Knowledge Category: Case Studies

Case Study–A few minutes after the Shuttle Endeavour reached orbit for STS-126 on Nov. 14, 2008, mission control noticed that the shuttle did not automatically transfer two communications processes from launch to orbit configuration. Primary communications continued to use S-band frequencies after they should have transferred to the more powerful Ku-band. The link between the shuttle and its payload — the Payload Signal Processor (PSP)–remained configured for a radio link rather than switching.

This course was developed to provide NASA employees with an overview of intent of the Technical Authority program/initiative and management structure designed to ensure checks and balances between decision-making authorities.

This course is designed to provide you with an overview of the Ariane 5 failure, which occurred on June 4, 1996. Arianespace, the world’s first commercial launch provider, developed and operated the Ariane family of launch vehicles on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). Ariane 5 Flight 501 was the first flight for the Ariane 5 launch vehicle series. It launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. The vehicle self-destructed 37 seconds after lift-off.

This course is designed to provide you with an overview of the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suit water intrusion close call which occurred on July 16, 2013. Two U.S. crew members aboard the International Space Station had to terminate an EVA when one of them reported water inside his helmet. A summary of the events leading up to the accident, a discussion of the underlying and proximate causes, root causes, and lessons learned by NASA are presented by Chris Hansen, Chairman – Mishap Investigation Board and Manager, Extravehicular Activity Office at Johnson Space Center.

This course provides an overview of the mission of Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1), the first orbital flight test article of the NASA Orion Multi-Purpose-Crew Vehicle Program. It focuses on the test philosophy conducted prior to EFT-1 mission to prepare the recovery team, the EFT-1 at-sea mission recovery efforts, and lessons learned from the testing.

This course is designed to provide you with an overview of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-N Prime mishap that occurred in 2003. The mishap involved damage to the satellite during pre-flight ground processing.

This course provides a brief overview of the X-31 mishap which occurred in January, 1995. The aircraft lost control, resulting in the first crash of the program in more than 500 successful flights.

This course provides a brief overview of the Columbia mishap which occurred in 2003.

This course provides a brief overview of the Challenger mishap which occurred at NASA in 1986.