NASA, SpaceX Must 'Maintain Focus' After Hospitalized Astronauts, Safety Panel Says
Panel Says NASA and SpaceX Must Prioritize Crew Safety Above All Else
A NASA safety panel has recommended that the space agency and its commercial partner, SpaceX, "maintain focus" on crew safety following a recent incident in which several astronauts were hospitalized after their return from the International Space Station.
The panel, known as the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), released a report on Thursday that detailed the results of its investigation into the incident. The report found that the astronauts were likely exposed to elevated levels of carbon dioxide during their return trip to Earth, which caused them to experience lightheadedness, nausea, and vomiting.
The ASAP report also found that NASA and SpaceX had not adequately addressed the risk of carbon dioxide exposure during the return trip. The panel made several recommendations to address this issue, including developing new procedures for monitoring carbon dioxide levels and providing astronauts with better protective gear.
Report Calls for Better Communication and Coordination Between NASA and SpaceX
The ASAP report also called for better communication and coordination between NASA and SpaceX. The panel found that there were several instances during the incident in which NASA and SpaceX did not communicate effectively with each other, which led to confusion and delays.
The panel recommended that NASA and SpaceX develop a more formal communication plan and that they establish clear lines of authority for decision-making.
NASA and SpaceX Say They Are Committed to Crew Safety
NASA and SpaceX have both said that they are committed to crew safety and that they will take the ASAP report's recommendations seriously.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement that the agency is "committed to ensuring the safety of our astronauts." He said that NASA will work with SpaceX to implement the ASAP report's recommendations.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk also said in a statement that the company is "committed to the safety of our crews." He said that SpaceX will work with NASA to "make sure that this kind of incident does not happen again."
