This caution comes in light of four astronauts being hospitalized following their return from space.

During a meeting of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, Kent Rominger, a former astronaut, emphasized a number of recent issues involving SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon crew capsule, as reported by SpaceNews. SpaceX, which has been a reliable partner to NASA, successfully launched nine crews to the ISS, but recent anomalies have raised concerns. The company’s push for an increased number of launches may be contributing to these problems, according to Rominger. He stated that maintaining safe operations demands significant attention, especially as the hardware ages and the frequency of launches increases.

NASA's recent mission, Crew-8, saw its astronauts return to Earth aboard a Dragon spacecraft. After their splashdown off the Florida coast, all four crew members were hospitalized, with one staying overnight. No specific information was given on the reasons behind their hospitalization or whether it was related to the splashdown.

This year, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has encountered several setbacks. Most notably, during the Crew-9 mission on September 28, the rocket’s upper stage missed its targeted splashdown zone. Earlier incidents include a failed satellite delivery due to an upper stage malfunction in July and a failed booster landing in August, which led to a significant fire on the droneship.

Historically, the Falcon 9 has enjoyed a nearly impeccable record since its introduction in 2010. However, the increased pace of operations might be taking its toll. SpaceX is aiming for an ambitious 148 launches this year, a significant rise from 98 missions in 2023.

Rominger cautioned both NASA and SpaceX not to let the high operational pace affect their judgment. He stressed the importance of dedicating appropriate time and resources to understanding and addressing the root causes of recent malfunctions. As SpaceX faces pressure to maintain its industry-leading position, it may need to reassess its priorities to ensure the safety of its missions.

In the competitive field of commercial spaceflight, SpaceX is known for pursuing ambitious goals. However, the safety concerns highlighted by NASA’s panel suggest that a more measured approach may be necessary to prevent future incidents.