NASA’s programs rely on robust supply chains to achieve mission success, resulting in many complex relationships that often cross between not only disciplines and projects, but contracts and suppliers. To ensure success, Safety and Mission Assurance professionals must look at the supply chain through a Risk Management perspective to help leaders make risk-informed decisions about the products and services that go into building the spacecraft, payloads and ground systems for the agency’s projects.

The NASA Metrology and Calibration (MetCal) Program released a new course in SATERN, “4:1 Test Accuracy Ratio for Compliance with ANSI/NCSL Z540.1-1994 (R2002) Sub-clause 10.2.b,” (SMA-HQ-WBT-217).

The most recent EEE Parts Bulletin provides information on activities related to Electrical, Electronic and Electromechanical (EEE) parts that occurred at NASA between August 2017 and May 2018. 

The NASA Workmanship Standards Program has released a new course in SATERN as a part of the NSC STEP Training that provides an overview of NASA-STD 8739.6, Implementation Requirements for NASA Workmanship Standards. The course, “8739.6 Self-Paced Workmanship Training,” is intended to inform and familiarize NASA employees with the NASA standard without replacing the need to read the content of the standard or participate in traditional Workmanship training.

The NASA Academy of Aerospace Quality (AAQ) was recently chosen to participate in the 2018 STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] for All Video Showcase, funded by the National Science Foundation.

From May 14-21, more than 200 federally-funded projects will share short videos highlighting their work aimed at “Transforming the STEM Educational Landscape.” The videos will focus on broadening participation and access to high-quality STEM experiences, innovative practices that are transforming education, partnerships that advance education, and research that informs STEM learning and teaching.

NASA and industry are working together to meet the safety, schedule and efficiency demands for current and future space flights, including those to and from the International Space Station.

At the recommendation of the NASA Metrology and Calibration (MetCal) Program, the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance cancelled NPD 8730.1, Metrology and Calibration and transferred the content to a new NASA standard, NASA-STD-8739.12, Metrology and Calibration, which went into effect Jan. 23, 2018. NPD 8730.5, NASA Quality Assurance Program Policy will carry the remaining MetCal policy language that was not transferred to NASA-STD-8739.12.

It is essential that NASA engineers use proper precautions when working with Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) sensitive hardware, as poor ESD control practices could be the difference between success and failure for a mission. ESD control is a fundamental component of NASA’s workmanship policy, which is why NASA requires operators to verify ESD personnel grounding systems (e.g. wrist or heel straps that are continuously connected to common point ground) are properly functioning before they enter an ESD Protected Area (EPA) or come within one meter of an ESD sensitive item. 

NASA’s Office of Safety and Mission Assurance Quality Initiatives Program sponsored a half day workshop on Quality Assurance in Additive Manufacturing (AM) at Aerospace Corporation Headquarters in El Segundo, California. The workshop, held in association with Aerospace’s Manufacturing Problem Prevention Program — or MP3 — and Additive Manufacturing Guidance Development Workshop, focused on the theme of “Quality Strategies for AM.” Speakers at the NASA AM portion included NASA centers, national labs and AM manufacturing industry representatives, as well as industrial risk analysis companies. 

The most recent EEE Parts Bulletin provides information on activities related to Electrical, Electronic and Electromechanical (EEE) parts that occurred at NASA between June and July 2017.