NASA has made headlines for choosing to fly its Artemis II mission aboard an Orion spacecraft with an unmodified heat shield, sparking concerns about safety and materials science. Critics, including experts Ed Pope and Charles Camarda, have expressed frustration on social media, saying the agency prioritized expedience over sound decision-making.
The Artemis II mission is significant, as it marks NASA’s first crewed deep space mission in over 50 years. With four astronauts on board, the stakes are high. However, some question whether NASA has made the right call by relying on flawed risk assessments and simulations to ensure the heat shield’s integrity.
Camarda, a former NASA astronaut with two decades of experience working on thermal protection for the space shuttle and hypersonic vehicles, believes NASA is sacrificing its research culture for the sake of efficiency. “I worked at NASA for 45 years,” he said. “I love NASA. I do not love the way NASA has become.”
The heat shield’s history is marred by controversy. NASA spent two years assessing the damage from its first lunar flight in 2022, but initially downplayed the severity of the issue and kept details under wraps until a May report from the agency’s inspector general revealed extensive pock marks on the shield.
As the Artemis II mission approaches, concerns about safety and transparency will likely continue to grow.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/12/former-flight-director-who-reviewed-orion-heat-shield-data-says-there-was-no-dissent