System safety as applied to Skylab
Abstract
Procedural and organizational guidelines used in accordance with NASA safety policy for the Skylab missions are outlined. The basic areas examined in the safety program for Skylab were the crew interface, extra-vehicular activity (EVA), energy sources, spacecraft interface, and hardware complexity. Fire prevention was a primary goal, with firefighting as backup. Studies of the vectorcardiogram and sleep monitoring experiments exemplify special efforts to prevent fire and shock. The final fire control study included material review, fire detection capability, and fire extinguishing capability. Contractors had major responsibility for system safety. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and equipment criticality categories are outlined. Redundancy was provided on systems that were critical to crew survival (category I). The five key checkpoints in Skylab hardware development are explained. Skylab rescue capability was demonstrated by preparations to rescue the Skylab 3 crew after their spacecraft developed attitude control problems.
- Publication:
-
Amsterdam International Astronautical Federation Congress
- Pub Date:
- September 1974
- Bibcode:
- 1974amst.iafcS....K
- Keywords:
-
- Fire Prevention;
- Orbital Workshops;
- Rescue Operations;
- Safety Management;
- Skylab Program;
- Spacecraft Reliability;
- Astronaut Performance;
- Extravehicular Activity;
- Failure Analysis;
- Fire Extinguishers;
- Survival Equipment;
- System Failures;
- Launch Vehicles and Space Vehicles