Astronauts Praise NASA's NESC for Enhancing Mission Safety

Former NESC Chief Astronauts Reflect on the Organization's Vital Role in Protecting Crew Members

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:48pm

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Several former astronauts who served as the NESC Chief Astronaut liaison have praised the organization's critical contributions to enhancing mission safety and success. The NESC, established after the Columbia disaster, provides independent technical expertise and assessments to identify and mitigate risks for NASA's human spaceflight programs. Astronauts like Patrick Forrester, Butch Wilmore, Scott Tingle, and the current Chief Astronaut Mark Vande Hei have all highlighted the NESC's invaluable role in protecting crew members, troubleshooting technical issues, and ensuring the safety of new spacecraft like the SpaceX Crew Dragon and Boeing Starliner.

Why it matters

The NESC was created in the wake of the Columbia tragedy to provide an independent, technical review process to identify and address safety concerns in NASA's human spaceflight missions. Astronauts who have served as the NESC Chief Astronaut liaison have emphasized the organization's crucial role in preventing future accidents, validating engineering assumptions, and supporting the development of new commercial crew vehicles.

The details

The NESC Chief Astronaut serves as the liaison between the organization and the Astronaut Office, providing a direct channel for astronaut feedback and concerns. Former Chief Astronauts like Patrick Forrester, Butch Wilmore, and Scott Tingle have all participated in NESC assessments, from reviewing astronaut pre-breathe protocols to troubleshooting issues with the Starliner spacecraft. They have praised the NESC's ability to quickly mobilize technical experts to address pressing problems and provide independent, unbiased analysis to support mission safety.

  • The crew of Space Shuttle Columbia was lost on February 1, 2003.
  • Patrick Forrester first flew to the ISS in 2001 and was scheduled to fly again shortly after the Columbia accident.
  • Forrester joined the NESC as the Chief Astronaut in 2009, four years after the Columbia disaster.
  • Butch Wilmore served as the NESC Chief Astronaut from 2018 to 2020, before becoming the commander of Boeing's first crewed Starliner flight.
  • Scott Tingle was the NESC Chief Astronaut from 2020 to 2022, drawing on his naval aviation and engineering background.

The players

Patrick Forrester

A former astronaut who flew to the ISS in 2001 and 2007, Forrester served as the NESC Chief Astronaut from 2009 to 2016, helping the organization increase understanding of its role and capabilities.

Butch Wilmore

A former Navy test pilot who joined NASA in 2000, Wilmore flew three missions to the ISS and served as the NESC Chief Astronaut from 2018 to 2020, before becoming the commander of Boeing's first crewed Starliner flight.

Scott Tingle

An astronaut selected in 2009, Tingle served as a flight engineer and U.S. Operational Segment Lead for Expedition 54/55 on the ISS. He was the NESC Chief Astronaut from 2020 to 2022.

Mark Vande Hei

An astronaut with over 500 days in space, Vande Hei is the current NESC Chief Astronaut, appointed in 2023, and has sought the organization's expertise to understand risk posture and address technical issues.

Tim Wilson

The NESC Director, who has overseen the organization's growth and recognition for its contributions to mission safety and success.

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What they’re saying

“I tried to help them understand that the NESC was engineering. This is what we do. This is what we need. It was one of my goals when I served: to help people understand what the NESC did.”

— Patrick Forrester, Former NESC Chief Astronaut

“Certainly when I became the commander of Starliner, there were things that I knew I wanted the NESC to have purview over. The NESC obviously has been a big help in all organizations. I think that the role it plays is vital, and I wish it was larger.”

— Butch Wilmore, Former NESC Chief Astronaut

“They really get their fingers on the pulse of operations, which is what I think is one of the high value things they do. Having folks able to dive into the technicals, it really helps us. And it doesn't just help us, it helps the crew, it helps the program, it helps the contractors, it helps our technical authorities. It helps everybody just to have people with that capability.”

— Scott Tingle, Former NESC Chief Astronaut

What’s next

The NESC will continue to play a vital role in supporting NASA's human spaceflight programs, including the development of new vehicles like the SpaceX Crew Dragon and Boeing Starliner. As the agency prepares for more ambitious missions to the Moon and Mars, the NESC's independent technical expertise will be crucial in identifying and mitigating risks to ensure the safety of future crews.

The takeaway

The NESC's contributions to mission safety and success, as highlighted by the perspectives of former astronaut Chief Astronauts, demonstrate the organization's critical importance in protecting crew members and enabling NASA's human spaceflight endeavors. The NESC's ability to provide unbiased, technical assessments and troubleshoot complex issues has earned the respect and trust of the astronaut corps and NASA's broader spaceflight community.