Two of NASA’s most outspoken veterans, Homer Hickam and Dr. Charles Camarda, took the stage together for the first time at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center on Monday, March 31st. Their joint appearance came on the heels of viral moments during Fox News’ live coverage of the SpaceX Dragon capsule splashdown, where their candid assessments of NASA’s current trajectory and private space companies’ safety practices sparked widespread debate.

Hickam, the acclaimed author of Rocket Boys (which inspired the hit film October Sky), and Camarda, a former NASA astronaut and engineer with 46 years of experience, did not hold back as they discussed institutional failures at NASA, the impact of bureaucracy on spaceflight safety, and the comparative approaches of SpaceX and Blue Origin.

Institutional Failures and NASA’s Changing Culture

Dr. Camarda’s new book, Mission Out of Control, examines NASA’s internal culture shifts that led to both the Challenger and Columbia disasters. A reader review summarizes the core issue: NASA transitioned from a research-driven culture during the Apollo era—where engineering breakthroughs were prioritized—to a production-focused culture in the Shuttle era, where managerial and political interests often overruled safety concerns.

Camarda recounted how, post-Columbia, he led teams that identified the accident’s root cause and developed new in-flight repair techniques. He has since warned that without significant reform, NASA risks repeating the mistakes of the past with the Artemis program. In a recent tweet, he stated, “Wake up NASA. My book exposed the corruption post-Columbia, now the corruption and dysfunction are being exposed during Artemis! Don’t let Artemis II become another Columbia!”

His concerns center around NASA’s handling of Artemis’ heat shield failures. “NASA must not fly Artemis II with a crew without a flight test to prove the heatshield is fixed,” Camarda warned, citing the same “dysfunctional culture” that plagued the Shuttle program.

As NASA increasingly depends on private companies to transport astronauts and cargo, the debate over cost and safety remains critical. SpaceX, with its reusable rockets, has driven down launch costs, but its safety record is under scrutiny. Blue Origin, while slower to develop, could emerge as a more stable long-term partner for NASA missions.

Hickam spoke about his time training with Russian cosmonauts and how astonished he was “that they could build safe rockets” when they were underfunded, overworked, and using decades old equipment. His conclusion? “Because their teams were led by engineers, experts, like Marshall (Space Flight Center at Redstone Arsenal) when (Wernher) von Braun was director.”

SpaceX: Innovation at a Cost?

During the event, Camarda acknowledged that SpaceX has revolutionized access to space, but later added a caveat, saying “SpaceX is safe up until now but facing issues ahead.” He pointed out that SpaceX’s rapid development cycle—often praised for its cost-effectiveness—has led to concerns about safety.

Recent investigations into SpaceX’s safety record support his skepticism. A Reuters review of OSHA data found that injury rates at SpaceX facilities significantly exceed industry averages. In 2023, SpaceX’s Brownsville, Texas, site reported 5.9 injuries per 100 workers, compared to the industry average of 0.8. Some injuries have been severe, including skull fractures, amputations, and fatalities.

Despite these concerns, NASA continues to rely heavily on SpaceX. As of 2022, NASA had awarded SpaceX at least $11.8 billion in contracts. SpaceX has also received significant funding from other government entities, including the U.S. Air Force, which granted the company $181 million for launch vehicle development in 2019, with eligibility for up to $500 million more through the U.S. Space Force.

Camarda’s critique is that while SpaceX has achieved remarkable technical feats, its rapid development model may not be sustainable in the long term. He emphasized, “If they don’t make safety and research their #1 priority, SpaceX could face serious problems.”

Blue Origin: A Steadier Approach?

Camarda contrasted SpaceX’s fast-moving culture with Blue Origin’s more methodical strategy. While SpaceX has taken bold risks, Blue Origin has maintained a slower, more structured approach to development, which some industry experts argue prioritizes safety over speed. Blue Origin’s development model has been seen as more cautious than SpaceX’s.

The company has also secured significant government funding. NASA awarded Blue Origin $3.7 million in 2009 for early crew vehicle development and later granted $22 million for further research under the Commercial Crew Development program. In 2023, NASA signed a $3.4 billion contract with Blue Origin to develop a lunar lander for the Artemis V mission. Camarda acknowledged that while Blue Origin has not matched SpaceX’s rapid progress, its approach could mitigate long-term safety risks.

The Economic Impact on Huntsville

NASA’s push to return humans to the moon is delivering significant economic benefits to Alabama, with Huntsville at the heart of this impact. Alabama ranks fourth nationwide in both jobs created through NASA programs and total economic output. In Fiscal Year 2023, NASA contributed over $8 billion to the state’s economy, supporting more than 41,000 jobs. Huntsville, home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, has particularly benefited, with major aerospace contractors such as Boeing, Dynetics, and Teledyne Brown Engineering securing billions in NASA funding.

Blue Origin has also made a significant economic impact on Huntsville, through substantial investments and job creation. The company invested over $200 million to establish a state-of-the-art rocket engine production facility in Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park. This facility focuses on the high-rate production of the BE-4 and BE-3U engines. The establishment of this facility has led to the creation of more than 700 jobs in the area, contributing to the local economy. Additionally, Blue Origin’s presence has attracted other aerospace companies to the region, further bolstering Huntsville’s reputation as a hub for space exploration and technology.

Moving Forward

The joint appearance of Hickam and Camarda in Huntsville underscored a growing divide in the aerospace community: innovation versus safety, bureaucracy versus efficiency. Their conversation left attendees with a pressing question—how can NASA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin balance progress with responsibility? As Artemis II prepares for launch, the concerns raised by these two space veterans will remain central to the discussion on the future of American spaceflight.