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I dug up the number for Shuttle missions for comparison: Out of 135 total missions, 2 shuttles were destroyed in accidents [0]. While it is certainly great to
by dantillberg 11y ago
I dug up the number for Shuttle missions for comparison: Out of 135 total missions, 2 shuttles were destroyed in accidents [0].
While it is certainly great to aim for 100% success, it's helpful to remember that astronauts are willing to take measured risks in order to perform their missions, and that we must select rockets/etc from the options available, not from the options we might wish to have.
0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Space_Shuttle_missions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Space_Shuttle_missions
- lutorm 11y agoAlthough if you count F9-4 as a failure, you should also count the STS-51-F Abort-to-Orbit as a failure, which brings it to 3/135.
- mikeash 11y agoProbably STS-93 too.
- goodcanadian 11y agoThese two bring up an interesting philosophical point. Are they successes of failures? To me, it sounds like engineering done right. "Something bad" happened, and yet the vehicle survived and even completed its mission.
- Already__Taken 11y agoWell then it's only 1 spacex failure. People aren't arguing the merits of success they just want to use the same rules to talk about nasa and spacex
- programd 11y agoAs I recall the original engineering estimate was a 2% catastrophic failure rate - i.e. loss of orbiter - on the Shuttle [1]. Columbia was STS 107. The estimate was spot on. You have to respect the level of engineering involved here. [1] http://www.amazon.com/Development-Shuttle-1972-1981-History-Volume/dp/1588340090 http://www.amazon.com/Development-Shuttle-1972-1981-History-...