Space Rendezvous and Proximity Operations – Safety Critical Lessons

Integrated spacecraft proximity operations and docking/undocking require multi-dimensional safety considerations and engender significant risk for loss of crews and vehicles. Among other factors, a key element and measure of operational success must be execution of the requisite engineering to certify and manage safety of flight. This effort will provide lessons that may be communicated, considered, and learned to inform planned and unplanned operations expected during lunar missions. It will focus on decades of evolutionary engineering and operations required by the NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter and space station operations. The narrative includes the evolution of engineering and operational methods starting in late 1984, transits the early days of the US space station program, pivots to the extraordinary Mir space station missions, and highlights the challenging times of early International Space Station (ISS) assembly culminating with the "Assembly Complete" milestone.