NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Jr. explained to Congressman Lamar Smith (R. Texas) why the SpaceX investigation, following the Falcon 9 failure earlier this year, is being treated differently from Orbital ATK's own mishap from last year.
"First and foremost, I want to assure you that NASA is performing an independent analysis of the Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) SpX-7 ('CRS-7') launch failure," Bolden said in a letter.
Rather than starting an independent investigation, NASA chose to conduct one under the existing Launch Services Program (LSP) review which the US Air Force was set to join instead of conducting their own.
"The LSP was already underway when the mishap with the Falcon 9 occurred since the Falcon rocket is planned for the use of ferrying crews to the International Space Station under the space agency's Commercial Crew Program," SpaceFlightInsider said.
By contrast, Orbital ATK's Antares rocket is only used to deliver cargo and satellites.
Bolden said conducting the SpaceX investigation within the auspices of the LSP is "the most efficient use of NASA resources."
Another thing to consider as SFI pointed out, is that CRS-7 aboard the Falcon 9 rocket, said to have failed due to a faulty strut, was carrying one of only two examples of the International Docking Adapter (IDA). As such, the launch was considered "mission critical or high value."
As such, investigation would fall under NASA Policy Directive 8610.7 Launch Services Risk Mitigation Policy for NASA-Owned and/or NASA-Sponsored Payloads/Missions and NPD 8610.23 Launch Vehicle Technical Oversight Policy.
Since both processes are already in progress for Dragon Crew Capsule flights, adding the Falcon 9 Independent Review Team (IRT) to an existing investigation makes "economical sense," according to SFI.
Following the loss of Antares, Bolden pointed out that an IRT was formed to investigate as part of NASA's procedural requirements.
Both mishaps however, are not NASA's and as such fall under the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) jurisdiction. Although the space agency can conduct their investigation, enforcing any outcome is still the FAA's job.
Still, NASA as the customer can refuse to use Orbital ATK and SpaceX's services or even nullify their contract.
Bolden's letter is in response to Smith's letter where the lawmaker said NASA dealt with the Orbital ATK and SpaceX investigation differently and said it was "perplexing" that it had a "hands off approach" on the latter.
