MISSION SUPPORT
FISCAL YEAR 1996 ESTIMATES
BUDGET SUMMARY
OFFICE OF SAFETY AND MISSION ASSURANCE SAFETY, RELIABILITY, MAINTAINABILITY AND
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER QUALITY ASSURANCE
SUMMARY OF RESOURCES REQUIREMENTS
FY 1994 FY 1995 FY 1996
(Thousands of Dollars)
Policy, oversight, and standards 27,273 15,475 17,600
Quality management 3,452 9,118 8,100
Software independent verification and validation 3,575 8,186 6,400
Engineering -- 5,921 5,500
Total 34,300 38,700 37,600
Distribution of Program Amount by Installation
Johnson Space Center 3,957 4,794 4,700
Kennedy Space Center 1,472 1,449 1,400
Marshall Space Flight Center 1,841 1,795 1,750
Stennis Space Center 663 415 400
Ames Research Center 725 550 535
Dryden Flight Research Center 8 125 100
Langley Research Center 2,261 1,480 1,425
Lewis Research Center 4,504 3,845 3,790
Goddard Space Flight Center 4,641 5,685 5,300
Jet Propulsion Laboratory 3,348 4,929 4,850
Headquarters 10,880 13,633 13,350
Total 34,300 38,700 37,600
MISSION SUPPORT
FISCAL YEAR 1996 ESTIMATES
OFFICE OF SAFETY AND MISSION ASSURANCE SAFETY, RELIABILITY, MAINTAINABILITY AND
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER QUALITY ASSURANCE
PROGRAM GOALS
To ensure the safe and successful execution of NASA programs by providing oversight of NASA's flight and ground systems
development and operations programs; by developing agencywide safety, reliability, maintainability, quality assurance and
engineering policies, standards and practices; and by providing for the identification and qualification of key technologies to improve
the performance and reliability of NASA flight systems.
STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS
NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA) and Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE) provide leadership in promoting and
ensuring the safety, innovation, and quality of all NASA programs; and improving the practice of engineering in NASA programs.
This work is performed in four programmatic areas. These are the Policy, Oversight, and Standards; Quality Management; Software
Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V); and Engineering programs. Targeted initiatives in each of these areas are intended
to facilitate the ability of NASA's strategic enterprises to accomplish their goals in a safe and efficient manner.
Beginning in FY 1995, the engineering function and associated funding previously managed by NASA's OSMA are transferred to the
OCE. No interruption in the conduct of these activities will occur.
The Policy, Oversight, and Standards program supports the areas of safety, reliability, maintainability and quality assurance
(SRM&QA). Activities include studies and investigations to formulate NASA safety and mission assurance policy; and safety
oversight and flight readiness assessments for NASA programs. Documentation and analysis of NASA experience in the SRM&QA
disciplines, mishap investigations, NASA emergency preparedness, and range safety helps improve the safety and risk management
practices of NASA programs. Guidance to the Agency's SRM&QA organizations for the conduct of self-assessments will be used to
augment OSMA's oversight role and enhance the implementation of SRM&QA policies. Compliance with the Occupational Safety
and Health Act is supported and monitored. NASA is also in the process of adopting the international standard for quality, ISO
9000, in concert with the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies.
The focus of the Quality Management program is to support the early introduction of tailored safety, reliability, and quality
requirements into space flight systems design and manufacture in the early stages of a program. This approach is expected to
result in decreased life cycle costs in NASA programs, by reducing or eliminating costly redesign of systems in the latter stages of
development and test. The Quality Management program provides direct assurance support to NASA robotics, aeronautics, and
expendable launch vehicle programs. Studies of optimized quality assurance surveillance for Space Transportation System (STS)
processing are also performed. Studies are conducted of risk factors in specific flight programs; the effectiveness of qualification test
methods; and non-destructive evaluation techniques. Improved qualification methods for electrical, electronic, and electro-
mechanical (EEE) parts and qualification of advanced EEE parts and packaging technologies for use by NASA flight programs are
supported. New focus will be given to qualification of parts manufacturing processes rather than the previous focus on auditing
parts quality.
