Posted on 01/30/2026 3:24:57 PM PST by SunkenCiv
In an interview with News 5 Cleveland's Clay LePard, Isaacman talked about jobs at @NASA Glenn Research Facility in Cleveland, putting Americans back on the moon by 2028, plans for a base on the moon by 2030 and how humans will be on Mars within our lifetimes.
Full interview with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland | 10:48
News 5 Cleveland | 354K subscribers | 3,933 views | January 27, 2026
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
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YouTube transcript can be reformatted at textformatter.ai and elsewhere, but I already have it here, so DO NOT PING ME.
[sidebar] ABC News spoke with two former longtime NASA engineers who warn safety issues with the spacecraft could put astronauts' lives at risk during the mission to the moon's orbit.Safety concerns raised ahead of historic Artemis II launch | 4:54
ABC News | 19.3M subscribers | 22,164 views | January 30, 2026
NASA Administrator Azman visited NASA Glenn Research Center. He stated he was already very familiar with Glenn's work due to his long experience in aerospace, piloting, and advocacy for nuclear power and propulsion, having written op-eds on the topic.
The visit reinforced his view of Glenn's importance, particularly after observing a 12-kilowatt power all-thruster demonstration in a chamber unique to Glenn, which he said is essential for enabling nuclear propulsion in space.
He described fission surface power development, led by Glenn for the Moon, as critically important. It supports in situ resource utilization and manufacturing at scale on the Moon, per the national space policy signed by the president to return to the Moon, stay, and build infrastructure for scientific and economic potential. He noted the Moon serves as a testbed for capabilities needed later on Mars, including nuclear power and in situ resource utilization.
On timelines, he said a human presence on Mars is achievable in our lifetime, estimating not before 10 years and not after 20 years. He emphasized the challenge is not just getting to Mars but returning, and that efforts are being paralleled: commercial providers like SpaceX and Blue Origin are advancing heavy-lift reusability for lunar missions that will apply to Mars, while Glenn's nuclear power and propulsion work supports both destinations.
He expressed confidence that Americans will land on the Moon via Artemis III before the end of 2028, with Artemis intended to continue far beyond Apollo (to "100 and beyond") through increasing commercial involvement to reduce costs and increase mission frequency.
He highlighted NASA's value as pursuing the near-impossible in air and space to unlock universe secrets, with Earth benefits such as helium-3 extraction on the Moon for potential quantum computing and fusion power applications.
For the NASA Glenn workforce and Northeast Ohio, he said the center's work on nuclear power and propulsion will enable humanity's next leaps to the Moon, Mars, and outer planets.
Regarding 2025 workforce reductions (about 600 fewer people), he noted 2026 is different due to a new national space policy signed by the president on the day he was sworn in as the 15th NASA Administrator. The policy directs investments in nuclear power and propulsion, returning to the Moon, building a lunar base, creating a $50 billion orbital economy, and more science missions—all requiring talent. He indicated ongoing hiring efforts through OPM for key technological domains, including space, and said NASA will always need top talent.
He believes NASA headquarters will remain in Washington, D.C., long-term, viewing it as a low priority compared to field work at centers.
On Artemis II (upcoming), he described it as the opening episode of an extraordinary adventure: a 10-day mission sending astronauts farther than ever before, orbiting the Moon, stress-testing Orion, and preparing for Artemis III and subsequent missions.
He affirmed the U.S. is in a space race, citing President Trump's creation of the Space Force, the Artemis program in his first term, and the current national space policy calling for lunar return, base-building, and Mars goals. He said the U.S. will not lose this competition.
He expressed gratitude for the visit and enthusiasm for Glenn's nuclear power and propulsion work.
My question about a base on the Moon or Mars is why? Why do we need humans when robotics are becoming more and more advanced every day and can do the research at a fraction of the cost.
If it is about national prestige (which Apollo was and I approved of it highly) that is a different question. I approve of much but reasonable spending for science but balk at political spending pretending to be science.
I challenge all to name something the Apollo Program discovered on the Moon that could not have been done by robotics. Again I defend the Apollo program of he 60s as it was necessary to show our superiority to the Russian space program that frankly was ahead of us. Apollo was politics first and science second. I still approve.
Massive democrat donor.
What a poor choice. I suspect the President had to hold his nose.
what part of “YouTube transcript can be reformatted at textformatter.ai and elsewhere, but I already have it here, so DO NOT PING ME.” didn’t you understand?
All of it. Are you psychotic?
It is part of the “human adventure”. You know, heros, bad guys, trials and tribulations, real-time problem solving. It also provides salaries for scientists, engineers, and manufacturing jobs.
[annoying voice]
Artemis II Countdown Begins
Crew-12, China Lunar Tests & Space News
This Week In Spaceflight
23:32
NASASpaceflight
1.42M subscribers
3,638 views
Premiered 59 minutes ago
NASA is entering a critical phase for Artemis II, with the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft preparing for a full Wet Dress Rehearsal ahead of humanity’s next crewed mission around the Moon. At the same time, Crew-12 has completed training and entered quarantine for an upcoming launch to the International Space Station — setting up a rare window where two crewed missions could fly just days apart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idiywVxFJqw
Well, a robot couldn’t exclaim: “magnificent desolation” and meant it.
I guess they wanted to save money by repurposing The Old Negro Space Program
We are in a race with China to claim the Lunar poles. At the bottom of these craters the Sun never shines ( hence the need for nuclear power). Why bother? Because there is water ice there, making it prime real estate for the development of the rest of the Solar System.
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