During the second annual U.S. Space Enterprise Mission Assurance Summit, leaders from two key government space agencies agreed to a strategic intent addressing mission assurance and are working on a memorandum of understanding that they believe will open doors for enhanced collaboration.  The memorandum is based upon a mission assurance framework that recognizes the importance of the health of the shrinking industrial base that serves the four agencies.

The summit was facilitated by The Aerospace Corporation.  Lead participating government organizations included The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC).  Other attendees included representatives from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as well as the Missile Defense Agency.

“Space operations and space launch are tough, demanding businesses,” stated Gen. Bruce Carlson, Director of the NRO.  “It’s expensive and we only get one chance to get it right.  We need a unified approach to mission assurance that is repeatable, timely, and predictable. And we need everyone, government and industry, to use this standardized process. This requires breaking through silos and enforcing standards.”

Gen. John “Tom” Sheridan, commander of SMC, said, “Our number one priority must be mission success in all we do, from the earliest stages of a program.  Government and industry share in the responsibility and we must find ways to work together more effectively in order to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

The effort to develop a better mission assurance program was initiated after the 2003 Defense Science Board recommended that industry address serious problems in the U.S. space industrial base.  The goal of the effort is to create an environment that delivers 100 percent mission success by implementing lessons learned, adopting best practices, and sharing of knowledge across agencies, offices and the industry. One of the key products to come out of the summit is agreement on the “Mission Assurance Strategic Intent,” which captures key elements that create a common mission assurance framework for government and industry.   A Memorandum of Understanding to reflect this commitment to interagency cooperation for mission assurance is currently being staffed in the organizations.

“With the strategic intent and a memorandum of understanding, we can make more effective, coordinated progress toward sustained mission success,” stated Dr. Wanda Austin, president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation.   “Experience has demonstrated that the cost of mission assurance is minor compared with the cost and impact of a delayed or failed mission.”

Participants in the Summit also addressed important mission assurance topics related to improving contracting on the wide variety of space systems; early program fundamentals; subcontractor management improvements, and government oversight of contractor use of scientific, engineering, quality and program management practices.