NASA Moon Lander: Manual Control Dispute Flares

NASA's inspector general has released a report detailing concerns over the development of human lunar landers by SpaceX and Blue Origin. A primary issue identified is the extent to which astronauts will have manual control over SpaceX's Starship during descent to the lunar surface. Despite SpaceX's stated commitment, NASA's internal tracking reveals a deteriorating risk trend in this area.

This manual control requirement is critical, especially given the historical use of manual piloting during the Apollo missions. The report suggests that without resolution before the upcoming Critical Design Review, Starship's landing might rely solely on automation. A similar debate over manual flight controls previously occurred during the design of the Crew Dragon spacecraft, indicating persistent challenges in balancing automation and astronaut intervention.

The inspector general's report also touches upon other aspects of the lander development, including uncrewed demonstration flights. These flights, required before human missions, will not necessitate life support systems or extensive testing of lunar dust impact on equipment. The development of manual control for Blue Origin's lander has not yet been detailed.