NASA's Software IV&V program supports the management of NASA's IV&V facility located at Fairmont, West Virginia. This program
supports the development of software assurance standards, practices, and technology for evaluation of flight system, mission
control, and science data processing systems software. This initiative is expected to result in enhanced performance and reliability
of increasingly complex and critical software used throughout NASA facilities and systems.
The Engineering program provides both oversight and improvement of NASA's technical ability to successfully execute its programs.
The OCE provides direct support to the NASA Administrator by conducting independent evaluation of the performance of NASA
programs and other engineering issues. The OCE also coordinates the activities of NASA's Engineering Management Council. The
OCE develops NASA engineering policies, standards and guidelines; promotes increased use of industry and international standards
to enhance the interoperability of NASA and other aerospace systems; encourages cooperative endeavors; and seeks to improve
NASA-industry exchanges. Efforts to improve engineering practices in areas such as systems engineering, software engineering,
structural analysis, and test methods will facilitate continuous improvement of NASA capabilities. Validation of critical
technologies, focusing on demonstration of potential program applications to improve system reliability and performance, is also
performed.
As a part of their responsibilities, the two NASA Headquarters offices also coordinate NASA activities with various external groups
and agencies, such as by providing funds to the Air Force Composite Pressure Vessel Standards to develop a joint standard meeting
NASA and DoD needs at greatly reduced cost to NASA. Innovative packaging techniques for electronic systems are jointly supported
by industry, NASA, and the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). NASA also participates in the Government-Industry Data
Exchange Program (GIDEP), a Governmentwide initiative. Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA) and NASA are co-
funding studies and experiments on the explosive equivalence of large-quantity H2/O2 mixtures; and NASA, NASDA, and the
European, Canadian, and Russian Space Agencies are to form an international SRM&QA working group focusing on safety, quality
assurance, and electronic parts. NASA also participates in the Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Panel for issues related to NASA's
use of nuclear systems, as in the case of the Cassini mission.
NASA supports a joint effort with the Departments of Commerce, Defense and Energy in development of an international Product
Data Exchange Standard; with the Department of the Air Force for development and qualification of space batteries; and with the
Federal Aviation Administration for U.S. adoption of NASA fracture analysis methods for aging aircraft. A cooperative program with
the aerospace industry will demonstrate commercial implementation of laser-initiated ordnance systems. NASA also participates in
the U.S. Secretariat of the International Standards Organization for adoption of standards for the design, safety, and interoperability
of space flight systems.
NASA adoption of international standards for space systems development and quality promises to improve NASA's ability to
coordinate its affairs with its international partners and to improve the competitiveness of U.S. industry in world markets.
MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE
Mishap Prevention The mishap prevention program will continue to contribute to reducing time lost to accidents at
NASA facilities.
Independent Assessments, Independent assessments, oversight, and flight readiness reviews will contribute to the safety
Oversight, and Reviews and success of NASA missions by ensuring that programs have resolved all technical issues.
This includes review of the adequacy of program SRM&QA and engineering efforts and
independently analyzing critical issues.
Engineering Standards and Establishment of baseline standards for NASA use will increase commonality and
Practices interoperability of aerospace systems; and enhance experience-based engineering practice.
Safety and Quality NASA specifications and standards will be replaced, where possible, with industry, voluntary,
Specifications and Standards and international standards. Adoption of ISO 9000 for quality programs is a major component
of this effort. This will reduce the direct cost of requiring NASA unique standards in the
procurement of flight and ground systems.
Technology Validation Ground and flight demonstration of maturing technology in critical areas will improve the
reliability of systems and facilitate advanced technology utilization throughout industry.
EEE Parts and Packaging Parts selection databases will enable projects to quickly select the most reliable parts available.
Qualification of advanced parts and packaging technologies will reduce the size, weight, and
power requirements of spacecraft systems.
