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The Human Factors of an Early Space Accident: Flight 3-65 of the X-15The X-15 was a critical research vehicle in the early days of space flight. On November 15, 1967, the X-15-3 suffered an in-flight breakup. This 191st flight of the X-15 and the 65th flight of this third configuration was the only fatal accident of the X-15 program. This paper presents an analysis, from a human factors perspective, of the events that led up to the accident. The analysis is based on the information contained in the report of the Air Force-NASA Accident Investigation Board (AIB) dated January, 1968. The AIBs analysis addressed, primarily, the events that occurred subsequent to the pilots taking direct control of the reaction control system. The analysis described here suggests that all of the events that caused the accident occurred well before the moment when the pilot switched to direct control. Consequently, the analyses and conclusions regarding the causal factors of, and the contributing factors to, the loss of Flight 3-65 presented here differ from those of the AIB based on the same evidence. Although the accident occurred in 1967, the results of the presented analysis are still relevant today. We present our analysis and discuss its implications for the safety of space operations.
Document ID
20160000579
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Barshi, Immanuel
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Statler, Irving C.
(NASA Ames Associate)
Orr, Jeb S.
(Draper (Charles Stark) Lab., Inc. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
January 11, 2016
Publication Date
October 30, 2015
Subject Category
Air Transportation And Safety
Behavioral Sciences
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN27421
Meeting Information
Meeting: NESC Webinar
Location: Moffett Field, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: October 30, 2015
Sponsors: NASA Ames Research Center
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 869021.03.01.01.04
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNM12AA41C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
accident investigation
human factors
X-15
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