scope:

Purpose

The purpose of this Handbook is to provide technical information, clarification, examples, processes, and techniques to help institute good modeling and simulation practices in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As a companion guide to NASASTD- 7009, Standard for Models and Simulations, this Handbook provides a broader scope of information than may be included in a Standard and promotes good practices in the production, use, and consumption of NASA modeling and simulation products. NASA-STD-7009 specifies what a modeling and simulation activity shall or should do (in the requirements) but does not prescribe how the requirements are to be met, which varies with the specific engineering discipline, or who is responsible for complying with the requirements, which depends on the size and type of project. A guidance document, which is not constrained by the requirements of a Standard, is better suited to address these additional aspects and provide necessary clarification.

This Handbook stems from the Space Shuttle Columbia Accident Investigation (2003), which called for Agency-wide improvements in the "development, documentation, and operation of models and simulations"¹ that subsequently elicited additional guidance from the NASA Office of the Chief Engineer to include "a standard method to assess the credibility of the models and simulations."² General methods applicable across the broad spectrum of model and simulation (M&S) disciplines were sought to help guide the modeling and simulation processes within NASA and to provide for consistent reporting of M&S activities and analysis results. From this, the standardized process for the M&S activity was developed.

The major contents of this Handbook are the implementation details of the general M&S requirements of NASA-STD-7009, including explanations, examples, and suggestions for improving the credibility assessment of an M&S-based analysis.

Applicability

This Handbook is applicable to a broad audience, ranging from the variety of M&S practitioners (developers, users, and analysts, for example) and consumers of M&S-based products and analyses to technical reviewers of M&S activities and analyses.

NASA-STD-7009 and this Handbook are intended for use by M&S practitioners, technical reviewers, decision makers, and others in the organization implementing, reviewing, using, or

¹A Renewed Commitment to Excellence: An Assessment of the NASA Agency-Wide Applicability of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report. B2005-100968, January 30, 2004. Retrieved April 22, 2013. http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/55691main_Diaz_020204.pdf.

² NASA Office of the Chief Engineer (September 1, 2006). Guidance in the Development of NASA-STD-7009. (Memo)