The Human Factor

NASA vigorously trains its astronauts to ensure they are physically fit, mentally strong, and as reliable as the strongest machines. But the fact is, even the brightest of people make mistakes...and in the unforgiving environment of space, any error, even a small one, can have life and death implications. Join us as we examine space disasters caused by human factors, from a handyman blunder that nearly ruined a million-dollar Hubble mission to a sight-seeing distraction that caused a Mercury spacecraft to return to Earth 250 miles off course.