PURPOSE

This NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) provides basic requirements for performing a probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) for NASA programs and projects. It addresses technical, mission success, safety, and health risk. It does not address programmatic risk involving consideration of cost and schedule.

APPLICABILITY

a. This NPR is applicable to NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers, including Component Facilities and Technical and Service Support Centers. This language applies to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, other contractors, grant recipients, or parties to agreements to the extent specified or referenced in the appropriate contracts, grants, or agreements.

b. This NPR applies specifically to programs and projects that provide aerospace products or capabilities; i.e., space and aeronautics systems and launch, flight, and control systems that support the mission. The importance and scope (potential effects on public and worker health and safety, strategic significance, and cost) of the project/program being assessed is used to identify the extent of the PRA application.

c. This NPR does not apply to other types of programs and projects such as research and technology development and related test facilities, ground test infrastructure, training, or education; however, the PRA concepts and practices described within this document can be beneficial to other projects.

d. The applicability of this NPR to programs/projects already in progress depends on its criticality and life-cycle phase. Decisions concerning applicability to programs/projects in progress will be made on a case-by-case basis involving program/project manager recommendations to the governing program management council (PMC).