AN EXAMINATION OF THE HUMAN-FACTORS SUPPORT OF NASA SAFETY DIRECTORATE ON THE SPACE-STATION-PROCESSING-FACILITY (SSPF) KENNEDY-SPACE-CENTER, FLORIDA

A Human Factors Engineering (HFE) pilot project undertaken by NASA on the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, effectively demonstrates the advantage of using Human Factors to support NASA Safety. The project's goal is to reduce the causes of accidents by reducing error producing situations. The initial phase o f this endeavor consisted of a review of design drawings for the SSPF, identifying all Human Factors (HF) concerns with special emphasis on those that affected personnel safety, payload protection, and operatio nal efficiency. When drawings did not completely disclose how the faci lity's characteristics would fulfill operational needs, other faciliti es at KSC were visited to obtain insights that could be applied to the drawing critique. Overall, the drawing review revealed a broad range of HF and Safety concerns. When possible, these concerns were discusse d with the appropriate engineering personnel to effect workable soluti ons. To date, some of these HF & Safety concerns have been resolved by incorporating HF principles. Thus, this project has reduced potential problems that can contribute to accidents and costly delays, such as the Magellan Spacecraft Incident in October of 1988. In addition, this project has led to the evaluation of candidate methods for the implem entation of HF. Among these, a means of conducting HF evaluations duri ng Engineering Prototyping in a Computer Aided Design environment. Thi s innovative technique is anticipated to demonstrate the Safety advant age and substantial cost savings of incorporating HF principles.