NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman Speaks at AirVenture Oshkosh
Just like the Zepplin behind him that ushered in a new chapter in manned flight, NASA’s Administrator Jared Isaacman spoke about current and future missions which will push the boundaries of flight as we know them.
Story and photos by Ken Kula
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Administrator Jared Isaacman appeared at a Friday press conference at the 2026 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. What was expected to be a relatively brief presentation turned into an almost hour-long discussion of how NASA is returning to the space exploration and X-plane business of which it excelled in decades ago.
Friday’s presentation on the Boeing Plaza
With a trio of colorfully painted jets in the background of a stage set on the Boeing Plaza ramp, the Administrator spoke with much conviction about a new space race with China instead of Russia, and what NASA’s plans for Moon and Mars-based colonies will look like. After his high energy presentation, the Administrator opened this discussion to questions from his audience.
Some of the topics he covered in a rapid-fire presentation of major programs that NASA is currently involved with included these:
Administrator Isaacman explains how space travel and colonization should look like in the not-so-distant future
The Artemis moon missions, and the 3 ½ year interval between launches of the first three ships. The interval between flights was much too long and is being trimmed to a yearly launch now, to improve currency with their hardware and software.
In 2027 the New Glen, Blue Origin, SLS/Artemis 3, and Starship space vehicles will all launch in quick succession and while in low Earth orbit, demonstrate their interoperability with each other. This is a test before Artemis 4 is launched in 2028, carrying the first crew to return to the moon’s south pole surface. This will be the beginning of a manned Moon Base, and earlier in 2027, uncrewed robotic landing craft will begin surface exploration and experiments to support the human crews who will follow.
The Administrator discussed plans for nuclear propulsion in space and how NASA is working towards using this propellant source in the not-too-distant future. He likened this to Admiral Hyman Rickover’s Nuclear Navy with the introduction of the USS Nautilus nuclear powered submarine.
Jim Less is a project pilot on NASA’s X-59 Quesst quiet supersonic research jet and was one of a number of NASA employees available to answer questions
Talking about the NASA X-plane series, there’s only one example of an X-plane flying today, the X-59 Quesst (Quiet Supersonic Technology). Jared said that the X-Plane portfolio will expand and may contain hypersonic aircraft.
As for recruiting talented workers for these new NASA projects, Isaacman said that “NASA is at its best when it’s doing the near impossible mission that no one else is capable of doing and I think we’re at our worst when we are doing what everybody else is doing.” As far as recruitment of astronauts, engineers, mission specialists and many other jobs, NASA will get the best people and retain them because it is doing what nobody else is – and the challenge and knowledge that their efforts are groundbreaking.
A NASA F/A-18 Hornet research jet wears a striking color scheme saluting America’s 250th birthday
Talking about the F/A-18 and F-15 test aircraft behind him, Jared said that the colorful US flag-based color schemes will be seen at many aviation events which involve space or experimental flight, and there may be more designs coming out on some of NASA’s other aircraft. These colors won’t be going away anytime soon.
Freedom 250 F-5E/F jets in flight during AirVenture 2026
He also said a few words about the Freedom 250’s F-5s, noting that four of the jets were at AirVenture and “a fifth is in the paint shop”. These too will be a highly visible attraction to garner interest in NASA’s missions.
Jared Isaacman is a licensed pilot with experience in military jets like the MiG-29 and F-5, and civilian aircraft such as Cessna Citations. He’s flown into space twice as a civilian and has even experienced an extravehicular activity… a technical term for a spacewalk. While answering a few of the crowd’s questions, he alluded to the physical hardships returning astronauts face; the first three days after returning to Earth and its gravitational pull seem to be the most difficult to endure.
At the end of this presentation, Jared gave Jack Pelton, the EAA’s CEO a display model of a five-ship Freedom 250 formation and then attracted a small crowd while answering another question in front of the NASAA T-38 behind the stage.
Administrator Isaacman’s enthusiasm and forward-looking vision for NASA was definitely evident as he spoke at AirVenture. Exploration of the Universe and of the atmosphere closer to home here on Earth isn’t just a dream but is beginning to become a reality.
The EAA has recorded this conference, and you can view it on You Tube here at: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman Talks Future of NASA at AirVenture 2026
