scope:

Abstract:

One of NASAs earliest activities for implementing the vision for space exploration is the initiation of a series of robotic missions to the moon to prepare for and support future human exploration activities. The Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) is sponsoring two robotic missions to the moon in late 2008. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) will spend at least one year in low, polar orbit gathering data to map the lunar surface. LRO will collect the highest resolution and most comprehensive data set ever returned from the moon to help achieve NASAs goal of returning human explorers safely to the moon. The Lunar Crater Observations and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) will investigate the presence and nature of water ice on the moon by impacting a lunar crater and observing the ejecta plume created. The LCROSS mission will provide valuable information about the existence of water on the moon, which will be used for future human lunar mission designs.

To help ensure the success of these two important missions, an assessment of previous NASA missions which had mishaps or failures was performed. Mishap Investigation Board (MIB) Reports were reviewed for eight missions, and the root causes and contributing causes of these mission mishaps were organized into recurring areas or themes. The recurring causes for these mishaps were reviewed with emphasis on potential application to LRO and LCROSS. It is hoped that this assessment of past missions that experienced mishaps and failures will prove valuable to the LRO and LCROSS project teams.