--- title: "Experts Baffled by Why NASA’s “Red Crew” Wear Blue Shirts" description: "Red Crew, Blue Crew Had it not been for the heroics of Trent Annis, Billy Cairns and Chad Garrett, three members of NASA's specialized \"Red Crew,\" NASA's absolutely massive — and incredibly expensive — Space Launch System (SLS), which has faced a long, painful series of delays, likely wouldn't have made it off the ground […]" date: "2022-11-18" modified: "2022-11-18" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasas-red-crew-blue-shirts" categories: - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "artemis" - "NASA" - "sls" - "the digest" --- # Experts Baffled by Why NASA’s “Red Crew” Wear Blue Shirts ![]() *\Image: NASA/Futurism\* ## Red Crew, Blue Crew Had it not been for the heroics of three members of NASA's specialized "[Red Crew]()," NASA's absolutely massive — [and incredibly expensive]() — Space Launch System (SLS) likely wouldn't have [made it off the ground]() this week. During the launch, the painfully delayed Mega Moon Rocket [sprang a hydrogen leak]()*.* The Red Crew ventured into the dangerous, half-loaded launch zone to fix it live. Incredible work indeed, although in spite of their heroics, keen-eyed observers *did* notice something strange about the so-called Red Crew: they, uh, don't wear red? "How is it we spent $20B+ on this rocket," [tweeted]() Chris Combs, a professor at the University of Texas San Antonio, "but we couldn't manage to get some RED SHIRTS for the Red Team." Alas, the rumor is true. Red shirts seemed to be out of the budget this year — perhaps due to the ungodly amount of money spent on the rocket that these guys could have died while fixing — with the Red Crew-mates donning dark blue shirts instead. Per the *NYT*, they also drove white cars, which feels like an additional miss. https://twitter.com/DrChrisCombs/status/1592968968700317697 ## Packing Nuts For their part, the Red Crew didn't seem to care all that much, at least not in the moment. They were very much focused on needing to "torque" the "packing nuts," as they reportedly said during a post-launch interview on *NASA TV*. In other words, they were busy with your casual rocket science. And adrenaline, because, uh, risk of death. "All I can say is we were very excited," Red Crew member Trent Annis told *NASA TV*, according to the *NYT.* "I was ready to get up there and go." "We were very focused on what was happening up there," he added. "It's creaking, it's making venting noises, it's pretty scary." In any case, shoutout to the Red Crew. The Artemis I liftoff is historic, and wouldn't have happened if they hadn't risked it all. They deserve a bonus, and at the very least? Some fresh new shirts. **READ MORE:** *[When NASA'S moon rocket sprang a fuel leak, the launch team called in the 'red crew.']()* \[*The New York Times*\] **More on the Artemis I launch:** *[Giant Nasa Rocket Blasts off Toward the Moon]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()