NASA Procedures and Guidelines
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NPR 8621.1 Eff. Date: June 02, 2000 Cancellation Date: February 11, 2004	NASA Procedures and Guidelines for Mishap Reporting, Investigating, and Recordkeeping
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It is NASA policy to make prompt release to the news media and the public of factual information concerning NASA mishaps resulting in serious injury to, or death of, person(s), or extensive damage to, or destruction of, property (see NPD 8621.1 , "NASA Mishap Reporting and Investigating Policy"). Witness statements will not be reported and are not releasable (to the extent provided by law).

1.2 Procedures

1.2.1 Reporting Casualties.

1.2.1.1 NASA Employees. When a NASA employee is seriously injured or killed within the confines of a NASA Center, this fact will be announced as follows:

a. Situation Known to the Public. When a mishap is apparent to TV viewers, radio listeners, or observers, information will be announced as promptly as possible and, in no case, will more than 1 hour elapse before this announcement is made. This announcement should include what is known at the time, that injuries or fatalities have occurred, and when additional information is expected to be available. In the case of fatalities, release of the victim's name(s) will be made immediately on confirmation that the next of kin has been notified, but no later than 1 hour after this notification. The Center Director or appropriate Headquarters Official-in-Charge will ensure that notification of the family has been made.

b. Situation Not Known to the Public. When a mishap involving personnel injury or fatality is not apparent to the public, NASA will promptly announce that a mishap has taken place and that injuries or fatalities have occurred. The announcement of the personnel involved will be made in the same manner as described in paragraph 1.2.1.1.a above.

1.2.1.2 Military and Other-Agency Personnel. It normally is the prerogative of the parent military service or other Federal agency to make public identification of their personnel who have incurred casualties. However, in mishaps involving military and other Federal personnel (including astronauts) detailed to NASA, it is not always practical to withhold an announcement until the appropriate military service headquarters or Federal agency has been informed. When time is of the essence, procedures for public announcement will be the same as for NASA employees, with these additional requirements:

a. The cognizant Center will inform the public affairs organization of the appropriate military service headquarters or other Federal agency directly by telephone of the mishap and of the intent of the Center Director to announce the mishap and casualties.

b. When the NASA Center is on a military base, release of victims' names will be made according to procedures previously agreed upon by the base commander and Center Director, but no later than the stipulations in 1.2.1.1.a above.

1.2.1.3 Contractor Personnel. NASA does not assume responsibility for the release of information concerning serious mishaps involving contractor employees except as follows:

a. On a NASA Center. When the mishap occurs on a NASA Center or in the conduct of NASA-managed flight programs, it is the responsibility of the cognizant NASA Center Director to announce as soon as possible that a mishap has occurred, as well as the number of known dead and/or injured. NASA will not announce, however, the identity of contractor personnel involved.

b. On Contractor-Owned Facilities. When a serious mishap occurs at a contractor's plant engaged in NASA work, NASA has no responsibility to release information concerning the mishap. The cognizant NASA Center Director will confirm that contractor personnel involved were, in fact, engaged in NASA work. NASA will not issue statements as to the cause and extent of injury or damage.

1.2.1.4 Visitors to NASA Centers. When a serious mishap occurs which involves visitors on NASA Centers, the Center Director will announce as soon as possible that a mishap occurred and the number of known dead and/or injured. The release of civilians' names will be made in accordance with the procedures outlined in 1.2.1.1 above.

1.2.2 Reporting Property Damage and Destruction.

1.2.2.1 Government-Owned or Contractor-Owned Property on a NASA Center. When a mishap involves extensive damage to or destruction of government-owned or contractor-owned property on a NASA Center, the Center Public Affairs Officer will make an announcement immediately, and in no case more than 1 hour after the occurrence of the incident. An initial preliminary report should specify time, location, and a general description of the mishap, i.e., fire, explosion.

1.2.2.2 NASA-Owned Property on Other Government-Owned Facilities; Tracking Stations Overseas and Contractor-Owned Plants; and NASA Hardware or Related Material at Contractor-Owned and Operated Plants.

a. When a mishap involving extensive damage to or destruction of NASA property occurs at one of these locations, announcement should be made by the contractor, tracking station manager, base commander, etc. The cognizant NASA Center merely confirms the mishap.

b. NASA will make any comment on the possible effect of the mishap on the NASA program involved. The cognizant NASA Center will request that other involved facility management officials refrain from independently making public comment.

1.2.3 Reporting Overseas Mishaps.

When a serious mishap occurs overseas, for example, at tracking stations or during overseas rocket and balloon campaigns involving U.S. and international personnel, the Official-in-Charge will release this information through the U.S. consular office in accordance with policies and procedures established by that office. If the program involves foreign participation, the release will also be coordinated with the foreign entity sponsoring the program. In addition, the Official-in-Charge will notify, by the most expeditious means, the Associate Administrator for Safety and Mission Assurance and the cognizant program Associate Administrator, who will immediately notify the Associate Administrator for Public Affairs, the Associate Administrator for External Relations, the Office of the General Counsel, as well as other appropriate staff.

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