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The Soyuz 11 Space Disaster: a Case Study in Engineering Disasters

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The Soyuz 11 Space Disaster: a Case Study in Engineering Disasters
The Soyuz 11 Space Disaster:
A Case Study in Engineering Disasters

ENGG 123

November 20, 2011

ABSTRACT
In 1971, Soyuz 11 was the first manned spaceship to contact the first space station. As the astronauts were preparing to re-enter the earth 's atmosphere the crew cab depressurized and the astronauts were killed within seconds. This paper will discuss the events that happened and how they were investigated. It will also discuss how the disaster affected future engineering decisions regarding the Soyuz missions as well as other future space adventures.

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Table of Contents

Abstract.............................................................................................................i
Table of Contents..............................................................................................ii
List of Figures...................................................................................................iii
1.0 Introduction.................................................................................................1
2.1 What Happened..........................................................................................1
3.1 What Went Wrong......................................................................................4 3.2 What Was Learned................................................................................7
4.0 Summary....................................................................................................8
Works Cited......................................................................................................9

List of Figures
Figure 2.1: a) a view of Soyuz 11 docked b) a view of Soyuz 11 taking off (Space Facts, n.d.)...........................................................................................2
Figure 2.2: a) seating chart for the astronauts b) the three astronauts inside Soyuz 11 c) astronauts preparing for takeoff (Space Facts, .n.d)...................3


Cited: Engineering Failures (n.d.). Soyuz 11. Retrieved from http://engineeringfailures.org/?p=124 on November 23, 2011 Svens Space Page (n.d.) The Soyuz 11 Disaster. Retrieved from http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/histind/Soyuz11Land/Soyuz11land.html on November 23, 2011 Space Facts (n.d.) Soyuz 11. Retrieved from http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-11.htm on November 24, 2011 About.com (n.d.) Soyuz 11. Retrieved from http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-11.htm on November 22, 2011 Abyss (n.d.) Space Accidents. Retrieved from http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/space/lectures/lec12.html on November 30, 2011 9
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