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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?

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Artist Concept

COSPAR Updates Planetary Protection Policy for Lunar Missions

August 31, 2021
3-minute read

Recently, the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) updated its Planetary Protection policy for the Moon, including adding Category II sub-designations to accommodate missions to different regions. The new Category IIa and IIb designations reflect the importance of the Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs) to science and the Artemis generation of human exploration.

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Randy Cruz

Randy Cruz Receives Yes, If Coin for SMA Advocacy

August 20, 2021
4-minute read

Captain Randy Cruz, former senior advisor to the NASA administrator, received a “Yes, If” coin on July 23, for serving as a constant advocate for Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) at NASA.

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Pressure Vessel

New Process for Managing Non-Code Pressure Vessels Creates NASA Standard

August 16, 2021
2-minute read

NASA-STD-8719.26A, NASA Requirements for Ground Based Non-Code Metallic Pressure Vessels went into effect May 11, 2021. This standard is intended to manage risk to personnel, facilities, missions and the environment posed by the use of existing ground-based, non-code metallic Pressure Vessels that either 1) do not comply with applicable American Society of Mechanical Engineers code requirements specified in Occupational Safety and Health Administration 29 CFR pt. 1910 regulations or 2) were modified and no longer comply with the code.

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SARP

NASA Program Sponsors 4 Software Assurance Research Areas in FY21

August 03, 2021
8-minute read

The NASA Software Assurance Research Program (SARP) is sponsoring four research projects in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 to benefit Software Assurance processes across the agency. The research program is aligned to support agency goals to improve how NASA performs Software Assurance activities.

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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


nasa-nsc-smdec-thumb-lessons-from-challenger

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 8621.1 NASA Procedural Requirements for Mishap and Close Call Reporting, Investigating and Recordkeeping March 4, 2021 See NPR 8621.1  
NASA-STD-8719.26 NASA Requirements for Ground-Based Non-Code Metallic Pressure Vessels May 11, 2021 See NASA-STD-8719.26  
NASA-STD-8739.5 Workmanship Standard for Fiber Optic Terminations, Cable Assemblies and Installation July 9, 2021 See NASA-STD-8739.5  
NASA-STD 8719.25  Range Flight Safety Requirements May 24, 2021 See NASA-STD 8719.25  
NASA-STD 8719.7  Facility System Safety Guidebook March 30, 2021    
NASA- STD 8709.20 Management of Safety and Mission Assurance Technical Authority (SMA TA) Requirements April 12, 2021 See NASA- STD 8709.20  
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  
 NPR 8715.3 General Safety Program Requirements April 13, 2021 See NPR 8715.3  
NASA-STD 8739.12  Metrology & Calibration April 7, 2021 See NASA-STD 8739.12  
NPR 8705.6E  Safety and Mission Assurance Audits, Reviews and Assessments March 11, 2021 See NPR 8705.6E  
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-8719.11B Standard for Fire Protection and Life Safety Feb. 24, 2021 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-8719.14  Process for Limiting Orbital Debris See NASA-STD-8719.14
 NPR 8715.3  General Safety Program Requirements See NPR 8715.3
NPR 8000.4 Agency Risk Management Procedural Requirement See NPR 8000.4
 NPR XXXX.X  Nuclear Flight Safety  
NASA-STD-8719.24B Annex Annex to NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Payload Safety Requirements See NASA-STD-8719.24B
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)  
» 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 8705.5 Technical Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) Procedures for Safety and Mission Success for NASA Programs and Projects See NPR 8715.6
NPR 8715.6 NASA Procedural Requirements for Limiting Orbital Debris and Evaluating the Meteoroid and Orbital Debris Environments See NPR 8715.6
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 8709.20 Management of Safety and Mission Assurance Technical Authority (SMA TA) Requirements See NASA-STD 8709.20
NASA-STD-8719.9  Lifting Standard See NASA-STD-8719.9
NASA-STD 8739.11 EEE Parts Selection, Screening, Qualification & Derating
NASA-STD-8739.4 Workmanship Standard for Crimping Interconnecting Cables, Harnesses and Wiring See NASA-STD-8739.4
NASA-STD-8739.1 Workmanship Standard for Polymeric Application on Electronic Assemblies See NASA-STD-8739.1
NPD 8730.2 NASA Parts Policy See NPD 8730.2
NPD 8720.1 NASA Reliability and Maintainability (R&M) Program Policy See NPD 8720.1
NASA-STD 87xx Wind Tunnel Model Systems Criteria  
NPR 8705.6 Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) Audits, Reviews, and Assessments See NPR 8705.6
NPR 8705.4 Risk Classification for
NASA Payloads		 See NPR 8705.4
NID 8715.xx Safety Policy Regarding Hazardous Chemicals
Storage		  
NASA-STD-8739.10 Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) Parts Assurance Standard See NASA-STD-8739.10
NPR 8735.1 Exchange of Problem Data Using NASA Advisories and the Government-Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP) See NPR 8735.1
 NPR 8735.2 Hardware Quality Assurance Program Requirements for Programs and Projects See NPR 8735.2
» More Policy Updates