NASA TECHNICAL STANDARDS PROGRAM Paul S. Gill NASA Technical Standards Program Office, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812, 256-544-2557, paul.gill @msfc.nasa. gov William W. Vaughan University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899 ABSTRACT The NASA Technical Standards Program was officially established in 1997 as result of a directive issued by the.Administrator. It is responsible for Agency wide technical standards development, adoption (endorsement), and conversion of Center-unique standards for Agency wide use. One major element of the Program is the review of NSA technical standards products and replacement with non-Government Voluntary Consensus Standards in accordance with directions issued by the Office of Management and Budget. As part of the Program's function, it developed a NASA Integrated Technical Standards Initiative that consists of and Agency wide full-text system, standards update notification system, and lessons learned--standards integration system. The Program maintains a "one stop-shop" Website for technical standards ad related information on aerospace materials, etc. This paper provides information on the development, current status, and plans for the NAS Technical Standards Program along with metrics on the utility of the products provided to both users within the nasa.gov Domain and the Public Domain. NASA TECHNICAL STANDARDS PROGRAM The NASA Technical Standards Program 0attp://standards.nasa.gov) was formally established in 1997 as an Agencywide effort by direction of the Administrator. It has the following principal elements: ***Increase NASA Use of Voluntary Consensus (non-Government) Technical Standards. ***Selective Development of NASA-Unique Technical Standards. ***Develop and Promote the Use of an Integrated Technical Standards Initiative (Full- Text Standards Access, Standards Update Notifications, and Lessons Learned--Standards Integration). ***Exploit the Potential of Web-based Standardization Information. Technical Standards are an integral part of all engineering development efforts, especially those in the aerospace industry. Designers and engineers should be among the most aggressive supporters of a strong Technical Standards program. Standardization activities establish engineering and technical applications for processes and practices and, in doing so,enhanceengineeringcapabilities.Thus,theyenabledesignerstonotdissipatetheir energiesonthecostlyexerciseof "reinventingthewheel." Liketheircolleaguesin theprivatesector,NASA hasalsodependedupontheactive applicationofTechnicalStandardsdevelopedbytheAgencythroughitsvariousCenters, aswellasDepartmentofDefense(DoD)TechnicalStandards(i.e.,Military Standards, SpecificationsH, andbooks,etc.)andthoseproducedbynon-GovernmenSttandards DevelopingOrganizations(SDOs).Sincethelate1990s,NASAhasbeenengagedina majorAgencywideefforttoreviewtheTechnicalStandardsproducedbyitsCentersand, tothedegreepractical,utilizesasystematicconsensusdrivenapproachresultinginthe adoption(endorsemento)frelevantnon-GovernmenTtechnicalStandardstoreplaceits Center-developeTdechnicalStandards.TheadoptedTechnicalStandardsareknownas "NASA PreferredTechnicalStandards."Inareaswhereadoptionisnotpractical,efforts havebeenmadetoconsolidatesimilarCenter-developeTdechnicalStandardsand producereplacemenTtechnicalStandardsendorsedforAgencywideuse.Thissubstantial endeavorwasundertakenandsubsequentliyncreasedinresponsetotheOfficeof ManagemenatndBudget(OMB)CircularA-119"FederalParticipationin the DevelopmentandUseofVoluntaryConsensuSstandardsandinConformityAssessment Activities", February1998. IntheprocessofrespondingtothedirectivescontainedinOMBCircularA-119,it was discoveredthattheAgency'sPrograms/Projectasndengineeringstaffwerein needofa consolidatedWeb-basedTechnicalStandardsdatabaseaccessiblefromasinglesource withengineeringoversight.Theinformationrequestedincludedfull-textTechnical StandardsproductsissuedbytheAgencyanditsCentersD, epartmenotfDefense,and non-GovemmenSt DOs.In addition,requirementfsortimelyinformationonchangesin TechnicalStandardsproductswerealsonoted. Theneedforimprovingtheprocesstoaddresscustomerneedsforefficiencyin the acquisitionofTechnicalStandardsproductsisoneoftheStrategicInitiativesidentifiedin theAmericanNationalStandardsInstitute's(ANSI)NationalStandardsStrategyForThe UnitedStates(http://web.ansi.org/public/nss.htmIl)n.particularthedocumentidentified theneedforcost-effectivemechanismssuchasupdatenotificationandelectronic accessibilityofTechnicalStandardsproductsfromSDOs.TheNASA Integrated TechnicalStandardsInitiative,whilenotdevelopedtosolvethisproblemfortheUnited