Is it worth the risk? – An astronaut's approach to risk awareness

The need to make human spaceflight as safe as technically possible is a characteristic of this special branch of space missions and drives the cost and feasibility of human space exploration. Between the time prospective astronauts first apply for a chance to fly into space and the actual time when they climb into the spacecraft on top of a rocket for the first flight, risk awareness, mitigation, and assessment are present as a constant background reflection. What drives human explorers to accept the remaining non-mitigatable risks and when is the individual “go” decision made? In light of future long-term missions; leading humans again from LEO into deep space a sound understanding of this decision process may lead to an improved selection and composition of capable space expedition crews. •Astronauts launching on a rocket are visibly exposed to an assumingly life threatening risk.•Human rating for a spacecraft requires enhanced risk mitigation in form of highest technical reliability standards.•Tolerable remaining risks should be in balance with expected flight results (science, technology).•Training is a key factor to positively tip the balance towards performing a spaceflight despite the risk.