Quality Role in Exploration
Development
CQSDI Cape Canaveral March 2008
Bryan O’Connor
Chief,
Safety and Mission Assurance
Mission Success Starts With Safety
Safety Quote of the Day
Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look
around once in a while, you might miss it.
Ferris Bueller
6 Feb 07
Mission Success Starts With Safety
The Vision for Space Exploration
The Vision for Space Exploration calls for humans to return to the moon
by the end of the next decade, paving the way for eventual journeys to
Mars and beyond.
After completing the
International Space Station
and retiring the shuttle fleet
by 2010, the Vision calls for
human and robotic explorers
to work together on new
journeys to worlds beyond.
6 Feb 07
Mission Success Starts With Safety
SMA Roles in Exploration Development
• Quality organizations provide ongoing insight, advice and
assessments throughout the mission life cycle to assure
good requirements and compliance with same
• Quality organizations support requirements definition,
preliminary design, design trades, manufacturing trades,
tool development and other systems engineering activities.
• Quality organizations support the Constellation Program to
design and develop the Crew Exploration Vehicle, Crew
Launch Vehicle, Mission Ops and Ground Systems and
Concept Definition for future Cargo Vehicles.
• Future life cycle support will include manufacturing and
flight processing, milestone reviews, certificate of flight
readiness, launch countdown, and ops support.
6 Feb 07
Mission Success Starts With Safety
Current Issues with Constellation Implications
Counterfeit parts
Lead Free and Tin Whiskers
Standards Transition to VCS
Workforce of the Future
6 Feb 07
Mission Success Starts With Safety
Counterfeiting
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Counterfeiting accounts for more than 8% of global
merchandise trade and is equivalent to lost sales of
as much as $600B and will grow to $1.2T by 2009
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US Dept of Commerce
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Reports
35
Year
GIDEP Alerts / Problem Advisories Reporting
Counterfeit Electronic Components (as of July 2007)
6 Feb 07
Mission Success Starts With Safety
Tin Whiskers
Tin Whiskers
Pure Tin-Plated Card Rails
Space Shuttle Discovery 2006
6 Feb 07
Mission Success Starts With Safety
Transitioning to VCS
J-STD-001 Space Addendum (Soldering):
NASA Proposal in Industry Coordination.
CxP Workmanship Requirements adapted to carry
requirements in parallel (doc in coordination).
NASA acquires allowance from IPC to adapting
training program for “Space Only” curriculum.
Widespread &
Consistent
Usage
Ensure Cohesive
Implement-able
Requirements Set
IPC-A-620 Space Addendum
(Harness Mfrg):
Preparing “shall” list in preparation
for gap analysis of forthcoming
draft.
Standards
Lifecycle
ANSI/ESD S20.20
(Electrostatic discharge):
Implementation Plan for
Cross-Agency Use (75%
complete)
Support IPC meeting in March
Document
Stewardship
ANSI/ESD S20.20:
Currently examining
requirements for tools and
gloves.
6 Feb 07
People
Astronauts Piers
Sellers performing
thermal inspection on
RCC test samples
during STS-121
Mission Success Starts With Safety
Characteristics of a Good Quality Engineer
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Technically credible
Courageous and full of integrity
Solid knowledge of technical requirements and tools
Above average communication skills (verbal & written)
Experienced in design, manufacturing, T&E and
sustaining operations
Humble yet not reserved
Persistent yet pragmatic
Energetic and creative (“yes if”)
Skeptical but not cynical
Thick skinned with a sense of humor (for longevity)
6 Feb 07
Mission Success Starts With Safety
Skepticism as a Cultural Habit
There is no harm in doubt and skepticism, for it is
through these that new discoveries are made
Richard Feynman
6 Feb 07
Mission Success Starts With Safety
Cynicism vs. Skepticism
The skeptic doesn’t trust the analysis…
the cynic doesn’t trust the analyst
Today’s Briefer
A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons
from the past, he is one who is prematurely
disappointed in the future
Sidney J. Harris
6 Feb 07
Mission Success Starts With Safety
What We Don’t Need on Our Team
Optimistic Optimists
Humans make mistakes…who’s going to catch them?
Nor,
Pessimistic Pessimists
Otherwise known as cynics…open comm. is too important!
6 Feb 07
Mission Success Starts With Safety
What We Need on Our Quality Team
Optimistic Pessimists
or maybe
Pessimistic Optimists
who are
Fearless Communicators
6 Feb 07
Mission Success Starts With Safety
GITTERDUNN…
6 Feb 07