications for NEP.

Overcoming Hurdles to NEP Implementation

• Isaacman believes NEP should be a government initiative due to the complexities of handling highly enriched uranium and launching nuclear reactors.
• He argues that NASA should focus on projects that the commercial sector cannot handle, such as NEP, which lacks a clear commercial use case.
• He emphasizes the need for highly enriched fuels and high operating temperatures for efficient space-based reactors.

Artemis Program and SLS

• Isaacman acknowledges the initial rationale for SLS, which involved repurposing existing hardware to gain political and commercial support.
• However, he suggests that at some point, continuing to invest in SLS may be "throwing good money after bad," citing the Mobile Launcher 2 debacle as an example of wasted resources.
• He suggests re-evaluating the Artemis program's approach, questioning the necessity of a pressurized lunar rover and suggesting that international partners like JAXA could contribute to the "getting to the moon part."
• He advocates for using existing SLS hardware to complete current missions and then pivoting to more innovative technologies.
• He notes that the commercial sector is already providing heavy-lift capabilities needed for lunar landings, making SLS increasingly obsolete.
• He suggests an "off-ramp" for SLS after Artemis 3 or 4, as continued reliance on it is unaffordable and unsustainable.
• He questions the value of the Gateway lunar space station, suggesting its modules could be repurposed for NEP.

Mars Mission Feasibility

• Isaacman believes that achieving heavy-lift reusable technology is a critical first step for both lunar and Martian missions.
• He suggests that nuclear electric propulsion can alleviate some of the challenges associated with a Mars mission, potentially reducing the reliance on in-situ resource utilization.
• He highlights the immense difficulty of refueling on Mars, given the need to transport all necessary resources.

Future Plans

• Isaacman is currently enjoying a break but is open to future commercial space missions or potentially returning to politics.
• He is purchasing F5 fighter jets (used as MiG-28s in the original Top Gun movie) to use for NASA-related air shows and rocket launches, aiming to inspire and support NASA's mission.
• He acknowledges the decaying orbit of the Hubble Space Telescope and hopes for a solution to prevent an uncontrolled re-entry.

Conclusion

Isaacman remains a strong advocate for NASA and commercial space, expressing optimism about the future of space exploration despite current challenges. He believes that NASA will overcome budgetary concerns and that the greatest days of space exploration are ahead.

Notable Quotes

• "You go into politics like you can be a piece on the board and not even know it."
• "We move way too slow as a nation...we're in this period of stagnation where a lot of our skills of doing big bold things have atrophied."
• "There's no good way you're coming home from Mars without getting a nuclear reactor to that surface."
• "We are way closer to the greatest days are ahead."

Technical Terms and Concepts

• Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP): A method of spacecraft propulsion that uses a nuclear reactor to generate electricity, which then powers electric thrusters (e.g., ion thrusters).
• Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (Nerva): A type of rocket engine that uses a nuclear reactor to heat a propellant (typically hydrogen), which is then expelled through a nozzle to generate thrust.
• In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): The practice of collecting and using resources found on other celestial bodies (e.g., water ice on Mars) to create propellant, life support materials, or other useful products.
• SLS (Space Launch System): A U.S. super heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle being developed by NASA.
• Artemis Program: A U.S. government-funded international human spaceflight program with the goal of landing "the first woman and the next man" on the Moon, specifically at the lunar south pole region, by 2025.
• Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU): Uranium with a high concentration of the isotope uranium-235, used in nuclear reactors and weapons.
• Lagrange Points: Locations in space where the gravitational forces of two large bodies (e.g., Earth and the Moon) balance each other, allowing a spacecraft to maintain a stable position with minimal fuel consumption.

Logical Connections

The discussion flows logically from Isaacman's personal experiences to his broader vision for NASA. His experience in the private space sector informs his perspective on NASA's role and the need for government-led initiatives like NEP. His arguments against excessive bureaucracy and for prioritizing key objectives are directly linked to his advocacy for NEP and a re-evaluation of the Artemis program. The conversation seamlessly transitions from lunar missions to the challenges of Mars exploration, highlighting the interconnectedness of these endeavors and the need for innovative solutions.