scope:

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this publication is to establish and enforce NASA ELV payload project requirements to ensure the safety of the public, launch area, payload processing facility, and launch complex personnel and resources and to ensure that all aspects of prelaunch and launch operations adhere to applicable public laws. These safety requirements safeguard people and resources (including flight hardware, ground support equipment (GSE) and facilities) from hazards associated with payloads that will fly on unmanned Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELVs) (i.e. ELV payloads), including hazards associated with payload related GSE. This document is a baseline and shall be tailored for each NASA payload project (mission). The contents of this publication are to be used in conjunction with NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 8715.7, Expendable Launch Vehicle Payload Safety Program by the payload project to develop and process their payloads safely throughout the project's life cycle. The requirements of this document comply with the requirements of AFSPCMAN 91-710 and are acceptable to NASA and the Air Force ranges. The Payload Safety Working Group (PSWG) is the payload project's primary interface for safety review and approval, where all documentation required by this publication and safety concerns or issues start. The PSWG members represent their respective organizations and are responsible for coordinating, as necessary, with their organization to ensure payload project compliance with their organization's safety policies, processes, and requirements whenever the payload is being processed on their organizations property or in their jurisdiction. The PSWG shall include the NASA (or JPL) payload project safety engineer, the payload contractor safety representative(s), the NASA Launch Services Division Safety Engineer who typically chairs the PSWG, the launch vehicle contractor safety engineer, the launch site range safety engineer, the payload processing facility safety engineer, and other invitees such as the mission's Launch Site Integration Manager (LSIM) and subject matter experts (see Volume 3, Paragraph 2.1). PSWG activities typically conclude with the signing of the Certificate of ELV Payload Safety Compliance. If there are any open action items, the payload project will provide the appropriate local safety authorities and mission officials with updates and complete the Safety Verification Tracking Log (SVTL). NPR 8715.7, this publication, and the PSWG safety review and approval process upholds and does not remove or alter the safety responsibility and authority of any organization having safety authority jurisdiction where the payload project is processed. The paragraph numbers of this document follow the same paragraph numbering of AFSPCMAN 91-710. The mutual goal of NASA, the payload project, and Range Safety shall be to conduct their missions safely, with a strong commitment to public safety.

Note: Range Safety is a member of the PSWG working as a PSWG member in the project's safety review and approval process. All correspondence (safety submittals, review comments, etc.) is processed and coordinated through the PSWG. The phrase "PSWG and Range Safety" is used throughout this document not to imply that Range Safety is separate from the PSWG but to emphasize Range Safety's role, authority, and responsibility in public safety and launch site safety.