Space Systems Failures (eBook)

Disasters and Rescues of Satellites, Rocket and Space Probes

David M. Harland, Ralph Lorenz (Autoren)

eBook Download: PDF

2007 | 2005
XVIII, 370 Seiten
Springer New York (Verlag)
978-0-387-27961-9 (ISBN)

Infos

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.

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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.

Inhalt

Contents 5
Preface 13
I Launch vehicles 16
1 The missiles 17
2 The Shuttle 38
3 Back to expendables 59
4 Heavyweights 82
5 Lightweights 107
6 Boom and bust 122
7 The Chinese experience 143
8 The current crop 152
II Satellites and space probes 182
9 Failure and redundancy 183
10 Propulsion system failures 187
11 Attitude control system failures 216
12 Electrical failures 232
13 Environmental failures 270
14 Structural failures 290
15 Failures on the ground 320
16 Operator and software errors 339
17 Conclusions 350
Index 357

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 14.9.2007
• Reihe/Serie: Space Exploration
• Reihe/Serie: Space Exploration
• Reihe/Serie: Springer Praxis Books
• Reihe/Serie: Springer Praxis Books
• Zusatzinfo: XVIII, 370 p.
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Astronomie / Astrophysik
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Fahrzeugbau / Schiffbau
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Luft- / Raumfahrttechnik
• Schlagworte: Control • Design • Galileo • Radar • Satellites • space
• ISBN-10: 0-387-27961-X / 038727961X
• ISBN-13: 978-0-387-27961-9 / 9780387279619