Safety and Mission Success Review

The Safety and Mission Success Review (SMSR) is a voice-recorded, predecisional briefing held approximately one month to two weeks prior to proceeding with a NASA mission, both human and robotic, as well as test flights and demonstrations of commercially developed launch vehicles and spacecraft. The SMSR is chaired by NASA Technical Authorities, which include the chief, Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA), the chief engineer, and the chief, Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer. Other key participants include the mission chief safety officer, mission chief engineer, independent assessment experts, mission medical officer, and Headquarters-based SMA and engineering personnel. The SMSR outcome is a documented recommendation from the Technical Authorities to the responsible mission director concerning residual risk and the advisability of proceeding.

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Safety and Mission Success Review (SMSR) Program Manager

 
Points of Contact

Points of Contact

For details on contacting a SMSR Point of Contact (PoC) for your location, click below.

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Policy and Guidance

NASA

Policy Title Buttons Buttons
NPR 7120.5 NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Requirements NPR 7120.5 Details See NPR 7120.5
NPR 8705.6, Chapter 3 Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) Audits, Reviews, and Assessments, Safety and Mission Success Review (SMSR) NPR 8705.6 Details See NPR 8705.6
HOWI 8700-GB035 Management of the Safety and Mission Success Review (SMSR) Process HOWI 8700-GN035 Details See HOWI 8700-GN035

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A Pre-SMSR is a preparatory SMSR event (teleconference or in-person meeting) — typically held one to four weeks prior to the actual SMSR, and usually lasts an hour — to determine the exact scope of the SMSR, providing any clarification or tailoring of the SMSR process to include:
    • The proposed SMSR agenda, including potential topics, presenters and time required for each presentation
    • The proposed SMSR final concurrence poll to ensure correct individuals have been identified for polling at the conclusion of the SMSR
    • Identification of expected SMSR participants, including any expected non-NASA and international participants
    • Identification of, and procedures for identifying and approving any expected content which may subject to special handling or controls, to include
      • Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
      • International Traffic in Arms Regulations/Export Administration Regulations restricted materials
      • Limited Rights data
      • Proprietary data
    • A review of general SMSR meeting logistics, including audio/video arrangements and presentation file submission and access

    Generally, attendance at Pre-SMSRs is limited to SMSR logistics coordinators and SMSR presenters.
  • SMSR presentation content is uploaded to an online NASA Enterprise Document Management System and archived per SMSR record retention policies. As a pre-decisional review, detailed SMSR meeting minutes are not produced; in lieu, the SMSR is audio/visual recorded.
  • SMSR events are by invitation only, and SMSR invitations include necessary SMSR event access and participation information.