Have you ever wondered if your current method for testing and measuring data is as accurate and efficient as it could be? Find out now in SATERN.

The NASA Safety Center (NSC) released two new courses about selecting, maintaining and using Measuring and Test Equipment (MTE) devices aimed at improving measurement data reliability and accuracy throughout the mission lifecycle.

“Our overall goal with these courses is to bring awareness in the area of Metrology and Calibration,” explains Jaime Day, Office of Safety and Mission Assurance executive liaison to the Metrology and Calibration (MetCal) Working Group. “We want our Measuring and Test Equipment community to know that each center’s MetCal Subject Matter Experts are here to help with their instrumentation needs and goals.”

SMA-HQ-WBT-111 Measuring and Test Equipment Selection provides an overview of the science of metrology and the importance of measurement accuracy and standards. These standards are important components of food safety, international trade, medical treatments, pharmaceuticals, air/sea/land transportation, scientific research and more. In this course, you will learn how to select, maintain and use MTE that is suitable for your workplace and meets NASA standards and requirements. Case studies illustrate types of errors that can occur when the wrong equipment is selected or when MTE devices are incorrectly calibrated or used.

SMA-HQ-WBT-112 Measuring and Test Equipment Use offers guidelines for using MTE equipment, including how to:

• Apply measurement techniques properly
• Comply with the procedures and safeguards provided in MTE instrument publications
• Use NASA metrology resources like the MetCal Lab for help interpreting instrument specifications or calibrating and operating MTE
• Determine the cost of owning, maintaining and using MTE

These two hour-long courses are designed to benefit a variety of participants, including:

• Personnel requesting the procurement of MTE
• Measurement process and procedure designers
• Quality Assurance personnel observing or approving measurement processes and results
• Quality Engineering professionals
• Safety and Mission Assurance personnel
• MTE end users and technicians

To learn more, search for the courses in SATERN or contact Langley Research Center’s Metrology and Calibration Program Manager Jaime Day.