NASA Procedural Requirements

NPR 8705.4A Effective Date: April 29, 2021 Expiration Date: April 29, 2026

Subject: Risk Classification for NASA Payloads

Responsible Office: Office of Safety and Mission Assurance

Chapter 1. Introduction

1.1 Overview

1.1.1 This directive establishes four risk tolerance classes and the associated expectations corresponding to the acceptable risk and degree of uncertainty that a Mission Directorate assigns to a project.

1.1.2 These four distinct risk tolerance classes provide projects with a uniform authoritative source of Agency-level assurance expectations from which managers, technical authorities, engineers, etc., can develop, communicate, and implement appropriate mission assurance and risk management strategies and requirements consistent with corresponding NASA assurance standards.

1.1.3 This directive also identifies programmatic and institutional SMA directives that do not vary by risk tolerance class and are implemented for each project.

1.2 Delegation of Responsibilities

1.2.1 Unless specifically prohibited, responsibilities and requirements may be delegated. The stated role or actor remains accountable for its implementation and outcome.

1.2.2 Where an office or organization is stated as the actor of a requirement, the Official in Charge of that office or organization is responsible and accountable for the action and its outcome.

1.3 Request for Relief

The process for requesting relief and the granting of waivers from requirements within this directive is defined in NPR 8715.3, NASA General Safety Program Requirements.

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This document does not bind the public, except as authorized by law or as incorporated into a contract. This document is uncontrolled when printed. Check the NASA Online Directives Information System (NODIS) Library to verify that this is the correct version before use: https://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov.