Safe from space

• NASA astronauts Suita Williams, Barry Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Aleksandr Gorbunov returned to Earth after nine months in the International Space Station (ISS).
• The Starliner saga, which ended in March 2024, distorted the reality of human spaceflight, presenting it as a caper rather than a testament to protocol.
• The ISS malfunctions left Williams and Wilmore onboard, leading to speculation and misinformation.
• NASA has established procedures for astronauts onboard malfunctioning spacecraft to move to the ISS.
• Critics have framed NASA as weak-willed for sticking to its protocols, including accusations of infirmity when the capsule returned the astronauts was scrubbed for technical reasons.
• Narratives that overlook the existence of multiple safety checkpoints and the lengths space agencies go to ensure unexpected outcomes should be replaced with “safety first.”
• Space agencies should emphasize clear, timely communication as an integral part of safety protocol.