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    The Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA) assures the safety and enhances the success of all NASA activities. Take a look around our website to learn what's happening in NASA's Safety and Mission Assurance community, including updates on disciplines, programs, policies and personnel.

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What's Happening in the SMA Community?

8705.4

OSMA Releases Significant NPR 8705.4A Updates

May 06, 2021
3-minute read

NASA’s Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA) made significant updates to NPR 8705.4A, Risk Classification for NASA Payloads, effective April 29. 2021. OSMA updated the policy to reflect changes in risk acceptance and Technical Authority concurrence policies, to formalize and shorten the timeline for the risk classification process, to provide clearer and earlier documentation of the Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) implementation approach, and (most importantly) better align stakeholder and implementer expectations. 

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Human Factors

Training Available: Learn to Perform Human Factors Analyses

May 04, 2021
1-minute read

The Human Factors Task Force is hosting a virtual NASA Human Factors Analysis and Classifications System (NASAHFACS) training and certification course, available to NASA personnel interested in learning about the impact of Human Factors across the agency. The three-day certification course will be July 27-29, 2021, via Microsoft Teams.

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Glass

NEPP Pursues Advance Packaging Technology

May 03, 2021
3-minute read

The NASA Electronic Parts and Packaging (NEPP) Program is working to further advance packaging technology that has become a critical feature of modern Electrical, Electronic, Electromechanical and Electro-optical parts. In collaboration with its academic partner Georgia Tech, the NEPP Program is exploring 2.5/3D glass substrate technology for space applications.

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SMSR

NPR 8705.6 Updated to Include All Three Technical Authorities

May 03, 2021
1-minute read

Recent updates to NPR 8705.6, Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) Audits, Reviews, and Assessments on March 29,2021, added the chief health and medical officer to the list of Technical Authorities who may request a Safety and Mission Success Review (SMSR). Along with the chief of SMA and chief engineer, the chief health and medical officer will be able to officially request and participate in SMSRs.

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NASA Safety Reporting

NASA Safety Reporting

Learn more about reporting safety concerns at NASA.
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Yes, If Program

At NASA, safety is our first priority. When the possibility of something comes into question, our response should begin with, "Yes, if" instead of "No, because." Those who have exemplified this spirit of ingenuity, creativity and commitment to safety have received the "Yes, If" coin from the current chief of Safety and Mission Assurance. Recognize a NASA colleague who you believe should earn a "Yes, If" coin.

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Learn More About Yes, If Program

Featured Safety Message


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Lessons From Challenger

January 04, 2021

This Jan. 28, marks the 35th anniversary of the Challenger accident. The loss of the crew was a tragedy felt by their families, friends and coworkers at the agency, as well as people throughout the world.

The Challenger accident taught us tough lessons and brought forward what have become recognizable phrases: normalization of deviance, organizational silence and silent safety program.

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Office of Safety and Mission Assurance

What We Do

The Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA) assures the safety and enhances the success of all NASA activities through the development, implementation and oversight of agency-wide safety, reliability, maintainability and quality assurance policies and procedures. OSMA includes the Mission Support Division, Safety and Assurance Requirements Division, and NASA Safety Center, as well as the Independent Verification and Validation Facility.

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Policy Status Updates

Recently Published

Recently Published
Policy Title Effective Date    
NPR 8715.1B NASA Safety and Health Programs Feb. 1, 2021 See NPR 8715.1B  
NASA-STD 8719.12  Safety Standard for Explosives, Propellants and Pyrotechnics March 18, 2021 See NASA-STD-8719.12  
 NPR 8735.2 Hardware Quality Assurance Program Requirements for Programs and Projects March 15, 2021 See NPR 8735.2  
 NID XXXX.X Planetary Protection Categorization for Robotic and Crewed Missions to the Earth's Moon  July 9, 2020      
 NID XXXX.X  Biological Planetary Protection for Human Mission to Mars  July 9, 2020      
NPR 8621.1D Mishap and Close Call Reporting, Investigating and Recordkeeping  July 6, 2020 See NPR-8621.1D    
NPR 8705.6D  Safety and Mission Assurance Audits, Reviews and Assessments April 27, 2020 See NPR 8705.6D    
NASA-STD 8739.6B Implementation Requirements for NASA Workmanship Standards Feb. 4, 2021 See NASA-STD 8739.6B  
NPR 8715.7B NASA Payload Safety Program March 4, 2021 See NPR 8715.7B    
NASA-STD-8739.14 NASA Fastener Procurement, Receiving Inspection, and Storage Practices for NASA Mission Hardware  June 2, 2020 See NASA-STD-8739.14    
NASA STD-8739.8A Software Assurance and Software Safety Standard June 10, 2020 See NASA-STD-8739.8    
NASA STD-8719.11B  Standard for Fire Protection and Life Safety Aug. 20, 2020 See NASA-STD-8719.11B  
 NPD 8710.5 Policy for Pressure Vessels and Pressurized Systems Feb. 1, 2021    
» More Policy Updates

Currently in Review

Currently in Review
Policy Title  
NASA-STD-8739.12  Metrology and Calibration  
NPR 8000.4 Agency Risk Management Procedural Requirement  
NASA-STD-8709.20 Management of Safety and Mission Assurance Technical Authority (SMA TA) Requirements  
 NPR 8715.3  General Safety Program Requirements  
 NPR XXXX.X  Nuclear Flight Safety  
NASA-STD-8719.24B Annex Annex to NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Payload Safety Requirements  
NASA-STD-8719.24A NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Payload Safety Requirements  
NPR 8715 Draft 25 Planetary Protection Provisions for Robotic Extraterrestrial Missions (Previous document number 8020.12)  
NASA-STD-8719.26 Alternate/Supplemental Standard for Non-Code Metallic Pressure Vessels (Previous document number 8719.22)  
NPR 8705.4A
 Risk Classification for NASA Payloads
 See NPR 8705.4
» More Policy Updates

Upcoming Reviews

Upcoming Reviews To see that latest draft of a policy or participate in a review, please send us a request.
Policy Title  
NPR 8715.6 NASA Procedural Requirements for Limiting Orbital Debris and Evaluating the Meteoroid and Orbital Debris Environments  
NPD 8700.1 NASA Policy for Safety and Mission Success See NPD 8700.1
NASA-STD 8719.17 NASA Requirements for Ground-Based Pressure Vessels and Pressurized Systems (VPS)  
NASA-STD-8719.9  Lifting Standard  
NASA-STD-8719.25  Range Flight Safety Requirements  
 NPR 8621.1 NASA Procedural Requirements for Mishap and Close Call Reporting, Investigating and Recordkeeping  
NPD 8730.5 NASA Quality Assurance Program Policy See NPD 8730.5
STD or HDBK EEE Parts Selection, Screening, Qualification & Derating
NASA-STD-8739.4 Workmanship Standard for Crimping Interconnecting Cables, Harnesses and Wiring See NASA-STD-8739.4
NPR Nuclear Flight Safety
NASA-STD-8739.1 Workmanship Standard for Polymeric Application on Electronic Assemblies See NASA-STD-8739.1
NASA-STD-8739.5 Workmanship Standard for Fiber Optic Terminations, Cable Assemblies, and Installation See NASA-STD-8739.5
STD Planetary Protection  
NPD 8020.7 Biological Contamination Control for Outbound and Inbound Planetary Spacecraft See NPD 8020.7
» More Policy Updates