What are the main concerns with NASA's Orion capsule?

Concerns include its high development cost of over $20 billion, outdated design, and issues identified during its 2022 test flight, particularly with the heat shield.

How much has the Artemis program cost so far?

The Artemis program has already cost approximately $100 billion, with individual Space Launch System (SLS) launches exceeding $4 billion.

What is the 'normalization of deviance' in relation to NASA's Artemis mission?

It refers to a gradual process where rationalizing one technical deviation makes it easier to accept subsequent ones, leading to accumulated risks, as seen with the Orion capsule's issues.

Home / Science / NASA's Orion Capsule: Billions Spent, Safety Questioned

NASA's Orion Capsule: Billions Spent, Safety Questioned

16 Jan

•

Summary

Orion capsule development exceeds $20 billion, with concerns about its suitability.
Test flight revealed issues with separation bolts and heat shield integrity.
Artemis program costs approach $100 billion, with questions on decision-making.

NASA's Orion Capsule: Billions Spent, Safety Questioned

Next month, four astronauts are scheduled to embark on a 10-day lunar flyby aboard the Orion capsule, marking humanity's first departure from low-Earth orbit since 1972. This mission is a critical step for NASA's Artemis program, which seeks to land humans on the moon. However, the initiative is beleaguered by escalating costs, persistent delays, and technical challenges.

The Orion capsule itself, with over two decades of development and a cost exceeding $20 billion, is criticized for being outdated and overweight. A 2022 uncrewed test flight highlighted significant issues, including unexpected melting of separation bolts and disruptions in the power-distribution system. Most concerning was the heat shield's performance, which showed cracking and excessive char loss during atmospheric reentry simulation.