Sander Pool wrote:
I was thinking of that too, perhaps deaths per person space mile or deaths
per ton (launch and re-entry) would be better units. But then do you have to
apply weighting to account for the fact that launch/re-entry are so much
more dangerous than orbit?
Are you guys really worried about which is the
one true benchmark
(OTB T.M.)?
In any case, no matter how you slice it, the shuttle fleet has a better
safety record than previous vehicles combined, IMO.
It has a failure rate per launch of about 2%. The Soyuz has a failure rate
of about 2%. Any mature, good rocket has a failure rate of about 2% currently.
Until we get to launching a lot more often; I don't expect it to improve
any.
Sander
