scope:

PURPOSE

a. To establish requirements, responsibilities, and procedures for aviation operations of Category I (less than or equal to 55 lbs. weight with an airspeed of less than or equal to 70 knots) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CAT I UAS) and Commercial Aircraft Services (CAS) at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), including Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) and National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC), in alignment with NPD 7900.4, NPR 7900.3, NPR 8715.5, and the Governing Agreements with Redstone Arsenal. CAT I UAS is also called small UAS (sUAS), and will be referred as UAS in this MPR hereafter.

b. NPR 7900.3 requires each Center's Flight Operations Office to manage all aviation activities. If a Center has no Flight Operations Office, the Center will receive oversight from another Center's Flight Operations Office. For UAS operations, MSFC Aviation Operations receives guidance and oversight from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Flight Operations Office in accordance with the May 2018 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MSFC, KSC and HQ Aircraft Management Division (AMD). For CAS operations, MSFC coordinates with Johnson Space Center (JSC) Flight Operations Office prior to approval of CAS operations.

c. This MPR addresses only MSFC specific requirements and process that are tailored from NPR 7900.3, and readers should refer to NPR 7900.3 for comprehensive NASA flight operations policies and requirements.

d. MSFC UAS consists of Engineering UAS (kit assembly) and Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) UAS. Whenever there are different requirements or procedures between MSFC Engineering UAS and COTS UAS, they are addressed specifically.

APPLICABILITY

a. This MPR applies to Center personnel, programs, projects, and activities, including contractors and resident agencies to the extent specified in their respective contracts or agreements. ("Contractors," for purposes of this paragraph, include contractors, grantees, Cooperative Agreement recipients, Space Act Agreement partners, or other agreement parties.)

b. This MPR does apply to MAF.

c. This MPR applies the following: all mandatory actions (i.e., requirements) are denoted by statements containing the term "shall." The terms: "may" or "can" denote discretionary privilege or permission; "should" denotes a good practice and is recommended, but not required; "will" denotes expected outcome; and "are/is" denotes descriptive material.

d. This MPR applies the following: all document citations are assumed to be the latest version unless otherwise noted.

e. This MPR applies to Projects, Directorates, and Offices that design, test, manufacture, or operate unmanned aircraft systems as defined by NPR 7900.3.