States,isasteptowardsolvingtheproblemofTechnicalStandardsdistributionand,thus, enhancemenotfengineeringcapabilitieswithin oneGovernmenAt gencythathas potentialforusebyothers. Afterseveralreviewsandpilotexercisesa,dditionaldialogwithseveralProgram/Project Managers_anedngineering.groups_-the-c-onceptofa-'_ne-StopShop"_web-bNaAseSdA - IntegratedTechnicalStandardsInitiativebegantomaterialize.Thetwomainadvantages thatbecameimmediatelyapparenwt ere:(1)TheAgency'sengineeringcapabilitieswill beconsiderablyenhancedbyprovidingNASA's technicalandengineeringcommunities withimmediateon-lineaccesstoTechnicalStandardsproductsand(2)Significantcost savingscouldberealizedbyhavingoneunifiedAgencywideFull-TextTechnical StandardsSystemversushavingfourteenormoreindividualgroupswithin theAgency acquiringTechnicalStandardproductsindependenotfeachother.Standardsupdatesand lessonslearnedwerealsoindicatedasimportantinformationtoenhancetheengineering usageofTechnicalStandardsT.hus,theunique"NASA IntegratedTechnicalStandards Initiative"wasborn.TheInitiativeconsistsofthefollowingthreeSystems: (1) AgencywideFull-TextTechnicalStandardsSystem (2) StandardsUpdateNotificationSystem (3) LessonsLearned/BesPt ractices/ApplicatioNnotes--StandardsIntegration System. TheprimarygoaloftheNASA TechnicalStandardsInitiativeistodevelopasuiteof collaborativetoolsto:(1)AugmentNASA's useandsupporttheadoptionofnon- GovernmentVoluntaryConsensusStandardsbymakingthemavailablefromasingle source,(2)Providenotificationsonchangesu,pdatesa,ndrevisionstoexistingTechnical Standards(,3)Provideinformationonengineeringlessonslearned,bestpractices,and experiencesrelatedtospecificTechnicalStandardsproducts,and(4)Enhancethe engineeringcapabilitiesof theAgency.TechnicalStandardsprovideamajoropportunity toachievethegoalofenhancingengineeringcapabilities,especiallywhenaprocesssuch astheNASA IntegratedTechnicalStandardsInitiativeisimplementedT. hisInitiative consistsofthefollowing Systems. Agencywide Full-Text Technical Standards System This System provides access to full-text on-line Technical Standards products and distribution for NASA use. Technical Standards products are currently available from 108 Standards Developing Organizations, including those of NASA, DoD, and other Agencies. For those Technical Standards not available electronically, a hardcopy is made available to the requester within 24-36 hours. A pilot version of the System was implemented in 2000 with favorable feedback leading to the Agencywide implementation of the System in June 2001. Currently their are over 5,500 registered NASA and supporting contractor users within the <nasa.gov> Domain. Standards Update Notification System This System provides NASA and its supporting contractors with notice of updates (revisions, cancellations, superseded documents, etc.) to Technical Standards products that they have identified for use on their Programs/Projects or research activities. This ___information is pro_ided-so_that-update-notices-ofteehnieat changes on aTechnical ....... Standards product can be evaluated by the Program/Project Manager for impact on the Program/Project requirements. This System is linked with the Agencywide Full-Text Technical Standards System to provide the latest full-text versions of the Technical Standards on demand. Documents identified by the user and accepted for update notification are screened relative to adoption as NASA Preferred Technical Standards. 3 TheSystemwasmadeavailableAgencywideinOctober2001.Therearenowover4,000 standardsdocumentsregisteredbyusersfor updatenotifications. LessonsLearned/BestPractices/ApplicationNotes--StandardsIntegration System ThisSystemprovideslinkstoLessonsLearned/BesPt ractices/ApplicationNotesthat haveapplicabilitytouseofindividualTechnicalStandardsproducts.As of this date, 225 Lessons Learned from NASA's Lessons Learned Information System have been linked to 125 NASA Preferred Technical Standards listed on the NASA Technical Standards Program Website. Also, 140 Application Notes have been related to 95 NASA Preferred Technical Standards. Identifying other Application Notes and Lessons Learned to link with specific NASA Preferred Technical Standards is a continuing effort. These Lessons Learned, Best Practices, and Application Notes will also be of great benefit in identifying non-Government Voluntary Consensus Standards to adopt/endorse for NASA use. Over 150 links to engineering Lessons Learned/Best Practices Websites and documents have been identified and provided on the Program's Website. These additional sites are not only from NASA Facilities, but other Government and non-Government bodies. They provide users with technical information on a variety of aerospace engineering related lessons learned