NASA administrator nominee Jared Isaacman supports a return to the moon, argues for a parallel path to Mars

Billionaire entrepreneur and space traveler Jared Isaacman, President Trump's nominee to serve as NASA's next administrator, told lawmakers Wednesday he supports sending astronauts back to the moon in the Artemis program but plans to "prioritize" eventual trips to Mars.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) chaired Isaacman's confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, directly asking the nominee if he would "maintain course with the Artemis program so that we can return American astronauts to the moon before President Trump leaves office?"

"I couldn't agree more with the president and his inspiring and ambitious goal to send American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on Mars," Isaacman said. "He didn't say we shouldn't go to the moon.