Crew Survivability Aspects for a Human Rated Exploration Launch Vehicle

NASA’s new initiative to return us to the Moon and then on to Mars is an exciting new endeavor. With the retirement of the existing Space Transportation System, a highly dependable replacement is needed to carry out this new mission. The replacement launch vehicle must certainly improve upon the reliability of the current system. Thus, the question is: what characteristics should this launch vehicle possess that enhance crew survivability? These characteristics are often referred to as human rating. What constitutes human rating and a high launch-vehicle reliability is often debated. Indeed, some have argued that certain propulsion types have an inherent reliability and are more suitable than others when crew survivability is paramount. A simple launch vehicle design, a proven propulsion heritage, and a successful human-rating approach anchored in rigorous program requirements are more important considerations for reliability and crew safety than propulsion selection alone.