Advancements in Space Safety: An Assessment of Safety Management System Theory (SMST) Attributes among Commercial Space Organizations and CFR Part 121 Airlines

Abstract

Advances in the commercial space industry have highlighted the safety hazards and associated risk inherent in commercial space operations in the United States. The National Transportation Board (NTSB) recommended the implementation of a Safety Management System (SMS) into commercial space service provision as part of its accident investigation report on the Scaled Composite fatal event in 2014. An exploratory, sequential, mixed-method approach was used to assess the perceptions of SMS theory (SMST) among respondents from commercial space organizations without SMS and Part 121 commercial airlines with SMS. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) approach was used to assess the strength of relationships between SMST and its four underlying factors (safety policy, safety risk, safety assurance and safety promotion). The underlying scales had strong loadings (β ≥ 0.80) with acceptable construct validity. A measurement model of SMST had good fit and provides a tool for assessing SMST attributes in both the commercial space industry and commercial airlines. Generally, there was an acceptable understanding of the attributes of SMS theory by both groups of respondents. Findings suggest that commercial space respondents may be predisposed to accept SMST attributes. There was a significant difference among the two groups on safety assurance, with the airline respondents having a better perception (M = 5.9) as compared to space respondents (M = 5.1). This finding suggests that safety assurance elements require more emphasis in the commercial space industry. The study provides a viable model for assessing SMST attributes in commercial space operations to ensure continuous monitoring and improvements in safety management.