New Agency Standard for Wind Tunnel Model Systems Criteria
January 17, 2023
2-minute read
NASA released NASA-STD-8719.28, Wind Tunnel Model Systems Criteria, effective Oct. 10, 2022. The new agency standard — which replaces local center standards at Ames Research Center, Glenn Research Center and Langley Research Center — ensures models can move seamlessly between the centers for testing in various wind tunnels.
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Cancellation of NPR 8705.5 Reflects Evolution of NASA Policy for Safety and Mission Success
January 04, 2023
3-minute read
NPR 8705.5, Technical Probabilistic Risk Assessment Procedures for Safety and Mission Success for NASA Programs and Projects was cancelled, a move consistent with the policy direction to be more objectives-driven, as defined in the recent update to NPD 8700.1, NASA Policy for Safety and Mission Success.
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New Issue of EEE Parts Bulletin Now Available
December 21, 2022
1-minute read
The EEE Parts Bulletin for November 2022 includes a thorough analysis of Covid-19’s impact on the Electrical, Electronic and Electromechanical (EEE) parts supply chain and also offers approaches to risk reduction.
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SMA Leadership Profile: Ronnie Rodriguez
December 01, 2022
6-minute read
Merriam Webster defines a leader simply as a “person who leads.” For Kennedy Space Center Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) Director Ronnie Rodriguez, a leader is better defined by why people follow him or her.
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Don’t Miss This JWST Micrometeoroid Mitigation Update
November 17, 2022
1-minute read
NASA engineered the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to withstand continual bombardment from dust-sized particles moving at extreme velocities, known as micrometeoroid strikes. To date, JWST is averaging one to two strikes a month.
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Protecting the Planet: Planetary Protection vs. Planetary Defense
October 14, 2022
2-minute read
Although both Planetary Protection and Planetary Defense programs at NASA include the word “planetary” and aim to protect the planet, that’s where similarities end. These two vital efforts oversee very different aspects of the agency’s role in protecting Earth, and in some cases, other planets.
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Agency QLF Meets at NASA Headquarters
October 11, 2022
5-minute read
The agency’s Quality Leadership Forum (QLF) met Sept. 13-15, 2022, at NASA Headquarters to focus on issues of particular interest and significance that are faced by NASA Quality Engineering and Assurance practitioners assigned to aeronautics and space flight program and project teams. The focus was on processes executed internally by NASA.
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NASA Releases New Planetary Protection Standard
August 31, 2022
2-minute read
NASA’s Office of Safety and Mission Assurance released NASA-STD-8719.27, Planetary Protection Standard, effective Aug. 30, 2022. The standard is a follow-on document complementing NPR 8715.24, Planetary Protection Provisions for Robotic Extraterrestrial Missions. It addresses and is relevant to both crewed and robotic missions and covers the technical details a mission should consider for the design and execution of the Planetary Protection mission throughout the project life cycle. It is relevant starting in the Mission Concept Review and System Requirements Review phase by defining the Planetary Protection categorization to end-of-mission disposal reporting.
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New Explosives Safety Course for Managers, Supervisors and Non-Explosives Personnel
August 18, 2022
2-minute read
NASA’s Explosives and Pyrotechnics Safety program recently released “Explosives Safety Awareness Training for Managers, Supervisors and Non-Explosives Personnel” (SMA-HQ-WBT-222) in SATERN. This online course provides an overview of Explosives Safety flow-down requirements and responsibilities for program, project and element managers throughout NASA. It emphasizes the responsibilities of personnel and safety awareness of operations that involve the handling, storage, transportation and processing of explosives.
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Updates to Payload Safety Policies Support New and Existing Programs
August 08, 2022
2-minute read
The Office of Safety and Mission Assurance enhanced the Payload Safety program to cover all payload projects. As part of this process, the program recently released a revision to NASA-STD-8719.24, NASA Payload Safety Requirements, effective March 20, 2022. This standard update followed a significant revision to NPR 8715.7B, NASA Payload Safety Program, effective April 27, 2020.
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