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AEROSPACE SAFETY ADVISORY PANEL I. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS A. The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Created by Congress in 1968, the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) is an independent fact-finding body composed of nine members with exceptional safety, management, and engineering expertise and credentials (Attachment 1 on the enclosed CD). The ASAP advises the U.S. Congress and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator on issues that have the most significant potential to directly or indirectly impact the safety of NASA astronauts, personnel and contractors, and programs and missions. The ASAP recommendations submitted to the Administrator during 2008 are summarized in Appendix 1 at the end of this report (and detailed in Attachment 2 on the enclosed CD) and are based on ASAP 2008 quarterly meetings (and public session minutes) and fact-finding meetings (documented in Attachments 3 and 4) as well as ASAP members' past experiences. The Panel operates under a broad charter (Attachment 5), asking hard questions about difficult issues. However, this rigorous approach should not in any way detract from the ASAP's overall respect for, and approval of, NASA's performance under difficult and usually unique circumstances. The ASAP and NASA both recognize the value added from safe operations, which range from immediate and ripple effects of preventing injuries to members of the NASA family to lower costs and better schedule performance. B. ASAP Observations about NASA Accomplishments in 2008 On balance, 2008 was a good year for NASA. The ASAP is optimistic about the future of the Agency and its mission based on NASA accomplishments in 2008. 1. Safe Shuttle and International Space Station Operations. Today, NASA continues to make progress in flying safely. • Successful return to flight of the Space Shuttle following the loss of Columbia • Effective management of known safety issues in the reliable conduct of Shuttle flights • Ongoing development, buildout, and maintenance of the International Space Station (ISS) • Continual management effort to create and nurture open dialogue and discourse on technical differences 2. Processes to Fly Safely in the Future. NASA is improving the technical and management processes that underlie safe operations and space flights. • Implementation of the matrix management governance model, creating links as well as checks and balances among program and institutional requirements, the management chain (including dual-track problem escalation reporting), and available resources ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2008 1
