Space Systems Failures: Disasters and Rescues of Satellites, Rocket and Space Probes

by David M. Harland, Ralph D. Lorenz

Few endeavors are as technologically demanding as the design and operation of rockets and robotic spacecraft. A deep space mission is a lengthy sequence of critical events, all of which must be achieved, either in a straightforward manner or by a work around. For example, the Cassini-Huygens mission must survive in space for seven years, flying a precise course, simply to reach its target, Saturn. It could all too easily suffer an irrecoverable failure at any stage. In fact, throughout the "Space Age" a range of systems failures has frustrated missions. These have included total booster malfunction, by rocket upper stages failing to ignite or misfiring, by being stranded in parking orbit around the Earth, by being sent on the wrong trajectory, by loss of control during mid-course correction maneuvers, by failure to deploy their communication antennas, by missing their targets completely, by crash landing, and by instrumentation failures.

Genres: Space, Science, History, Engineering

368 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Ashlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Space Systems Failures: Disasters and Rescues of Satellites, Rockets, and Space Probes is a really eye-opening compilation of the various failures of space systems missions including scientific NASA missions, commercial launches, and defense programs around the world. This book will make you much more vigilant in designing space systems. If you think flubbing units or coordinate systems is not that big of a deal, add up the millions (or billions?) of dollars lost to these trivial mistakes in production launches.

[Dan Mueller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read if you can get past the terrible editing.

[Mike]

Anyone (ahem) who laughs at launch failures would be ROFL with this book. I'm reading it because the stories are great, the saves brilliant, and those who ignore history etc.