Human safety analysis for the Genesis Sample Return Mission

In order for the Sample Return Capsule from the Genesis spacecraft to return to Earth, it had to be determined that the casualty risk of the capsule's return would be minimal. Under stringent NASA and USAF requirements, JPL engineers developed a statistical analysis of the collective and individual casualty risks based on a regional population survey and Gaussian landing distributions. Additionally, other assessments of property damage and unacceptable zones were studied. These analyses were updated through the final hours of the mission as the navigation team produced new assessments of the landing distributions based on updated orbit determination solutions and maneuver designs. This analysis showed that the capsule was targeted to a region of minimal casualty risk: northeastern Nevada prior to the capsule release sequence and the Utah Test and Training range in northwestern Utah before the final maneuver and after the capsule-release sequence. Had this analysis not been performed, NASA would not have allowed the capsule to return.