NASA warned SpaceX\, Boeing about rocket design

SpaceX and Boeing are both building capsules meant to once again carry American astronauts into space aboard American spacecraft.

But with the clock ticking down toward a deadline, Reuters has learned NASA has warned both companies about design and safety concerns with their competing systems. Two people with direct knowledge of the program told Reuters that the space agency’s concerns go far beyond those listed in a public report released last month.

In that report, A NASA safety advisory panel reviewing the space agency's multibillion-dollar Commercial Crew Program had concerns with the capsule on Boeing's Starliner system when the heat shield is deployed.

For SpaceX's Dragon Crew, the panel worried about the “load and go” process of fueling the rocket with the astronauts already inside.

And “parachute performance” remained an issue for both companies.

The report stated, “There are serious challenges to the current launch schedules for both SpaceX and Boeing.” While the report listed four "key risk items," sources told Reuters that as of earlier this month NASA's risk list included 30 to 35 lingering technical concerns each for SpaceX and Boeing.

A Boeing spokesperson said “Our numbers show we are exceeding NASA’s safety requirements.” A representative for SpaceX said, "There is nothing more important to SpaceX than safely flying crew.” Both firms said they were working closely with NASA.

NASA is set to conduct a flight readiness review on Friday for SpaceX’s mission without a crew on March 2, with its astronaut flight planned for July.

NASA said Boeing’s un-crewed Starliner would fly “no earlier” than April, with the crewed mission currently slated for August.