A man points to a picture on a stand while people are listening
Geophysical Institute Director Bob McCoy welcomes NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to Poker Flat Research Range. Photo by Eric Marshall
A group of people standing in a semi-circle in a large room looking at part of a rocket lying horizontally in a stand
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Rep. Nick Begich learned about current launch projects in the Payload Assembly Building at Poker Flat Research Range. Photo by Eric Marshall
A group of people stand in a group in a room with racks of electronic equipment in the background
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Rep. Nick Begich learned about upcoming launches in the telemetry building at Poker Flat Research Range. Photo by Eric Marshall
A large group of people line up and smile at the camera on a ridge above Poker Flat Research Range launchpads
People involved in NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's visit to Poker Flat Research Range lined up for a group photo on the ridge overlooking the range's launch pads. Photo by Eric Marshall
Three students gather for a selfie with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
Students gathered to take a selfie with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman in the Usibelli Engineering Building. Photo by Eric Engmann
Two men look delighted while one of them holds a hibernating Arctic ground squirrel in his hands
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman holds a hibernating Arctic ground squirrel during a science fair organized in the lobby of the Usibelli Engineering Building. Representative Nick Begich looks on. Photo by Eric Engmann
A man with a microphone speaks to a room full of people
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman spoke with a couple hundred students, staff and faculty from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Photo by Eric Marshall

NASA chief explores UAF's space places

October 06, 2026

NASA Administrator Jared “Rook” Isaacman visited the University of Alaska Fairbanks Monday, with stops at an Alaska Space Grant Science Fair, the Babula Planetarium at the University of Alaska Museum of the North and the NASA-funded Alaska Satellite Facility antenna on top of the Elvey Building. He held a chilly hibernating Arctic ground squirrel, had an in-depth tour of Poker Flat Research Range and took questions from the media. At a well-attended town hall with students in Schaible Auditorium, Isaacman touched on the future of space exploration, innovation, technology and the opportunities available to the next generation before taking questions from the audience. This event was part of NASA’s “Inspiration Tour” to celebrate the nation's strengths in space exploration and aeronautics.

View the official NASA photos from Isaacman's visit here

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Since it was established by an Act of Congress in 1946, scientists at the Geophysical Institute have studied geophysical processes from the center of the Earth to the surface of the sun and beyond, turning data and observations into information useful for state, Arctic and national priorities.

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The GI is located on the West Ridge of the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.

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