NASA Range Flight Safety Program Overview

The objectives and requirements for the NASA Range Flight Safety Program are defined in NPR 8715.5 dated 2 February 2018 and NASA-STD-8719.25 dated 5 February 2018. The goal of the program is to protect the public, the workforce, and property during range flight operations such as launching, flying, landing, and testing launch / flight vehicles. This goal applies to all centers and test facilities and all NASA vehicle programs including expendable launch vehicles, reusable launch vehicles, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).  Also included in this group are NASA-funded commercial ventures that involve range flight operations. We meet the goal of NPR 8715.5 by evaluating, mitigating, and controlling the hazards associated with range flight operations such as debris, distant focusing over pressure, and toxic’s. With that in mind, we continue our revision effort of the NPR identifying areas that need updating and suggesting additions to strengthen the policy arm of NASA Range Flight Safety as well as focusing on common standards between NASA, DoD, and the FAA.

• NASA Range Flight Safety personnel continue to support the Range Commander’s Council meetings
• NASA Range Flight Safety personnel continue to support HQ-sponsored Infrastructure, Facilities, and Operations Safety Audits (IFOSA)
• NASA Range Flight Safety personnel continue to support HQ-sponsored Inter-Center Aircraft Operations Panel (IAOP) Reviews 
• Emerging range flight safety technology continues to interest many in the Range Safety Community
• NASA Range Flight Safety personnel remain extremely busy in the development, implementation, and support of Range Flight Safety policy

View our Annual Report Archive section for further information.