NASA Responds to Congressional Inquiry on Cargo Losses
Letter From NASA to Congress Regarding SpaceX and Orbital ATK Launch Failure Reviews
“Dear Chairman Smith: Thank you very much for your letter of August 4, 2015 regarding the recent space launch failures of June 28,2015 and October 28, 2014. I appreciate your sincere commitment to our Nation’s leadership in space and NASA has always shared that commitment. I am pleased for the opportunity to address your concerns. I would also mention that on August 3, 2015, Vice Admiral Joe Dyer, Chairman of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) provided a written response related to concerns that we were treating SpaceX differently than Orbital ATK with respect to our oversight of the respective accident investigations to Mr. Chris Shank, Policy Director of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. I think you will find Vice Admiral Dyer’s response is in basic agreement with the contents of my letter following.”
While Gen. Bolden falls all over himself explaining “yes we did!” examine SpaceX with the same close inspection that the IRT brings to the explosion in Virginia, I wonder if the two events really do warrant the same level of inspection?
I don’t have access to any deeper coverage of the two events than I see in the casual space press and so may be misinformed- the coverage that I do see stresses SpaceX’ openness, self-criticism, and most importantly a rapid determination that a single part failed.
The Orbital issue is an entirely different level, isn’t it? Yes, both resulted in the loss of vehicle. But the Orbital failure appears to have much deeper roots and implications, warranting a fuller examination. And the fact that the vehicle uses non-domestic engines brings another level of interest to the investigation.
you say ‘appears to have deeper roots’ based on what ? Without either investigation fully concluded, who is to say who has deep rooted structural, procedural, cultural or QA issues in their organization ? I mean corroded nuts here, more struts there ..
The Orbital/ATK failure severely damaged launch facilities which is a huge visible difference between the two. That and the use of decades old bargain basement Russian engines raised a few eyebrows when the engines turned out to be the prime suspect in the failure.
If only Chris cared as much about NASA as he did about SLS…. no, I mean what I wrote.
Keith,
I just want to say thank you for not burring this story or even worse, allowing it to be posted and then deleting it. This letter is truly important and people need to realize the implications of what this letter really is.
This letter is a real eye opener to a lot of people – so much so some do not want it promoted.
Thank you,
RE327