Non-destructive evaluation Transferring improved NDE technologies from laboratory demonstrations to production use
(NDE) Technologies will reduce the need for costly and time-consuming tear downs, replacements, and destructive
tests.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PLANS
In FY 1994, the SRM&QA program achieved a number of successes in assurance oversight and support; formulation of agencywide
policies and standards; and validation and program integration of advanced technologies. Seven flights of the Space Transportation
System (STS) were supported, including the complex First Servicing Mission for the Hubble Space Telescope. Independent review
and certification efforts related to the Hubble mission were also conducted. Flight Readiness Reviews, risk assessments, and direct
support to "better, faster, cheaper" space flight programs were conducted through a series of special reviews. Direct support to all
NASA major program design reviews was also provided.
Independent reviews were conducted on Space Shuttle engine weld integrity and test requirements for the super-lightweight tank.
Special technical readiness reviews were performed for the WIND and NOAA-14 spacecraft launches. The loss of Mars Observer was
documented for improvement of future spacecraft designs. Reliability Centered Maintenance and predictive maintenance techniques
for use by STS facilities were adopted. An Independent Assessment function was established for the international Space Station; 26
formal assessments were completed. Work to initiate a joint set of NASA/Russian safety standards and standard equivalence was
begun. Streamlined reliability and assurance requirements for low-cost missions were developed by OSMA, enabling the Near Earth
Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR), Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), and Mars Pathfinder programs to better balance mission risks against
cost constraints.
The OSMA also performed functional management reviews of all NASA Centers' SRM&QA programs in FY 1994. Structured
surveillance, problem reporting and corrective action programs were implemented at the Kennedy Space Center.
Policies and standards in the areas of explosives handling, fire hazards, factors of safety, vibro-acoustic testing, structural loads
definition, and software life-cycle management were initiated in FY 1994 and will be completed in FY 1995. Standardization of
NASA use of materials was also initiated in FY 1994, and NASA participation in international standardization of space systems was
significantly increased. Guidelines for selecting breakdown resistant wiring systems and improved measurement and test
calibration for space applications was also completed in FY 1994. A set of Reliability Best Practices and Maintainability Preferred
Practices was issued throughout the Agency. NASA also formally adopted ISO 9000, the international quality standard, in
FY 1994.
The NDE techniques for optically-stimulated electron emission, STS window defect analysis, and silicon nitride ball bearings in
oxygen environments were developed. Monolithic microwave integrated circuits, opto-electric circuits, multi-chip modules and other
electronic packaging techniques were qualified for use, providing advanced technology for NASA's new better, faster, cheaper space
flight systems. Radiation testing was completed on several classes of electronic parts. Work on advanced pyrotechnics and metric
fasteners was also completed in FY 1994. NASA's IV&V facility opened at Fairmont, West Virginia; a cooperative agreement with
West Virginia University was concluded and research began on software assurance methodologies, including quantitative, fault
analysis, and formal methods of analysis. As a part of its support to the nation's Federal Emergency Management program, the
SRM&QA program provided funding for aerial reconnaissance in the aftermath of the Northridge, California earthquake.
In FY 1995, oversight and support for the seven deployments of the STS, including the Space Shuttle/MIR rendezvous missions;
Critical Design Review (CDR) of the super-lightweight tank, alternate fuel turbopump, and lightweight solid rocket booster programs;
and continued evaluation of test methods and assurance techniques for small spacecraft will be supported. Oversight and analysis
will continue for the three Space Shuttle/Mir rendezvous missions. Independent assessment of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS)
mission and technical reviews of the Advanced X-ray Astrophysical Facility (AXAF), Cassini, and POLAR missions are planned.
Independent assessment of the international Space Station will continue to evaluate the program using a prioritized task list while
also responding to any newly-identified concerns. A structured Mission Needs Analysis approach has been adopted for the review of
hardware design approaches, safety hazards, and integration and test procedures. Six NASA Centers are scheduled for Functional
Management Reviews in FY 1995.
NASA policies for mishap reporting, human factors for safety, robotic system and expendable launch vehicle safety, and risk
management are to be reviewed. An initiative to effectively use previous test and operating experience to improve the design, test,
and mission assurance processes over the life-cycle of spacecraft programs is also being supported. An agencywide career
development and training program to increase the NASA personnel SRM&QA skills will be initiated.
The NDE techniques for optically-stimulated electron emission and STS window defect analysis will be qualified for production use.
