The latest report from NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) has been released, and it has yielded mixed results regarding the agency’s Artemis program, which aims to send humans to the Moon. While the report congratulates NASA on the success of the inaugural Artemis mission, it also notes some concerns.
On the one hand, the report highlights progress made by the agency in implementing previous panel recommendations, which include the creation of a strategic vision and improvements in the cohesiveness of the agency’s governance.
On the other hand, the report presents new recommendations and caveats to NASA, especially regarding the Artemis program. The panel notes that the agency has not had to implement its risk communication skills for many years, which may have reduced its focus on “safety culture.” The report cites as an example the attempted launch of Artemis I in September, where the panel notes a failure to communicate problems and speaks of a “missed opportunity” to foster a strong safety culture.
Another concern of the panel is the risk arising from generational turnover in the Artemis program team. Prolonged separation between missions may result in the departure of many experts involved in the program after the first mission, which could leave the Artemis II team relatively inexperienced. The report emphasizes the importance of passing on expertise between outgoing and incoming team members.
Overall, the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel report shows that NASA has made progress in some key areas, but it also highlights significant concerns regarding the agency’s safety culture and the Artemis program. It is important that NASA pay attention to these recommendations and work on their implementation to ensure the success and safety of future missions.