Stranded Astronauts, Strained Policies: A Call for Spaceflight Reform

“Here am I floating 'round my tin can
Far above the moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do…”

Intro: David Bowie's Space Oddity evokes the haunting image of Major Tom floating in space, disconnected from Earth. Today, this metaphor rings painfully true for two astronauts, Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, currently stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, plagued with technical failures, has been deemed unsafe for their return. While the Starliner is set to begin its return to Earth on Friday, September 6, 2024 without the astronauts, the decision to leave them aboard the ISS underscores the risks inherent in space exploration—risks exacerbated by gaps in public policy oversight.

Thesis: The Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act (CSLAA) of 2004 was instrumental in fostering innovation by encouraging private companies like Boeing to participate in space exploration. However, the Act's lenient safety regulations and prolonged "learning period" have left astronauts vulnerable to technical failures, undermining the international collaboration that the ISS represents. As the learning period of the CSLAA is set to expire in 2025, Congress must address these gaps and prioritize astronaut safety through more stringent oversight and regulation.

The ISS and the Need for Safety in International Collaboration: The ISS is one of the most significant international achievements in space exploration. It has been continuously inhabited since 2000, providing a platform for critical scientific research that benefits humanity. The United States, Russia, Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency share responsibility for the safety of astronauts aboard the ISS. Private companies like Boeing are now integral to the ISS's operations, supplying spacecraft for crew exchanges and resupply missions. However, the Boeing Starliner's technical failures have undermined the safety and trust built upon this collaboration. The decision to return the Starliner without its crew only emphasizes the urgency of addressing these safety gaps. For the astronauts aboard the ISS, reliable and safe transport is not optional—it's critical to their survival and the mission's success.

Boeing's Struggles Highlight Policy Gaps: Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft was expected to be a significant player in the future of human space exploration. However, its repeated technical failures—including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions—have delayed missions and left astronauts stranded aboard the ISS. Most recently, the Starliner was deemed too risky to return astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams to Earth. NASA has now opted to use SpaceX's Dragon capsule for their retrieval in February, reflecting a lack of confidence in Boeing's spacecraft. The Dragon spacecraft can carry up to 7 passengers to and from Earth orbit and beyond. It is the only spacecraft currently flying capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth, and it is the first private spacecraft to take humans to the space station. While the Starliner will return to Earth empty this week, Boeing's ongoing issues highlight the CSLAA's regulatory framework's leniency, prioritizing rapid innovation over rigorous safety standards. The result is a dangerous lack of accountability, where human lives are at risk.

A Call for Policy Reform as the Learning Period Ends: The CSLAA's "learning period," which was extended multiple times and is now set to expire in 2025, provided the flexibility needed to encourage the rapid development of space technologies. However, as we reach the end of this period, it's time for a shift toward stronger accountability. Section 70105 of the Act empowers the Secretary of Transportation to issue safety regulations, yet these have been applied sparingly. Congress must take this opportunity to reassess the Act's provisions and strengthen oversight to prevent private companies from prioritizing speed and cost-cutting at the expense of astronaut safety. Moving forward, the U.S. must establish more apparent penalties for safety failures and mandate more stringent testing before astronauts are launched into space.

"To Be Sure": The CSLAA played a critical role in advancing space exploration by incentivizing private sector involvement. Without the flexibility it offered, companies like Boeing and SpaceX might not have been able to achieve the technological breakthroughs we've seen over the past decade. However, as space missions become more routine and human spaceflight more common, it's clear that the policy must evolve to prioritize safety. Astronauts' lives should not be placed at unnecessary risk due to a lack of oversight or accountability.

Conclusion: In Space Oddity, Major Tom floats alone in space, disconnected from Earth, helplessly observing the stars while the world below feels unreachable. This metaphor applies to Wilmore and Williams, who are now reliant on the decisions made by engineers and policymakers on the ground to bring them home safely. Their situation should be a wake-up call for Congress. As the CSLAA's learning period ends, we must transition from a phase of innovation at all costs to one of accountability and safety. Policymakers must act to ensure that no astronaut is ever left stranded, "sitting in a tin can, far above the world."