A Database Containing Operational Experience in Spaceflight

Throughout the manned-space programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), significant data has been gathered regarding how humans live and work in the environment encountered in space. Recording operational experience helps avoid duplication of errors, can improve the design of equipment and procedures, and can provide valuable insight into human-machine and human-environment interfaces. Several sources contain valuable information about living and working in space, but are in an uncoordinated paper format. A relational database, called the Operational Experience Database, has been constructed to electronically store and organize human factors information from the Skylab and Space Shuttle missions. The taxonomy used to organize this database builds on the one used for the Skylab human-machine experiments. This information can be used by NASA engineers and operations personnel to remedy design problems, or expand on design successes. Work to improve and expand the database is underway.