Human Systems Integration Division @ NASA Ames

Space projects rely completely on people for development and implementation—but project-related risk lists rarely include human factors as significant sources of risk. This paper is an attempt to identify and explain the important human factors that are related to mission success. The paper is based on interviews with Mission Assurance professionals, NASA and military reports and studies, and other literature. It identifies four types of human factors related to mission success: (1) adherence to processes and principles; (2) definition and fulfillment of roles, responsibilities, and relationships for organizations and individuals; (3) individual success factors and (4) communication within the project. There are examples of mission threats or mishaps from causes related to these factors. The paper notes mitigation techniques for risks associated with the human factors—readers are encouraged to come up with as many mitigation strategies as possible, and share them with each other!