Jared Isaacman on nuclear propulsion
From The General Good with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman at CNBC's CEO Council Summit · · CNBC Events
“We're going to launch SR1 Freedom in 2028. That will be the first interplanetary nuclear-powered spaceship. I set expectations on this because I think it's important to be grounded in this reality. It is a 70% solution. All right, maybe not a C minus. It's like a 75% solution. It's a solid C which I would have been happy with in my high school years.”
On , Jared Isaacman, Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman at SHIFT4 PAYMENTS INC, spoke about nuclear propulsion during The General Good with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman at CNBC's CEO Council Summit on CNBC Events.
About Jared Isaacman
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has been outlining the agency's plans for a sustained human presence on the moon, referred to as the "moon base," and the broader strategy for Mars exploration. In a series of press briefings and media appearances in May and June 2026, Isaacman described a three-phase approach to building the base, with phase one running through 2029 focused on establishing reliable lunar surface access through landers and rovers. He stated that the primary objective of the moon base is to work with water ice on the lunar south pole and "master the skills" needed for future missions to Mars. Isaacman also discussed the timeline for Artemis missions, including a crewed mission in 2027 to rendezvous with landers in low Earth orbit and a human landing in 2028. Isaacman has frequently commented on the role of commercial partners, describing SpaceX as "hands down" NASA's greatest commercial space company and expressing support for a potential SpaceX IPO, which he said would be a "great thing" as it would further capitalize a key vendor. He also addressed competition with China in space, stating that if the U.S. fails to return to the moon after 35 years and $100 billion, it "sends a message that something is broken" and invites adversaries to encroach on American interests. Additionally, Isaacman announced that NASA plans to launch SR1 Freedom, described as the first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft, in 2028, which he said is key to achieving human missions to Mars. He has also emphasized the need to develop a space economy that generates value beyond taxpayer funding, saying he does not believe a "true spacefaring world" is possible if it is "perpetually funded by taxpayers."