Common Questions

What is NASA's safety advisory panel?

ASAP is an independent panel established in 1968, reporting to Congress and the NASA Administrator on programme safety.Source: background

Does ASAP oversee Artemis safety?

Yes. ASAP provides independent oversight of all NASA programmes including Artemis, and has previously criticised schedule pressure.Source: background

When was NASA's safety panel created?

1968, by Congress, following the Apollo 1 fire.Source: quick_facts

Background

ASAP's quarterly meeting is scheduled for 2 April 2026, the same day as the TLI burn decision. Whether it addresses the unpublished IRB findings publicly is a key accountability question. Paul Hill, who chaired the IRB, is an ASAP member.

Established by Congress in 1968 following the Apollo 1 fire that killed three astronauts. The panel reports directly to the NASA Administrator and to Congress, providing independent safety oversight of all NASA programmes. It has previously criticised schedule pressure on the Artemis programme.

ASAP is the principal institutional mechanism for public safety accountability at NASA. If Hill's IRB findings surface anywhere publicly, it will most likely be through ASAP. The panel's independence from NASA management makes it the most credible external voice on whether Orion is SAFE to fly with crew.