The outcome of this workshop will be a prioritized list of immediate and long-term areas of concern and the research studies and design improvements necessary to alleviate those concerns from which a formal fire safety research plan can be developed.
Space travel is inherently dangerous so safety is of primary concern in the space program.
The vehicle structure and the crew are exposed to high levels of stress, and the hostile external environment makes escape and rescue nearly impossible. Many potential hazards can arise in space operations, among which are fire, atmospheric contamination, injury, explosion, loss of pressure, and meteoroid and debris penetration. These are examples of prompt-effect hazards, that is, those requiring immediate response for alleviation. Space operations are also subject to delayed-effect hazards, which are those requiring less urgent or timely response, such as contamination, hidden damage, and corrosion. Hence, fire-protection strategies must cover the restoration, repair, and cleanup activities after a fire event in addition to the obvious prevention and control before and during a fire.