NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Releases 2025 Annual Report

NASA

by Jessica Taveau

February 25, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) has released its 2025 annual report, highlighting both achievements and significant challenges facing the agency. While acknowledging NASA’s progress in safety, the panel emphasized that interconnected issues—such as workforce shortages, acquisition strategies, technical authority, budget constraints, and the growing complexity of human spaceflight—are critical areas requiring sustained focus. These challenges are particularly pressing as missions become more ambitious, with the Artemis program aiming for a lunar return by 2028 and beyond. The report praised NASA’s progress on several fronts, including advancements in Artemis II readiness, enhanced oversight through the Moon to Mars Program Office, and successful International Space Station operations. It also noted improvements in astronaut health research and the maiden flight of the X-59 Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator. However, challenges remain, such as the high-risk nature of Artemis III, lessons learned from Boeing’s Starliner test, space station deorbit planning, and systemic concerns that need addressing. To tackle these issues, ASAP recommended NASA realign its governance of acquisition strategies for human spaceflight capabilities agency-wide and re-examine mission objectives for Artem

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Originally published on NASA on 2/25/2026