With the
constant stream of news about the Curiosity rover that is now exploring Mars
for clues about the red planet's history (http://www.washingtonpost.com/mars-curiosity-rover-scoops-up-martian-dirt/2012/10/09/f75893d0-117e-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_video.html), many are again awestruck that humans are capable of
flinging an object tens of millions of miles through space and landing it
unharmed on the surface of another planet. While it may seem as if those who
plan these missions must possess superhuman abilities, the reality is that this
progress is the result of science and engineering. To successfully complete
these missions, careful risk management must be employed.
1. Determining risks
Risk management helped engineers create the rockets that lifted the Curiosity rover into space. Through decades of research, engineers were able to develop rockets that control explosions in such a manner that objects can safely be launched. Once the rover has entered space, engineers used risk management techniques to help mitigate potential risks to the probe while it was in transit. The probe travels at a high rate of speed, so engineers had to develop a method of slowing the probe. Along the way, engineers had to take steps to locate and handle all potential threats before launching the expensive rover.
2. Hard data
The best way to manage risks is to rely on hard data. For some areas of the Curiosity launch, NASA could rely on a significant amount of data. Rocket launches, in particular, are a regular occurrence, and NASA has the data necessary to have a highly level of confidence in their rocket technology. NASA also has considerable experience with objects traveling through space, so NASA could be fairly sure that they properly accounted for all risks the craft might encounter while en route to its destination. In all areas of risk management, attaining any hard data available can help considerably.
3. Unknowns
For some aspects of the Curiosity mission, there were risk factors that could not be fully predicted. Curiosity is the size of a small car and is the largest rover that anyone has attempted to land on Mars. To deal with this, engineers devised a landing system using retrograde thrusters, a large parachute and a system of lowering the probe using a hovering platform. The complexity of the task made risk management a key component, but NASA had to use techniques that did not rely on hard data. With careful calculations and planning, they managed to successfully land the rover.
Risk management is a complex field, and many engineers dedicated their entire careers to identifying and handling risks that might occur. Fortunately, the state of risk management has benefited tremendously from decades of refinement, and those who need to perform complex tasks can often rely on risk management to give accurate estimates.
1. Determining risks
Risk management helped engineers create the rockets that lifted the Curiosity rover into space. Through decades of research, engineers were able to develop rockets that control explosions in such a manner that objects can safely be launched. Once the rover has entered space, engineers used risk management techniques to help mitigate potential risks to the probe while it was in transit. The probe travels at a high rate of speed, so engineers had to develop a method of slowing the probe. Along the way, engineers had to take steps to locate and handle all potential threats before launching the expensive rover.
2. Hard data
The best way to manage risks is to rely on hard data. For some areas of the Curiosity launch, NASA could rely on a significant amount of data. Rocket launches, in particular, are a regular occurrence, and NASA has the data necessary to have a highly level of confidence in their rocket technology. NASA also has considerable experience with objects traveling through space, so NASA could be fairly sure that they properly accounted for all risks the craft might encounter while en route to its destination. In all areas of risk management, attaining any hard data available can help considerably.
3. Unknowns
For some aspects of the Curiosity mission, there were risk factors that could not be fully predicted. Curiosity is the size of a small car and is the largest rover that anyone has attempted to land on Mars. To deal with this, engineers devised a landing system using retrograde thrusters, a large parachute and a system of lowering the probe using a hovering platform. The complexity of the task made risk management a key component, but NASA had to use techniques that did not rely on hard data. With careful calculations and planning, they managed to successfully land the rover.
Risk management is a complex field, and many engineers dedicated their entire careers to identifying and handling risks that might occur. Fortunately, the state of risk management has benefited tremendously from decades of refinement, and those who need to perform complex tasks can often rely on risk management to give accurate estimates.
Author Bio
Nancy Parker was
a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like
health, Parenting, Child Care, Babysitting, nanny, www.enannysource.com/ etc. You can
reach her @ nancy.parker015 @ gmail.com.
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