Space Shuttle: NASA Should Implement Independent Oversight of Software Development
IMTEC-91-20
Published: Feb 22, 1991. Publicly Released: Mar 12, 1991.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO obtained information on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) efforts to improve shuttle software oversight activities and identified: (1) NASA procedures for developing, validating, verifying, and reconfiguring shuttle software; (2) an independent NASA contractor's recommendations for verification and validation (V&V) of shuttle software; (3) NASA progress in implementing the recommendations; and (4) NASA resolution of the National Research Council's (NRC) and the shuttle program's software steering group's concerns about the V&V process.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| National Aeronautics and Space Administration | The Administrator, NASA, should: (1) require independent V&V for shuttle software, bearing in mind the views of NRC, the House Committee, the software steering group, and NASA-wide guidance; and (2) ensure that the independent V&V organization is outside the control of the shuttle program office. |
NASA has reconvened the software steering group to establish V&V policy for the shuttle program. NASA published its flight software V&V requirements on November 21, 1991. Responsibility for monitoring compliance with the requirements is assigned to safety and quality assurance functions.
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| National Aeronautics and Space Administration | The Administrator, NASA, should bring to closure the issues raised by the software steering group concerning policy and documentation of V&V activities. In this regard, he should require the steering group to provide formal recommendations and require the program office to provide time frames for addressing them. |
The steering group reconvened in May 1991. The recommendation is being implemented.
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Aerospace contractsAerospace engineeringComputer services contractsConflict of interestsDepartment of Defense contractorsQuality assuranceSoftwareSoftware verification and validationSpace explorationAvionics