Description of Driving Event:
Shift From Design Philosophy for Micrometeoroid Debris Penetration Scenarios to Flight Operations Strategies for Hazard Detection, Assessment, and Control
Lesson(s) Learned:
The overall design philosophy for meteoroid and orbital debris (M/OD) mitigation has been agreed to, in principle, by the international partners. Much of the U.S. module shielding design is nearing completion. Nevertheless, there remains a finite probability that a penetrating collision will occur during the life of the ISS mission. The emphasis of the M/OD effort is therefore shifting to operations issues, such as caution and warning, damage control, and strategies for reaction to depressurization events.
Recommendation(s):
Agreement with the international partners should be completed. Operational strategies and procedures for handling M/OD events should be developed and incorporated into ISS plans and schedules. Crew training programs to accommodate these strategies and procedures should be established.
Evidence of Recurrence Control Effectiveness:
The Common Depressurization Strategy (CDS) team was formed in May 1995 to coordinate the program approach for responding to a potential depressurization event. The team's charter is to address crew and vehicle operational strategies, immediately identify required hardware modifications to make safe the vehicle and crew, and develop necessary plans for implementation of these items. Baseline crew procedures, repair requirements, assessment methodologies, and identified hardware modifications (to reduce risks of vehicle and crew loss in the event of a penetration) are documented in international protocol agreements. Plans for implementation are being developed. This approach has been independently reviewed and validated in a series of joint meetings led by Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford (USAF, Ret.) of the NASA Advisory Council and Academician Vladimir F. Utkin of the Russia Space Agency Advisory Expert Council. Specific activities have been agreed to and will be completed by December 1997.
Documents Related to Lesson:
N/A
Mission Directorate(s):
- Space Operations
- Exploration Systems
Additional Key Phrase(s):
- Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel
- Emergency Preparedness
- Flight Operations
- Policy & Planning
- Risk Management/Assessment
- Safety & Mission Assurance
- Spacecraft
Additional Info:
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