Updates to NPR 8705.6, Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) Audits, Reviews, and Assessments, took effect Jan. 9, 2017. These changes were made to update and streamline the audit process.

NASA-STD-8739.6A, Implementation Requirements for NASA Workmanship Standards was updated and released on June 30, 2016. The revised standard, effective for five years, includes significant technical updates and corrections. This update was one of three recently publish standard updates, which included NASA-STD-8739.1B, Workmanship Standard for Polymeric Application on Electronic Assemblies and NASA-STD-8739.4A, Crimping, Interconnecting Cables, Harnesses, and Wiring.

NASA-STD-8739.4A, Crimping, Interconnecting Cables, Harnesses, and Wiring was updated and released on June 30, 2016. The revised standard, effective for five years, includes significant technical updates and corrections. This update was one of three recently publish standard updates, which included NASA-STD-8739.1B, Workmanship Standard for Polymeric Application on Electronic Assemblies and NASA-STD-8739.6A, Implementation Requirements for NASA Workmanship Standards.

NASA-STD-8739.1B, Workmanship Standard for Polymeric Application on Electronic Assemblies was updated and released on June 30, 2016. The revised standard, effective for five years, includes significant technical updates and corrections. This update was one of three recently publish standard updates, which included NASA-STD-8739.4A, Crimping, Interconnecting Cables, Harnesses, and Wiring and NASA-STD-8739.6A, Implementation Requirements for NASA Workmanship Standards.

Updates to NASA-HDBK-8739.23, Complex Electronics Handbook for Assurance Professionals, went into effect on Feb. 2, 2016. These changes brought the assurance handbook into alignment with NASA-HDBK-4008, Programmable Logic Devices (PLD) Handbook. 

Changes to NASA-STD-8719.24 align the standard with policy changes made to NPR 8715.7 last February. 

NASA published an updated version of NASA-STD-8739.5, Workmanship Standard for Fiber Optic Terminations, Cable Assemblies, and Installation, on Sept. 14, 2015. This update adds an exclusion and a new requirement in addition to meeting agency requirements to periodically check and refresh the standard.

Changes to NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 1852.223-73 will make NASA’s proposal review process quicker and more efficient. The requirement changes permit companies competing for low-cost and administrative contracts with minimal hazards to submit Safety and Health Plans after the contract is awarded.

In 2014, the Electrostatic Discharge Association updated its primary Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) control standard: American National Standards Institute/ESD S20.20. The changes affect how NASA defines the minimum requirements for ESD controls applied when the agency and its suppliers process and handle mission hardware that is sensitive to damaging ESD events.

NASA recently proposed new legislation to address the growing problem of counterfeit parts in the aerospace industry supply chain. The legislation is part of the NASA 2014 Authorization Bill, which passed the House on June 9 and is awaiting approval by the Senate before moving to the president to be signed into law. If passed, NASA will implement changes required by the law through modifications to the NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (NASA FAR Supplement or NFS).