Risk analysis

This page focusses on the operational and (technology) development risk associated with spacecraft. For the fundamentals of risk and risk analysis, see our page entitled "Risk analysis fundamentals".

Spacecraft operational risk

This is the risk of loss of the spacecraft resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems, or from external events.

In a recent study [Sultan] estimated the % of number of orbital failures in spacecraft platforms (not including the payload) per subsystem.

Technology development (technological) risk: The risk that the technology required to meet the specified performance is not developed within the confines of the program schedule and budget.