Revision to NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Enhances Safety Oversight

A revision to the Commercial Crew Program gives NASA enhanced authority over commercial partners’ safety protocols. The move away from Space Act Agreement contracts for final phase design and testing comes after repeated criticism of the practice from both politicians and safety experts. In a public letter in March, several US Congressmen urged that NASA be [...]

Logo for NASA's "C3PO" Commercial Crew Program (Credits: NASA).
A revision to the Commercial Crew Program gives NASA enhanced authority over commercial partners’ safety protocols. The move away from Space Act Agreement contracts for final phase design and testing comes after repeated criticism of the practice from both politicians and safety experts.
In a public letter in March, several US Congressmen urged that NASA be given authority over commercial spaceflight safety protocols. “Proposed agreements between NASA and commercial crew entities fail to provide adequate authority for safety oversight and guidance needed by NASA to ensure the best safety for astronauts operating independently developed crew vehicles,” said Representative Pete Olson (R-TX) at the time. “Safety is the most critical component of human space exploration.”
Following the successful Space X mission and June 4th remarks by NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden Jr., the U.S. House ...