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Non-U.S. human space transportation history from 1961 through 2007 is reviewed. Past and present non-U.S. human space programs and human space launch vehicles and spacecraft are briefly discussed. Category and chronological list of non-U.S. human space missions are presented. The emphasis of the study is on the investigation of mission failures and major anomalies encountered in non-U.S. human space transportation history. Failures and major anomalies by part, root cause, element, function, domain, and component are analyzed. Failure outcome, failure mode, time of failure, and mission reliability relevant to flight safety analysis are examined. Findings and failure mitigation strategy are summarized.

Review results on world space launches since the inception of the space age in 1957 are presented. The success rates of solid rocket motors and liquid rocket engines used in the space launch vehicles from different countries of the world during the past 25 years are compared. The failure causes and vulnerable areas for failed U.S. space launch vehicles using solid rockets are identified and discussed. The results contain some of the lessons learned. The objectives of the study are to 1) provide information on the past space-related mission failures; 2) identify the failure causes for space launch vehicles using solid rockets; 3) define vulnerable areas of launch vehicles using solid rockets; and 4) assess measures taken and processes needed to reduce risks in solid rocket operations. It is hoped that the information contained in the paper will help in mitigating future space launch failures.

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