The trials and tribulations of the U.S. space program are well documented, and tragedies involving
Challenger and
Columbia led to reports criticizing the agency’s safety culture. The 2011 annual report from the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) also focuses on safety, highlighting issues related to costs, schedules, resources, requirements and acquisition strategies. "The pursuit of great reward often comes hand in hand with great risk, so it has always been with explorers," says ASAP Chair Joseph Dyer. "It was the panel's duty to ask, 'How safe is safe enough?' We didn't answer that question, but we did point to areas where that question may not produce the level of safety the panel expects and requires."
According to the report, critical safety issues or concerns include the International Space Station; commercial crews; the space launch system; and the agency’s alcohol use and testing policy. View the report
here.
