The lack of space-related failure data is one of the biggest problems NASA has in performing quantitative risk analyses, and was identified as a need for the agency several years ago [1]. This paper provides an overview of the resulting database that was recently developed to solve this problem. The database primarily includes Bayesian priors for thousands of functional failure (i.e., a failure of a system or component to perform its intended function) basic events from both the Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) Probabilistic Risk Assessments (PRAs) along with additional data from smaller NASA projects. A hierarchy was developed for storing and searching the data. A grading system for data quality was also developed for the user to understand the basis and source of the data. This database involves support from most, if not all, of the NASA centers and requires accessibility to computer applications and configuration control. Once the database structure is in place, it will attract a large number of potential customers. An organized and categorized database of space-related system and component failures is now at hand.
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