Week of 06/20/2011

1. Week of 06/20/2011 ESMD risk management case studies provide lessons learned from the development and operations of past NASA programs. They are intended to highlight key transferrable principles, which include the identification, assessment and mitigation of risks. Super Light Weight Tank: A Risk Management Case Study Web Feature The Challenge:In 1993, the United States signed an international agreement to adjust the launch inclination to the International Space Station. As a result, NASA had to reduce the shuttle’s external tank (ET) weight by 10 percent. Description: This case study focuses on the development of the Super Light Weight Tank (SLWT), the third version of the ET component of the space shuttle. The interactive feature allows the reader to experience events as they happened, learning how the SLWT project team met the aggressive mass reduction requirements levied on the ET component. Readers examine the process of identifying and evaluating the risks and challenges that threatened the success of the project, then compare their answers to those of the actual SLWT project team. Six case study exercises challenge users to identify and develop mitigation strategies for risks actually encountered by the SLWT project team. Space Application: The proper application of risk management principles examined here can help manage life cycle costs, development schedules, and risk, resulting in safer and more reliable systems for future space flight programs. These case studies may be reviewed by a single student or used in an instructor-led classroom environment. To access this case study: http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/irkm-slwt/index.html Shuttle Program Manager Brewster Shaw discusses the evolution of the Super Light Weight Tank (SLWT) requirements. SLWT Project Manager Parker Counts discusses design verification challenges for the SLWT. http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/multimedia/highlights