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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 pilot's taking direct control of the reaction control system. The analysis described here suggests that, rather than events following the pilot's switch to direct control, it was the events preceding the switch that led to the accident. 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
20160012457
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Barshi, Immanuel
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Statler, Irving C.
(Ames Associate Moffett Field, CA)
Orr, Jeb S.
(Draper (Charles Stark) Lab., Inc. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
October 19, 2016
Publication Date
October 25, 2016
Subject Category
Air Transportation And Safety
Behavioral Sciences
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN34391
Meeting Information
Meeting: Invited talk at the Technical University of Munich
Location: Munich
Country: Germany
Start Date: October 25, 2016
Sponsors: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt, Technical Univ. of Munich
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 869021.03.01.01.04
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
X-15
human factors
accident investigation
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