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Space Operations: NASA Is Not Properly Safeguarding Valuable Data From Past Missions

IMTEC-90-1 Published: Mar 02, 1990. Publicly Released: Mar 02, 1990.
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Highlights

GAO reviewed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) management and storage of space science data.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The Administrator, NASA, should instruct NASA officials responsible for the management of data to conduct a thorough inventory of all NASA space science data stored at NASA centers and contractors, universities, research institutions, and other federal agencies.
Closed – Implemented
NASA has completed an inventory of tapes held by the scientific community.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The Administrator, NASA, should instruct NASA officials responsible for the management of data to assess, in cooperation with the scientific community, the inventoried data for their scientific value and the integrity of their storage media.
Closed – Implemented
The value of data and current storage media will continue to be systematically assessed over the next few years.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The Administrator, NASA, should instruct NASA officials responsible for the management of data to copy valuable data from deteriorating tapes to archival quality magnetic tapes or other storage media suitable for long-term retention of digital data, and release unneeded tapes for reuse or disposal.
Closed – Implemented
NASA has several ongoing efforts to copy source data to compact disk technology.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The Administrator, NASA, should instruct NASA officials responsible for the management of data to archive valuable scientific data in facilities that meet National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) regulations.
Closed – Implemented
A number of corrective actions have been taken. More will follow as funding permits.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The Administrator, NASA, should instruct NASA officials responsible for the management of data to develop and implement agencywide tape management and maintenance standards which include all National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) regulations and appropriate National Institute of Standards and Technology guidelines.
Closed – Implemented
The handbook on records management has been completed.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The Administrator, NASA, should instruct NASA officials responsible for the management of data to ensure that the offices and officials responsible for managing space science data are identified and their responsibilities clearly defined.
Closed – Implemented
NASA issued its revised policies on March 5, 1992, and responsibilities have been defined.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The Administrator, NASA, should instruct NASA officials responsible for the management of data to ensure that NASA officials responsible for overseeing NASA information resources management (IRM) periodically review NASA data management and archiving to ensure compliance with NARA regulations.
Closed – Implemented
NASA has modified its IRM review program to include reviews of archiving practices and storage facilities.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The Administrator, NASA, should instruct NASA officials responsible for the management of data to ensure that NASA data management and archiving are allocated adequate resources to properly store and maintain NASA space science data holdings.
Closed – Implemented
NASA initiated its comprehensive data management initiative on March 5, 1992.
General Services Administration The Administrator of General Services should periodically review and inspect NASA records management practices as required by the Federal Information Resources Management Regulations.
Closed – Implemented
The General Services Administration (GSA) strengthened its oversight function. A review of NASA has been completed.
National Archives and Records Administration The Archivist of the United States should periodically inspect and review NASA records documentation and disposition practices as required by regulations.
Closed – Implemented
NARA will undertake a series of evaluations of NASA records management activities from 1991 to 1993.

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Topics

Aerospace researchArchivesComputer securityData storageInformation systemsNoncomplianceRecords managementSpace explorationStatistical dataWarehouse facilitiesMagnetic tapes