NDLI: The Application of NASA Risk Management to the SOFIA Program

Content Provider	IEEE Xplore Digital Library
Author	Datta, K.
Copyright Year	2007
Abstract	NASA and DLR (German aerospace center) have been working together to create the stratospheric observatory for infrared astronomy (SOFIA). SOFIA is a Boeing 747SP (Special Performance) aircraft extensively modified to accommodate a 2.5 meter reflecting telescope and airborne mission control system. This paper shows how the SOFIA program handled one safety issue through appropriate use of NASA's risk management process. The safety issue was identified while reviewing the probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) of a depressurization scenario in the telescope cavity. The failure scenario itself was previously known where a leak in the telescope cavity door seal sucks air out from the telescope cavity creating a negative pressure differential between the telescope cavity and the aft cavity. Two negative pressure relief valves were designed to handle this and other cavity negative pressure scenarios. However, the proposed new scenario had a leak area that was beyond the original design basis. This failure scenario was deemed credible but with a lower probability of occurrence. After identification of the safety issue, both the Risk Management and the Engineering processes required an analysis of this depressurization scenario. Multiple models of the depressurization scenarios were created and analyzed at peak dynamic pressures. The results revealed that under some failure scenarios the relief valves might not be redundant. Both valves need to function for adequate pressure equalization without exceeding structural design loads. These conditions created a program risk state that needed to be mitigated. As a result, the program started a risk mitigation plan where by a test will be performed to characterize the seal failure scenario by intentionally deflating the seal at lower dynamic pressures. The test is inherently safe at lower dynamic pressures. This paper describes the risk management process for this technical risk and ends by describing how the program continues to track this risk and program options for controlling the risk.
Starting Page	410
Ending Page	413
File Size	257514
Page Count	4
File Format	PDF
ISBN	0780397665
ISSN	0149144X
DOI	10.1109/RAMS.2007.328077
Language	English
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Publisher Date	2007-01-22
Publisher Place	USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Rights Holder	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Subject Keyword	NASA Risk management Telescopes Seals Valves Safety Testing Observatories Astronomy Aircraft
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

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