NASA Banning Passengers on Shuttle Flights
The space agency, scarred by the Challenger explosion in which the first “teacher in space” was killed, announced Thursday it will no longer carry non-astronauts or other non-essential personnel on space shuttles.
Passengers in the past have included a Saudi Arabian prince and members of the House and Senate.
The new policy covers members of the news media, who were in competition for a ride on the shuttle; and Barbara Morgan, a backup to Sharon Christa McAuliffe, the teacher who was among the seven people killed when the spacecraft exploded in January, 1986.
“The Challenger accident marked a major change in the U.S. outlook and policies with respect to the flight of other than NASA astronauts,” the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said in a policy statement.
The agency said flight opportunities generally will be limited to professional astronauts and payload specialists essential for missions while NASA works to improve the reliability of the shuttle and reduces a payload backlog.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