A long-term effort to reduce spacecraft size and weight through electronic miniaturization will be initiated. New approaches to
product assurance for micro-spacecraft, such as the planned New Millennium program, will be developed. Flight demonstration of a
fiber-optic gyroscope and a laser-initiated ordnance system will complete efforts to enhance the performance, reliability, and safety
of these critical flight systems. Flight measurements aboard the STS will demonstrate the ability of a force-limited vibration test
technique to simulate payload flight environments with reduced risk of hardware damage. Also in FY 1995, a testbed will be used to
simulate on-orbit power system operations as a part of NASA's spacecraft battery investigations. A joint NASA-Air Force initiative is
to characterize and validate advanced nickel-cadmium and nickel-hydrogen battery systems for future missions. In
FY 1996, a flight set of advanced nickel-hydrogen batteries will be qualified through stress testing.
Finally, FY 1995 will see the completed evaluation of current NASA software assurance techniques. This will serve as a baseline for
assessment of future improvements. Advanced IV&V methods will be examined on a selective basis. A stream-lined, cost-effective
approach to software IV&V for complex programs is to be developed in FY 1995.
NASA's FY 1996 program will continue to assure adequate oversight of NASA programs; targeted development of key engineering and
SRM&QA directives, standards and processes; and to support the transition of certain critical technologies from testbed to program
use. Independent assessment of NASA's STS and international Space Station programs will continue, ensuring that performance
goals and schedule milestones are met with acceptable levels of safety. Fire detection and power system stability and plasma
studies will be given special emphasis. "Better, cheaper, faster" mission assurance practices will be evaluated and modified as
necessary in FY 1996, including continued support for the Small Satellite Technology Initiative. All NASA space flight programs will
be reviewed against these newly adopted mission success criteria.
The OCE will issue systems engineering guidelines for NASA program management in FY 1996, establishing a uniform basis for
program technical reviews and to improve NASA's program management process. The budget supports continuation of the program
for more effective and benign test methods for qualification and acceptance testing of space systems, including two approaches for
avoiding overtest damage to spacecraft. Fracture control methods will be adapted for ground system life prediction and for aging
aircraft assessment. Standards will be developed for space equipment racks in order to reduce the cost and simplify of payload
servicing operations; and for application of telecommunications standards to NASA data handling functions. The first international
space system standards are expected to be published in FY 1996 for standardization of launch vehicle-spacecraft interfaces,
pressure vessel design and analysis, and electronic parts control. Development of metric specifications for space components will
continue. Documentation of Ada flight software management procedures for NASA flight programs will be completed.
The budget supports continued evaluations of reliability-centered maintenance, hypervelocity impacts, embedded software systems,
debris hazards, and wind tunnel safety. Studies of rescue breathing devices, composite pressure vessel reliability, predictive time
lining, preferred maintenance practices, risk analysis methods, orbiter outgassing, and assurance practices for aeronautics facilities
will continue. Work on measurement assurance and calibration standards for temperature, mass, acceleration, flight voltage
resistance, and quantum-Hall resistance will be completed in FY 1996. An evaluation of NASA's implementation of the international
quality standard, ISO 9000, will also be performed to determine whether this approach improves quality and reduces program costs.
The requested funding also supports improvement of databases and selection tools for electronic and mechanical parts, enabling
NASA programs to select the most reliable parts available. Qualification of advanced electronics parts and packaging technologies
and study of NDE techniques for Space Shuttle structures, anomalous ultrasonic signal interpretation, and snake ultrasonic leak
detection will be conducted.
Emphasis will continue to be placed on the development and demonstration of improved pyrotechnic systems and components and
of laser-initiated termination systems. Simulation of aerospace battery operations for the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory
(CGRO), the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS), and Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX) missions will continue.
Development of test methods for advanced nickel-cadmium and nickel-hydrogen cells and improvements in the battery design
process are anticipated.
In FY 1996, research and demonstration of software assurance techniques for selected programs will be performed. These early
initiatives will explore software criticality assessment, requirement traceability, and verification process methods. Management of
NASA's IV&V facility, which hosts several tenant NASA programs, will continue.
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