Space systems failures : disasters and rescues of satellites, rockets and space probes

In the 1960s and 1970s deep space missions were dispatched in pairs in case one was lost in launch or failed during its journey. Following the triumphs of the Viking landings on Mars in 1976 and both Voyagers spacecraft successfully surveying the outer giant planets of the Solar System, it was decided by NASA to cut costs and send out just a single probe. Although Magellan successfully mapped Venus by radar, it suffered from problems during the flight. Then came the loss of Mars Observer, whose engine exploded as it was preparing to enter Mars’ orbit because it was using technology designed for Earth’s satellites and the engine was not suited to spending several months in space. Later came the high-profile losses of Mars Climate Observer and Mars Polar Lander - a consequence of the faster, better, cheaper philosophy introduced by Dan Goldin in 1993. Even the highly successful Galileo mission suffered a major setback when its high-gain antenna (also based on satellite mission suffered a major setback when its high-gain antenna (also based on satellite communication technology) failed to deploy fully, greatly diminishing the craft’s radio transmission capabilities, forcing the ground crew to re-programme the on-board computer to enable it to fulfil its mission and provide stunning images of Jupiter and its moons. In **Space Systems Failures**, David Harland (here working with co-author Ralph Lorenz) describes the many quite fascinating tales of woe involving failures of rockets, satellites and deep space missions in his inimitable style, providing a unique insight into the trials and tribulations of exploration at the high frontier. Front Matter....Pages i-xvii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The missiles....Pages 3-23 The Shuttle....Pages 25-45 Back to expendables....Pages 47-69 Heavyweights....Pages 71-95 Lightweights....Pages 97-111 Boom and bust....Pages 113-133 The Chinese experience....Pages 135-143 The current crop....Pages 145-174 Front Matter....Pages 175-175 Failure and redundancy....Pages 177-180 Propulsion system failures....Pages 181-209 Attitude control system failures....Pages 211-226 Electrical failures....Pages 227-264 Environmental failures....Pages 265-284 Structural failures....Pages 285-314 Failures on the ground....Pages 315-333 Operator and software errors....Pages 335-345 Conclusions....Pages 347-353 Back Matter....Pages 355-368

The very first book on space systems failures written from an engineering perspective.

Focuses on the causes of the failures and discusses how the engineering knowledge base has been enhanced by the lessons learned.

Discusses non-fatal anomalies which do not affect the ultimate success of a mission, but which are failures nevertheless.

Describes engineering aspects of the spacecraft, making this a valuable complementary reference work to conventional engineering texts.

"In Space Systems Failures David Harland and Ralph Lorenz review the causes of failures and how the engineering knowledge base has been enhanced by the lessons learned. The tales they all provide a valuable insight into the trials and tribulations of exploration and exploitation of the high frontier."--Jacket