topics. The NASA Technical Standards Program Office prepared a paper entitled "Lessons Learned and Technical Standards--A Logical Marriage" that was published in the November 2001 issue of ASTM Standardization News and subsequently reprinted in DOD Standardization Journal and The Standards Forum of DOE. It focuses on the importance of the relationship between Lessons Learned and Technical Standards, and, thus, the enhancement of engineering capabilities. An example is provided of what a NASA staff member or supporting contractor user of the NASA Technical Standards Program Website has available. It is shown on the figure of the document Summary Page. When the user calls up a NASA Preferred Technical Standard under the Agencywide Full-Text Technical Standards System, a document Summary Page will appear that provides summary information on the Technical Standard. When available, information on applicable Application Notes, Lessons Learned and Best Practices is provided along with link to the Standards Update Notification System to receive notice of any revisions, updates, cancellations, etc. on a given Technical Standard. Conclusion The first figure provides a view of the NASA Technical Standards Program Website Homepage. On it the NASA ACCESS and PUBLIC ACCESS menu items are noted along with some allied menu topics. To date, the usage of the three Systems in the NASA ......... TechnicakStandardJ.nitiative has been_utstanding-in-te-rmsofaaserinterests and value to .... their work on NASA Programs/Projects and research activities. The metrics associated with each of these Systems continue to show increased usage. This is due to the ready availability of the NASA Technical Standards Program products and related information on-line, and reinforces the validity of the "One Stop-Shop" concept. TheintegrationofTechnicalStandardsu,pdatenotifications,andlessonslearned informationisonesteptowardthegoalofsignificantlyenhancingengineering capabilitiesnecessarytomeetthefuturedemandsoftheAgencyfortimely,productive, andreliablespacesystemsandcontributingtoimprovedcost. Thelasttwo figuresprovideanoverviewonthecurrentfocusandfuturethrustsofthe NASATechnicalStandardsProgramT. heconversionofCenter-developesdtandardsto NASAPreferredTechnicalStandardsandadoptionofnon-Governmensttandards remainsakeyfocusoftheProgram.ImprovingtheawarenesosftheProgramandits productsamongtheAgency'sstaffandsupportingcontractorscontinuestobea challenge.Promotingthedevelopmenotfnewstandardsthatwill servetheAgencyisa currentinitiative,capitalizingonnewtechnologyandexperiencesF.uturethrustswill includeadditionaleffortsontheintegrationoflessonslearnedwithtechnicalstandards. Newvenueswill beexploredrelativetohowtheProgram'sproductscanbettercontribute totheAgency'sengineeringcapabilitiesandtheAdministrator's"OneNASA" initiative. Bibliography Gill, P. S., Barcia, D., and Vaughan, W. W. "Lessons Learned and Technical Standards: A Logical Marriage for Future Space Systems Design." 53rdInternational Astronautical Congress, The World Space Congress--2002, Paper # IAC-02-U.3.04, Houston, TX, October 10-19, 2002. Gill, P. S., Vaughan, W. W., and Garcia, D., "Lessons Learned and Technical Standards: A Logical Marriage." ASTM Standardization News, Vol. 29. No. 11, November 2001. pp 2-27. Prepared For Presentation at: 5thAerospace Materials, Processes, and Environment Technology Conference Von Braun Center Huntsville, Alabama September 16-17, 2002 Figure1.NASATechnicalStandardsProgramHomepage 6 NASA TECHNICAL STANDARDS PROGRAM 24M_'RA__EW PROGRAM STRATEGY OVERVIEW (Cont'd) CU:U:u_r R:X_ - _on o(Cent_-developedStandardsIntoNASAPreferred Future Thrusts: Ted_cal Standards - Assessment Of Program ProductsImpact On Agency EngineeringAnd -._dopUoW_ of_ vCSPrc_t_ts Program/project Management Activities - Increase Effort On Lessons Learned - Standards Integration Initiative. - IVbintainipgAndF:r_andng _ Webs_e CcrCents Currently Resource Constrained - Tr_ng Td M_ke/_i ,_er_ En_oyees,_ad _ Contractors - Increase Activities Within Agency For Both NASA Developed Standards Aware ofTheProgr'a_s Website AndC,c_ents Proposals And VCS Development Participation. - F-.xpioreI,ewOr Cat.date ProgramThrusts That84:_:xxt The - Explore New Venues The Technical Standards Program Products And nentOfAgency Engineering Capabilities, I.E.,,Ned/suns Operational Format Can Contribute Relative To Better Contributing To Utility, Le?'sonsLearned Integration,C_l_on WithKnowledge Agency's Engineering Capabilities And NASA Administrator's "One NASA Initiative. _, Inforrnatien Techndecjy, Etc. L -Prornote I_lewStanclards Developrrent, BothNASA.and VCS,That Serve_ Needs 10-16-2_I_ 10"16-2_02 Figure 2 Figure 3