NASA warns SpaceX and Boeing about design and safety concerns with their astronaut launch systems

NASA's safety advisory panel has listed four major risk issues in its annual report

Time is running out fast for NASA, but there are still lots of design and safety issues that need to be addressed by SpaceX and Boeing before their systems finally become ready to launch astronauts to the International Space Station from US soil.

NASA has informed both companies about its concerns related to capsule designs, which could threaten the US efforts to restart its human spaceflight programme later this year.

Two people familiar with the matter told Reuters that NASA's safety advisory panel has listed four major risk issues in its annual report. For Boeing, the key issue mentioned in the report is the structural vulnerability of the capsule during installation of the heat shield.

For SpaceX, there are main issues. First is redesign of a SpaceX rocket canister following the 2016 explosion. The second issue is the "load and go" rocket fuelling, which is performed while astronauts are already inside the capsule.

The performance of the parachute is a common issue for both companies. "There are serious challenges to the current launch schedules for both SpaceX and Boeing," the report warned.

But NASA's concerns go beyond these four main issues, according to industry insiders, who told Reuters that a risk ledger contains about 30 to 35 technical concerns for Boeing as well as SpaceX.

According to them, most of these concerns must be addressed before both companies can be given permission to fly astronauts and tourists to space. "Flying safely always takes precedence over schedule," NASA spokesman Joshua Finch told Reuters.

Boeing spokesman Josh Barrett said the structural vulnerability issue has already been sorted out.

"Our numbers show we are exceeding NASA's safety requirements," said Barrett.

SpaceX spokesman James Gleeson described SpaceX's human spaceflight systems as one of the most-advanced and safest systems ever built. "There is nothing more important to SpaceX than safely flying crew," said Gleeson.

The report about NASA's concerns come as the agency is set to carry out a review on 22nd February for SpaceX's uncrewed mission on 2nd March. In the review, NASA will decide whether it should give approval to SpaceX's uncrewed test flight.

In November last year, NASA ordered a safety review of Boeing and SpaceX to examine "everything and anything that could impact safety" of future space missions. The agency said the assessment would involve hundreds of interviews to assess the workplace culture at both companies.

NASA reportedly ordered the safety review by the behaviour of Elon Musk last year. The organisation said that the safety review of both space firms will ensure that the public has confidence in NASA's human-spaceflight programme as they get closer to their first manned flights.