Imagine dedicating your life to ensuring rockets don't explode, and then deciding to climb aboard one yourself. That's precisely the story of Hans Koenigsmann, the engineer who meticulously investigated every single rocket failure at SpaceX. Now, he's preparing to journey to space – but not on a SpaceX rocket.
The path to this decision, however, wasn't a straight line. It began with a simple question posed to Koenigsmann: "Do you think I could be an astronaut?" This question came from someone who, technically, didn't need legs to participate in a suborbital flight like Blue Origin's New Shepard. Koenigsmann, after realizing the question was specifically about New Shepard, decided to consult with people he trusted, including Audrey Powers, a Blue Origin engineer. Powers expressed her enthusiasm for the project. "And this is the part most people miss..." Koenigsmann explains, "In a very subtle and slippery slope, I thought about this and said, 'Actually, I think I can do this, too.'"
But here's where it gets controversial... Why would someone so deeply ingrained in SpaceX choose to fly with a competitor? Koenigsmann clarifies that his decision wouldn't preclude him from future orbital flights. He's a self-professed "risk person," and the idea had been brewing in his mind for some time. He weighed the pros and cons, considering both SpaceX and Blue Origin. Crucially, he sought advice from a wide range of individuals, even those outside his immediate circle. Surprisingly, not a single person discouraged him. "That doesn't mean that it's right," he acknowledges, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and independent evaluation. "But I asked people I'm not friends with, too, and they all said, 'Well, why not?' So that's how we ended up on this mission together."
The decision wasn't without its anxieties. In a candid interview, Koenigsmann admitted to grappling with several primary concerns. Safety was paramount, naturally. "All of the above [were concerns]," he stated, referring to safety and the potential optics of a long-time SpaceX employee flying on Blue Origin. He elaborated, "I don't know what they did for safety. I know what SpaceX did for safety." To address this, he consulted with individuals currently working at Blue Origin. The deciding factor, however, was a deeply personal one: "the ultimate discriminator is if you would let your children fly on it." After meeting with the Blue Origin team and posing numerous technical questions regarding safety, Koenigsmann felt reassured. He felt that they answered the majority of his questions thoughtfully and correctly. "So on the safety side, I felt better after a while."
Koenigsmann's journey raises some compelling questions. Does his decision signal a growing confidence in the safety and reliability of suborbital flights offered by companies beyond SpaceX? Or is it simply a testament to his personal appetite for risk and exploration? And perhaps the most thought-provoking question of all: Knowing what you know about the risks and rewards of space travel, would you take the leap? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
