Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Annual Report 2015 “In October 2015, NASA published what it called “a detailed outline” of its next steps in getting to the Red Planet. Unfortunately, the level of detail in the report, NASA’s Journey to Mars: Pioneering the Next Steps in Space Exploration, does not really validate whether NASA would be capable of achieving such an ambitious objective in a reasonable time period, with realistically attainable […]

Safety panel accuses NASA of a ‘lack of transparency’ in critical space program, Washington Post “NASA’s independent safety panel accused the agency of a “lack of transparency” about its program to hire commercial space companies to fly astronauts to the International Space Station, saying the opacity could create increased safety risks. In its annual report to Congress, the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel said the lack of communication about critical safety […]

Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Annual Report for 2013 “In an effort to devise a program that fits within available funding, the CCP is requesting proposals to develop a new system to transport humans into space by means of a fixed-price contract and source selection crite- ria that cause some within the space flight community to worry that price has become more important than safety. Competition between two or more CCP […]

NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Meeting (Revised notice) “SUMMARY: This is an amended version of NASA’s earlier Federal Register Notice (13-153) previously published on December 23, 2013 (78 FR 77501). A USA toll free conference call number has been added to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.” NASA Is Not Allowing Remote Access to Some Advisory Meetings “Notice anything missing? NASA is not offering Webex or dial in access to these meetings – something […]

Code Red: NASA Safety Panel’s Warning on Funding Uncertainty, AIP “Earlier this month the NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel issued its 2012 Annual Report. Looking for hazards across the space agency’s wide-ranging portfolio of on-going and proposed operations and facilities, the panel assessed six issues and concerns. Only one of the six in the three-color-coded graphic was red: the continuing issue of funding uncertainty. “NASA’s budget is the ‘elephant in […]

Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Releases Annual Report “This report is based on the panel’s 2012 fact-finding and quarterly public meetings; center visits and meetings; direct observations of NASA operations and decision-making; discussions with NASA management, employees, and contractors; and the panel members’ past experiences. The report highlights issues that could have an impact on safety.” 2012 ASAP Report “In FY13, we predict this planning-funding disconnect will again drive a change […]

Commercial Crew Initiative Called Underfunded, Aviation Week “Funding for NASA’s commercial crew space transportation services initiative appears headed for funding problems that could undermine the agency’s efforts to regain the independent U.S. human launch capability that lapsed with the shuttle program’s retirement earlier this year, members of NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) warned Oct. 21.” Comments by NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver at the International Symposium for Personal and […]

Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Releases Annual Report “The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, or ASAP, a congressionally mandated group of independent experts established after the 1967 Apollo 1 fire, has released its 2009 annual report.” ASAP Public Meeting First Quarter 2009, page 5-6: “Acknowledging that General Bolden raised an important point, Admiral Dyer commented that the ASAP would recommend almost a new communications genesis. The ASAP suggested that the new Administration […]

Review of Issues Associated with Safe Operation and Management of the Space Shuttle Program, Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel November 1996 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY At the request of the President of the United States through the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the NASA Administrator tasked the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel with the responsibility to identify and review issues associated with the safe operation and management of the Space Shuttle program […]