Questions & Answers

Business Continuity Planning (BCP) is all about questions and answers. Asking the right questions and coming up with the right answers. It’s something like hind sight, perfect 20/20 vision, but in reverse.

People in the space industries are not immune to such thinking but the unfortunate consequence of hindsight in space industries is not only expensive, but potentially lethal. This is also true of people who work underwater. Get it right the first time, or suffer the consequences.

To some degree, we all think along the lines of BCP Q&A on a daily basis. For example, when you are driving down the street and you see a speed limit sign, what do you do? You automatically monitor your speed and the subconscious thought says, mind your speed or get a speeding ticket. By seeing a situation (speed sign), then thinking of the consequences (speeding ticket), we take an appropriate action (monitor your speed) to prevent a consequence.

When applying this Q&A sequence to the space industry we are able to prevent many disasters by building the technology correctly, the first time. There is however, and always will be those things we did not think about, and they harbor disaster or severe consequences.

Let’s consider the space suit for a minute. It is designed to maintain a livable atmosphere in the vacuum of space. Take that same suit to a planet such as Mars where the atmosphere is also hostile to human life, that same suit should be suitable. But is it?

In space, the suit weighs nothing, on Earth it weighs about 280 pounds. On Mars, it weighs around 105 pounds. That is like carrying an average 14 year old on your back for the entire time you are outside working on the Martian surface.

Weight is not the only issue; flexibility also becomes an issue on a planetary surface. We have all seen the images of the astronauts tripping and falling numerous times during moon walks. Were they simply careless or was the suit design itself at fault.

Your typical space helmet works in the vacuum of space or on the moon but will it work without modification on Mars. Ignoring the weight issue for a moment, a space helmet has a major drawback on a planetary body with atmosphere, namely, its sound proof.

On Earth, sound travels to your ears via vibrating air molecules. In deep space, there are no molecules to vibrate. There is no sound there. On Mars, sound acts differently than it does on Earth[1], but there is sound. Should the typical space helmet then be modified to allow the Martian explorer or worker to hear what is happening around them while still ensuring atmospheric integrity.

 Building or operating in a planetary colonial environment will include many of the same dangers we face on a construction site or walking down a street here on earth. There is a lot of moving parts and machinery scooting about. Only a deaf person can know what it is like to walk through a construction site, or walk down a busy street without hearing any sound.

 Statistical analysis of certain data[2] shows that deaf and hard-of-hearing drivers are 1.5 to 3.1 times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident. Statistical analysis of certain national data shows that a hearing driver is approximately 1.5 to 10 times more likely to remain uninjured in an accident as compared to a deaf or hard-of-hearing driver.

 “This indicates that there is a relation between deafness and injury severity. Specifically, the probability of sustaining injuries of particular severities differs for deaf and hearing drivers.”

 The leading causes of private sector worker deaths (excluding highway collisions) in the construction industry were falls, followed by struck by object, electrocution, and caught-in/between. These "Fatal Four" were responsible for more than half (58.6%) the construction worker deaths in 2018, BLS reports[3].

Caught-in/between would signify either lack of situational awareness and/or external noise causing inability to be aware of a movement leading to injury or death.

Considering these statistics, should we build a space helmet for atmospheric planetary use that allows us to hear our surroundings while maintaining atmospheric integrity?

 That question may or may not have already been considered but it is an example of a BCP Q&A. Look at the situation, extrapolate the risk to the extreme, then back up to the plausible and plan or design accordingly. The recent intrusion of civilian boaters into a capsule recovery site, in hind sight, should have been prevented before it happened. That is a typical example of not thinking of all possible situations and planing accordingly.

As noted in an earlier post, failing to adequately question a design concept (in habitat design for example) leads to a situation where the design becomes a flawed construct. Without asking all the questions, or the right questions, you are headed towards trouble. 

 I will come back to this topic of BCP Q&A in additional posts later, but for now, question everything you are designing with the thought process of a BCP professional. You may be surprised at how many flaws or what ifs you uncover.

 [1] https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2006/06/mars-no-one-can-hear-you-scream

[2] https://www.nafe.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2875:preliminary-analysis-of-roadway-accident-rates-for-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-drivers---forensic-engineering-application&catid=56:journal-abstract&Itemid=118

[3] https://www.osha.gov/data/commonstats