Six Takeaways from NASA’s Safety Advisory Panel Session
Risks to the International Space Station (ISS) and its inhabitants, such as cracks in ISS modules, aging spacesuits for extravehicular activities (EVAs), and eye issues for space travelers, were among the major issues discussed during NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP)’s public session on Thursday, August 3, 2023.
The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel is an independent, senior advisory committee reporting to NASA and Congress. Congress established the panel after the AS204 (later renamed Apollo 1) launchpad fire on February 21, 1967, that killed astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger B. Chaffee. The panel reviews safety and operation plans and provides oversight of its aerospace programs. At Thursday’s session, the panel reported its third quarter 2023 review of NASA programs, and covered six main topics.
Cracks in the ISS
With more than 7,500 objects being tracked in an orbit shared with the ISS, panel member and former astronaut Kent Rominger said danger lurks for the space station throughout the next decade. Rominger said NASA is closely monitoring ongoing issues and concerns regarding the ISS, including small cracks in the Russian modules. He said the cracks are not thought to impact the structural integrity, but both US and Russian teams are trying to find the cause. He reported that the teams identified repair materials and he said he’s confident astronauts can repair the modules.
Aging Spacesuits
Rominger also said the panel maintains a sense of urgency to replace aging spacesuits. Space Shuttle-era spacesuits are used aboard the ISS for extravehicular activities, or EVAs, and emergency procedures. While the decades-old spacesuits are still being used, NASA chose Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace to design the next generation of spacesuits in 2022. Axiom Space designs will be for use in low Earth orbit, such as for use on the ISS, and Collins Aerospace will design suits meant for the harsh lunar surface.
“It’s a huge challenge to maintain the program at the levels we’re seeing,” said panel member and retired Lt. Gen. Susan J. Helms. “It’s impressive how the team is managing the challenge as ISS gets on in years with how much is going on and how much effort is needed.”
Deorbiting ISS
Rominger reported NASA a draft request for a proposal to define a deorbit plan for the ISS, which after multiple extensions of its life is now expected to be decommissioned by 2031. He said developing a way to control re-entry as soon as practical is key, especially in the event of an emergency before the ISS’s planned retirement.
Eye problems for astronauts
One risk highlighted by Dr. Richard Williams, a former NASA chief health and medical officer and panel member, is neuro-ocular syndrome. He said the syndrome, which causes astronauts’ brains and eyeballs to change while in space and has been linked to worsening eyesight, needs to be better understood.
“Low-earth orbit provides the best testing ground for the study of the syndrome and needs to be extended,” he said.
Helms said the human body does change in spaceflight. “On the ISS, we can take data over and over, find evidence, bring it back to Earth, refine it, and take that information back into orbit,” she said. “Now with the Moon and Mars, what is the broader risk to sending astronauts on this grand adventure? NASA architecture helps with that long-range look.”
Moon to Mars – Artemis
Panel member William Bray reported that the panel “is pleased with the progress of the mission and application of good systems organization.”
The Artemis 1 team wrapped up their post-flight analysis, working through many issues with causes and fixes, he said. NASA launched Artemis 1 in 2022. The mission tested both the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion, placing Orion into a lunar orbit before returning to Earth. Software and hardware integrations review is complete for Artemis 2, which will be a crewed mission around the Moon planned for 2024. If all goes as planned, Artemis 3 will be the first crewed landing on the Moon by the US since 1972. Bray said the Artemis 3 team continues to identify and address risks as the team progresses toward a planned launch in 2025.
“This early technical look is necessary because of all the technological firsts with Artemis,” Bray said. “Focusing now will pay dividends in the future so risks are understood and effectively resolved.”
LEO activity
With memorandums of understanding with Israel and the ISRO, panel member Dr. Mark Sirangelo said Nanoracks, Blue Origin, Axiom and SpaceX are hitting milestones to support goals for low-earth orbit. This quarter, Axiom began planning its first orbital habitat, and it started fabrication of the primary system with an expected delivery in 2024. BlueOrigin’s milestone 5 test was accepted, and the latest private astronaut missions (PAM) Axiom-2 performed involved many firsts, including sending the first Saudis to the ISS, the first Saudi woman in space, and the shortest time between launch and docking. It also returned more than 300 pounds of cargo, including a valuable tank, Sirangelo said.
“We need a similar type of vision for Artemis and LEO,” said Gen. Helms. “They need to come together. How can LEO support Artemis? We are interested in a long-term strategic plan. We saw this with Shuttle but after ISS, then what?”
“At this point in time, NASA has embarked on the most complex of endeavors, not only in human terms but also scientific endeavors, encompassing climate change and the James Webb (space telescope),” said panel chairperson Dr. Patricia Sanders. “At the same time, NASA is in the most complex of environments. It’s not NASA by itself but also commercial and international partners. I have a lot of confidence. but it will be a big challenge and the panel can help meet the challenge.”
