Space Craft

We refer here to vehicles sent into space, other than Satellites.  May be manned or unmanned. May be one shot or multi-use.

 
Key Project Drivers

  • Need for high Reliability with redundancy

  • Degree of automation

  • Safety (particularly if manned)

  • Matching design characteristics to purpose

  
What Goes Wrong
  • Small and subtle errors lead to failure to achieve purpose.
  • Failure to test certain modes of operation.
  • Programme pressures lead to significant risks being taken.
     

Key Systems Engineering or Project Management Techniques

  • Mission/Operational Analysis
  • Clear assignment of roles, responsibilities and authority
  • FMECA
  • Interface Management
  • (Thorough) Testing Strategy
 

Case Studies

  • Units conversion error led to loss of Mars Climate Orbiter.
  • Space shuttle Challenger disaster, partially due to known design fault not followed up.
  • Mariner 1 loss due to a faulty line of Fortran Code
  • Apollo 13

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