Critical Knowledge Insight

Learning from failures can help facilitate innovation for technologies that will increase future mission success. 

Testing is an important part of reducing risk in spacecraft design, and can help determine limits and allow learning about a spacecraft’s performance.

Managing change effectively is an important component to being successful with NASA’s innovative missions.

A mix of people with diverse skills and expertise and using the right technology can set up a project for success.

Individual accountability, teamwork and communication determine success at NASA.

Sharing crucial information is only half the battle for successful communication.

As NASA was approaching the final flight of the space shuttle, a discussion panel was held at Masters Forum 20: Passing the Torch 3 to reflect upon the many important lessons learned from the formulation, development and operation of the Space Shuttle Program.

It is crucial to learn and understand as much as possible about the causes of human spaceflight mishaps to prevent them from reoccurring and to make future missions as safe as possible.

Reflecting and learning from an accident can be an emotionally painful process, but also extremely important to improving safety in the future.