Can NASA beat China to the moon and beyond? (with Jared Isaacman)

In this episode of The Conversation, host Dasha Burns interviews NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman at Kennedy Space Center ahead of the Artemis II mission, which aims to send humans around the moon for the first time in over 50 years. Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and the first civilian to perform a spacewalk, discusses NASA’s ambitious shift from temporary lunar orbit missions to building a permanent moon base by 2028, positioning the moon as a proving ground for Mars missions. He emphasizes the strategic urgency of beating China in the new space race, framing it as a matter of national pride, technological leadership, and long-term national security. Isaacman defends NASA’s budget and public-private partnerships with SpaceX and Blue Origin, highlighting the role of reusable rockets and nuclear propulsion in enabling deep space exploration. He also addresses criticism of private spaceflight, arguing that early investments by billionaires are essential for advancing human progress, and underscores the importance of inspiring future generations through bold space endeavors.