NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-93-102
Recommendation
THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION: REQUIRE, AS PART ELV LAUNCH PLANNING DOCUMENTATION: A SAFETY DIRECTIVE OR SAFETY NOTEBOOK FOR THE LAUNCH TO EMPHASIZE THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE LAUNCH OPERATION AND TO CLEARLY LIST AND CONSOLIDATE MISSION CONSTRAINTS, RULES, AND SPECIAL LAUNCH RULES, AS WELL AS ABORT PROCEDURES.
Safety Issue and Context
ON FEBRUARY 9, 1993, ABOUT 0930 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, THE LAUNCH SEQUENCE FOR AN ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION (OSC) PEGASUS EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE (ELV) WAS ABORTED BY THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) RANGE SAFETY OFFICERS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED LAUNCH CONSTRAINT. SEVERAL SECONDS LATER, THE LAUNCH SEQUENCE WAS REINITIATED BY THE OSC TEST CONDUCTOR, AND THE MISSILE SEPARATED UNEVENTFULLY FROM ITS CARRIER AIRCRAFT. THE IGNITION AND STAGING OF THE PEGASUS AND ITS SUBSEQUENT DEPLOYMENT OF TWO SATELLITES INTO LOW EARTH ORBIT WERE ALSO UNEVENTFUL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE MISSION AND NO DAMAGE TO MISSION ASSETS.
Response History
June 16, 1997 · NTSB Correspondence · Orbital Sciences Corporation
OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE SAFETY BOARD INITIALLY RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM YOUR CORPORATION ON 9/8/93, CONCERNING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT SINCE RECEIVED ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED. IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM YOU WITHIN 45 DAYS, THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--UNACCEPTABLE ACTION."
May 9, 1994 · NTSB Correspondence · Orbital Sciences Corporation
THE BOARD NOTES THAT THE OSC PRECEDES EACH LAUNCH BY COMPLETING A CHECKLIST & A REVIEW OF THE MCD. HOWEVER, A-93-102 ASKED THE OSC TO DEVELOP A SAFETY DIRECTIVE OR SAFETY NOTEBOOK FOR THE LAUNCH, & THE BOARD FINDS NO MENTION OF THIS IN YOUR REPLY. THEREFORE, THE BOARD CLASSIFIES A-93-102 "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE" PENDING INFO CONCERNING A SAFETY DIRECTIVE OR SAFETY NOTEBOOK.