A conservative watchdog group, the Oversight Project, has filed a lawsuit against NASA, demanding the release of documents related to the decision to extend the stay of two US astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS), Fox News reports.
The group alleges that the decision was politically motivated and driven by Vice President Kamala Harris, who chairs the National Space Council.
Mike Howell, executive director of the Oversight Project, claims that there may have been a political calculation behind the decision not to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams home as initially planned. The lawsuit seeks emails between NASA political appointees and the White House, including Vice President Harris’ office, as well as outgoing emails to her presidential campaign.
Howell argues that Harris, as “space czar,” prioritized politics over the safety of the astronauts. He points to her substantive advisory authority over NASA’s decision-making, as outlined in former President Donald Trump’s 2021 executive order establishing the National Space Council.
The lawsuit also seeks communication between NASA and Boeing, the company that manufactured the Starliner capsule that took Wilmore and Williams to the ISS. The Starliner capsule experienced propulsion issues and elemental leaks during its mission, raising concerns about its safety.
Howell has outlined the hiring of several people with political science backgrounds to key NASA positions during Harris’ leadership of the Space Council. He claims this demonstrates a focus on “woke-DEI” initiatives over scientific expertise.
The lawsuit also alleges that China is closely watching for signs of weakness in the US space program. Howell argues that the public deserves to know the extent of any political influence on NASA’s decision-making.
NASA has said that there was a “disagreement in terms of the level of risk” between the agency and Boeing regarding the Starliner capsule’s safety. Boeing, however, maintains confidence in the capsule’s ability to return safely with crew aboard.
