NASA has released two new reports on human spaceflight strategy, issued within less than a week of each other, yet neither report mentions the other despite overlapping and enabling each other’s recommendations. This lack of coordination raises questions about NASA’s approach to addressing complex issues.
The 9th floor at NASA HQ is responsible for issuing these reports, but it appears that they have failed to link the two documents together. Instead, it seems that individual reports are being prioritized over collaborative efforts. This lack of attention to potential synergies and overlaps between the reports undermines the effectiveness of the agency’s strategy.
A possible explanation for this oversight could be the sheer volume of work and competing priorities within NASA. However, this does not excuse the agency from taking steps to ensure that these reports are integrated and considered as a whole. By ignoring the connections between the two reports, NASA may be missing opportunities to improve its human spaceflight strategy and make better use of available resources.
The use-or-lose vacation time often cited by employees for such delays is likely an understatement of the frustration and disappointment felt by many staff members when important reports are not coordinated. As NASA continues to develop its plans for human space exploration, it is essential that these reports be integrated and considered in a comprehensive manner to ensure success.
Source: https://nasawatch.com/policy/two-new-nasa-human-spaceflight-reports-ignore-one-another