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New Agency Standard for Wind Tunnel Model Systems Criteria

2-minute read
Truss-Braced Wind Model installed in the Ames 11x11 Foot Wind Tunnel

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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NPR 8715.24 Updates Agency’s Approach to Planetary Protection

2-minute read
Mars 2020

NASA’s Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA) recently released NPR 8715.24, Planetary Protection Provisions for Robotic Extraterrestrial Missions, effective Sept. 24, 2021. The new NASA Procedural Requirement (NPR) covers the agency’s new paradigm and overall approach to Planetary Protection and takes the place of the now cancelled NPR 8020.12D, Planetary Protection Provisions for Robotic Extraterrestrial Missions to integrate Planetary Protection. 

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COSPAR Updates Planetary Protection Policy for Lunar Missions

3-minute read
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Artist Concept

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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NPR 8715.3D Reflects Recent NPR 8715.1 Institutional Safety Updates

2-minute read
Regulations

NASA updated NPR 8715.3, NASA General Safety Program Requirements on April 13 from Revision D With Change 2 to Revision D With Change 3. This update reflects recent changes to and ensures consistency with NPR 8715.1, NASA Safety and Health Programs. 

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Updates to NASA-STD-8739.6 Reflect Ongoing Changes to Industry Standards and Expand ESD Control Applicability

3-minute read
Policies and Procedures Binders

The Office of Safety and Mission Assurance’s Workmanship Standards program recently updated NASA-STD-8739.6, Implementation Requirements for NASA Workmanship Standards to

  • Align with changes in industry standards
  • Expand Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) control requirements
  • Clarify training requirements
  • Reflect changes in other NASA Policy Directives and NASA Procedural Requirements
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OSMA Releases Significant NPR 8705.4A Updates

3-minute read
8705.4

NASA’s Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA) made significant updates to NPR 8705.4A, Risk Classification for NASA Payloads, effective April 29. 2021. OSMA updated the policy to reflect changes in risk acceptance and Technical Authority concurrence policies, to formalize and shorten the timeline for the risk classification process, to provide clearer and earlier documentation of the Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) implementation approach, and (most importantly) better align stakeholder and implementer expectations. 

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NPR 8705.6 Updated to Include All Three Technical Authorities

1-minute read
SMSR

Recent updates to NPR 8705.6, Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) Audits, Reviews, and Assessments on March 29,2021, added the chief health and medical officer to the list of Technical Authorities who may request a Safety and Mission Success Review (SMSR). Along with the chief of SMA and chief engineer, the chief health and medical officer will be able to officially request and participate in SMSRs.

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Policy Changes in Effect for NASA’s Construction Safety Community

2-minute read
Female construction worker

Two recent changes to NASA policy directly affect NASA’s Construction Safety community and its commercial suppliers and contractors. These changes went into effect Feb. 1, 2021. 

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NPR 8735.2 Sees Complete Rewrite in Revision C

11-minute read
NPR 8735.2 Sees Complete Rewrite in Revision C

Recent updates to NPR 8735.2, Hardware Quality Assurance Program Requirements for Programs and Projects consolidate Office of Safety and Mission Assurance policy into a hierarchy, make life cycle Quality Assurance more obvious without increasing prescription, and present approaches and solutions for a set of mission assurance objectives. 

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Managing Vegetation for Explosives Safety

5-minute read
Vegetation

Vegetation control is a necessary and effective tool to minimize the risk of fire propagation into explosives storage magazines, which could lead to dangerous and costly accidents. Generally, vegetation around explosives storage sites is strictly controlled. The Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Transportation Security Administration all have specific regulations to control the potential damage to explosives storage magazines from a nearby fire. Similarly, NASA has NASA-STD-8719.12, Safety Standard for Explosives, Propellants, and Pyrotechnics section 5.4 Vegetation Control, which outlines the basic agency requirements for managing vegetation. However, how each center implements these controls varies to accommodate the centers’ environments and needs.

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PHMSA Releases COVID-19 Extension of Enforcement Discretion Regarding Cylinders

1-minute read
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Logo

The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently released “Notice of Extension of Enforcement Discretion Regarding Cylinders That Have Exceeded Their Periodic Requalification Test Date.” 

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