The 2015 Trilateral Safety and Mission Assurance Conference (TRISMAC) was held May 18-20, 2015, at the European Space Research Institute in Frascati, Italy.

TRISMAC is jointly organized by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and is an opportunity for the three space agencies and industry to exchange Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) information and discuss advancements in the field.

“NASA is honored to be part of the fourth successful TRISMAC meeting. Together, the international aerospace agency partners are making strides in the exchange of information, tools, processes, training materials and methods that will lead to a safer future of spaceflight,” said Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA) Deputy Chief Hal Bell.

Hosted by ESA this year, TRISMAC 2015’s theme was the “Contribution of Safety and Mission Assurance to Cost-Effective Missions.” Agency keynote speeches noted that spaceflight is changing, requiring an evaluation of SMA requirements and practices. Speakers represented all three space agencies and industry.

OSMA Safety and Assurance Requirements Division Director Frank Groen represented NASA as a keynote speaker at the conference.  In addition, Ames Research Center’s Steve Jara, Headquarters’ John Evans, and Goddard Space Flight Center’s Kelly Daniluk, Ken LaBel and Mike Sampson each presented at TRISMAC. 

TRISMAC Attendees

NASA representatives gave presentations on a variety of topics, including Reliability and Maintainability; SMA requirements, methods and standards; cost-effective software; Electrical, Electronic and Electromechanical parts; NASA electronic parts and packaging; and CubeSats.

NASA Workmanship Program Manager and second-time attendee Jeannette Plante found the presentations to be relevant and timely. “The presentations really looked at the complexity of our work in a modern project environment — more challenging technology, faster schedules and smaller budgets. Space-ready technology is not as available as it used to be, so there are scarce resources in every way. The presentations were very well-focused on the challenges that we are facing,” said Plante.

In addition to presentations, representatives from all three agencies discussed various case studies and formed task force and working group breakout sessions over the three days.  At the midway point in the conference, attendees toured the Avio Colleferro facility, where the ESA Vega rocket is manufactured.

The next TRISMAC is sponsored by JAXA in the fall of 2016.