Science Friday Managing The Risks Of Spaceflight, 40 Years After Challenger
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Jan 27, 2026 Jim Wetherbee, former NASA astronaut who commanded five shuttle missions, offers a short memoir and risk-minded perspective. He reflects on Challenger, contrasts controlling versus accepting risk, and explains how leadership, culture, and operator input shape safety. He also discusses private spaceflight, Artemis II readiness, and why humans remain essential in space operations.
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Control Risk Before Accepting It
- Control risks rather than passively accept them by evaluating how much control you have.
- Accept risk only when you can control it and the benefit justifies the exposure.
Accidents Often Stem From Ignored Warnings
- The Challenger decisions failed because managers ignored or didn't process engineer input.
- Many accidents repeat this pattern of ill-informed or dismissive management choices.
Elevate Operator Voices In Leadership
- Elevate operational voices so flight crews and controllers influence decisions at the highest levels.
- Give operators more weight to improve decision-making and safety outcomes.
