41. Lesson: Investigate All Failure Modes
Do not let concern and investigations of "probable" failure modes divert attention from less likely failures.
Background:
Because of the nature of the micrometeoroid shield deployment, the light and flexible design, and the difficulty in simulating zero gravity deployment, there was a general uneasiness with this system and its proper operation. As a result, at least three independent reviews were held, all concentrating on the deployment. Questions concerning whether it would stay on were answered with a statement that the tight rigging would assure it behaving as an integral part of the skin and that flutter analysis had given the design a clean bill of health.
The aerodynamic design of the tunnel was not questions.
These lessons learned are from SKYLAB LESSONS LEARNED AS APPLICABLE TO A LARGE SPACE STATION, A dissertation submitted to the faculty of The School of Engineering and Architecture Of the Catholic University of America For the Degree Doctor of Engineering by William C. Schneider, Washington, D.C., 1976.
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