The Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) Payload Safety Program recently released a new training course and revised three safety forms. Established in 2008, the ELV Payload Safety Program attempts to mitigate and eliminate payload hazards and the hazards affecting the related facilities and personnel.

Program Overview Training

The newly released training course, “NASA ELV Payload Safety Program Overview of NPR 8715.7,” provides important training for anyone joining the payload safety discipline. Specifically, the course is intended for NASA ELV payload project managers, project engineers, system engineers, system safety engineers, Payload Safety Working Group members, launch site integration managers and others involved in payload safety. Eventually, the course also will become a part of the Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) Technical Excellence Program (STEP).

“We’re urging everyone involved in the payload safety community to take the course,” said Jennifer Holland, senior engineer with ManTech SRS.

Currently available in SATERN (NASA only), the course begins with an introduction to the ELV Payload Safety Program and a broad overview of the safety review and approval process. Then each step of the process is explained in detail, including the formation of the Payload Safety Working Group, the Payload Safety Introduction Briefing and Safety Reviews. The course also explains the deliverables, requirements and timing of safety reviews.

By increasing the understanding of the payload safety review and approval process, the course helps employees become more knowledgeable, which enables them to contribute more effectively to the safety and success of ELV payload activities.

Revised Payload Safety Forms

The ELV Payload Safety Program also released three revised forms: NASA ELV Payload Safety Hazard Report (NF 1825), NASA ELV Payload Safety Post-Tailoring Equivalent Level of Safety (ELS) Request (NF 1826) and NASA ELV Payload Safety Waiver Request (NF 1827).

All three forms are required by NASA-STD-8719.24, NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Payload Safety Requirements. The revised forms are now assigned agency numbers, and the ELS and waiver requests are now two separate forms rather than one. Other aspects of the forms were updated as well.

The revised forms can be found on the ELV Payload Safety Program website. A wealth of additional information is included on the website such as forms, links to standards and requirements, information on a wide array of projects, Air Force references, and contact information for both current and past projects.

Other changes that affect the program are coming soon. Keep an eye out for the revision to NPR 8715.7, Expendable Launch Vehicle Payload Safety Program.

Questions?

For more information on the training, forms or upcoming revisions, contact Holland or ELV Payload Safety Program Manager Calvert Staubus, NASA Kennedy Space Center.