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New NASA boss vows to make Pluto a planet again as he pledges to end 'unfair' ban

NASA's billionaire chief Jared Isaacman has vowed to restore Pluto's planetary status, blasting the 'unfair' 2006 demotion as he prepares a fresh scientific case

[Jared Isaacman]

NASA boss Jared Isaacman has vowed to restore Pluto's planet status(Image: Getty)

NASA's billionaire boss has launched a cosmic crusade to restore Pluto's status as a full-blown planet. Tech entrepreneur turned space chief Jared Isaacman has vowed to fight the "unfair" 2006 ruling that saw the icy world downgraded to a mere dwarf planet.

Pluto was famously stripped of its title by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) nearly 20 years ago, sparked by a controversial new set of rules for what constitutes a planet.

The decision sparked global outrage, not least because Pluto remains the only planet ever discovered by an American.

[A view of Pluto]

Pluto remains the only planet ever discovered by an American(Image: GETTY )

The move has long been a sore spot for space fans who argue the criteria used to axe Pluto are inconsistent and unscientific. Under the IAU's 2006 rules, a body must orbit the Sun, be spherical, and clear its own orbital path of debris.

Pluto failed on the third count because it sits in the crowded Kuiper Belt. However, critics point out that Earth and Jupiter also share their orbits with thousands of asteroids, yet face no such demotion.

Now, Isaacman, who took the reins at NASA last December, has confirmed he is officially Team Pluto.

Speaking at a Senate Committee hearing on Tuesday (April 28), Isaacman was grilled by Kansas Senator Jerry Moran on whether the world's most famous underdog deserved its crown back.

Isaacman didn't hold back, telling the committee: "Senator, I am very much in the camp of 'make Pluto a planet again.'"

He revealed that NASA is already preparing to take the fight to the global scientific community to right the wrong done to the legacy of Pluto's discoverer, Clyde Tombaugh.

Isaacman added: "We are doing some papers right now on a position that we would love to escalate through the scientific community to revisit this discussion and ensure that Clyde Tombaugh gets the credit he received once and rightfully deserves to receive again."

While the NASA chief has massive influence, the final say still rests with the IAU. Tensions over Pluto's status reached fever pitch in 2015 when the New Horizons probe sent back stunning images of the distant world, revealing heart-shaped glaciers and towering mountains.

Whether Isaacman's political muscle can finally force a U-turn remains to be seen but for Pluto fans, the dream is officially back on the launchpad.

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