When failure to launch is actually a good thing: Artemis II delay demonstrates NASA's organizational maturation

The issues in communication and prioritization that caused the Challenger explosion are often used as an example of what not to do as a leader. 

In case you aren't familiar, the explosion during the Challenger shuttle launch on January 28, 1986, which resulted in the death of 7 astronauts including a school teacher, was due to the failure of a small part called an o-ring.

Tendency of the o-ring to solidify (thus not maintaining its seal) when exposed to cold temperatures was an issue the rocket's creators were aware of. However due to various miscommunications, the issue didn't make it into the final checks for launch readiness.

PR and scientific time pressures created additional reasons to push for launch, despite other known risks.

And so they did... with catastrophic results.

So I was pleased this week when NASA decided to delay the Artemis II launch until March. 

The PR and scientific time pressures for Artemis II are also significant.

Artemis II will be the first manned space flight to leave low-Earth orbit since the end of the Apollo moon landings 50 years ago. They plan to send 4 astronauts (3 American, 1 Canadian) for a 10 day trip around the moon.

But NASA has delayed due to a hydrogen leak during their "wet dress rehearsal" a couple days ago. 

The way the agency has handled the delay shows how NASA has matured in the last half-century: 

• The wet dress rehearsal is a chance for NASA to identify any possible last-minute launch issues, without crew aboard.

• Communication about the issue has been measured and demonstrates to the public the scientific process at work.

• NASA is being extremely intentional about the development of more frequent lunar flights despite significant pressure from the administration in DC.

In one of the articles I read about this, I found another sign of the organizational maturation of NASA - this job title: "acting associate administrator for NASA’s exploration systems development mission development directorate"  🤔

Many an article and book have been written about how NASA learned from the Challenger disaster. But it's not often their mettle gets tested in a way the rest of us get to witness it.

What miscommunications or external pressures are causing trouble in your workplace right now? How can you help fix them?