The International Space Station considers what many believe to have been the ultimate international engineering project in history. The initial plans involved the direct participation of 16 nations, 88 launches and over 160 spacewalks-more space activities than NASA had accomplished prior to the 1993 International Space Station decision. Probably more important was the significant leap in System Engineering (SE) execution that would be required to build and operate a multi-national space station. In a short period of time, NASA and its partners had to work out how to integrate culturally different SE approaches, designs, languages and operational perspectives on risk and safety.

What conclusions can be drawn about the risk management philosophy at NASA?

What elements can you identify of the system engineering process?

What were the risks associated with specifying a 51.6-degree orbital inclination for the ISS?

Reference

Boyle, J., Bacon, J., and Stockman, B. 1982. International Space Station Systems Engineering Case Study. Air Force Center for Systems Engineering. Retrieved from website: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/

Jenks, M. 2000. Systems engineering challenges of the international space station. Reports on leading-edge engineering from the 2000 symposium on frontiers in engineering. Pages 3 -8. Retrieved from website: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10063.html

Independent Safety Task Force. 2007. Final report of the International space station. Nasa Headquarters. Retrieved from website: http://www. Nasa.gov