NASA Procedural Requirements

NPR 8705.4B Effective Date: November 01, 2024 Expiration Date: October 31, 2032

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 class(es) and the associated expectations corresponding to the acceptable risk and degree of uncertainty that a Mission Directorate assigns to a program or project.

1.1.2 These four distinct risk tolerance class(es) provide programs or 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 program or project.

1.2 Delegation of Responsibilities

1.2.1 Unless specifically prohibited, responsibilities and requirements may be designated. 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

NPR 8715.3, Requesting Relief from Agency Mission Assurance Requirements, defines the process for requesting and granting relief from requirements within this directive and standards incorporated by reference herein. The Mission Directorate Associate Administrator (MDAA) is the authority when relief is from a requirement in this directive, and the Chief, SMA, is the approving authority.

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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.