Answer to Question #211914 in Electrical Engineering for Muhammad Yousaf

Question

a)     The space shuttle is an extremely complex engineering system. The more complex a system the harder it is to make a safe especially in a harsh environment such as outer space. Do you think that two accidents in 113 flights is an acceptable level of risk for an experimental system such as the shuttle Explain? 

Answer 1

NS, a space organization, based in the U.S., has launched space shuttle mission "CH," which did not go well and was blasted. It was assumed that the astronauts who were part of this mission gave their informed consent to this mission. After the accident and blast that took place with the space shuttle, the investigation that took place surfaced many blame games. Organizations like TK and NS blamed each other for this blast after investigating the possible reasons for the blast and the occurrence of this accident. 

It is stated that the space shuttle is engineered in an extremely complex manner, and the more complex the system or design is, the more is the danger that this design provides and creates, especially in outer space where the conditions and situations are not controlled properly. Looking at this fact, it could be said that the two accidents in 113 flights are at an acceptable level of risk for an experimental system such as the space shuttle. If we go by the numbers, then it could be said that the occurrence of accidents of two flights out of 113 flights is minimal or trivial. This number of loopholes or accidents is acceptable for an experimental system such as the space shuttle. In this case, it could not be confidently said that it was the complacent attitude from NS's and TK's side that led to the occurring of these accidents because the risk factor is always attached with the complex and complicated designing of space shuttle and flights.