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Graphic showing the configuration of the MSL Descent Stage for the final mechanical walkdown. Credit: NASA
Spotlight on Lessons Learned: Conduct a Final Mechanical Walkdown Prior to Spacecraft Integration with the Launch Vehicle

Independent mechanical walkdowns of spacecraft are sometimes credited with discovering discrepancies that could have interfered with mission success.

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This is one of a series of photos taken by the Expedition 34 crew members aboard the International Space Station during the March 3, 2013 approach, capture and docking of the SpaceX Dragon. Credit: NASA
Spotlight on Lessons Learned: Lessons Learned from NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Program

NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Program provides a starting point for formulation, design, management, and implementation of future public-private capability development partnerships.

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An illustration of the Europa Clipper flying in space with Jupiter's moon Europa in the background. Credit: NASA
Spotlight on Lessons Learned: Tube Stub Weld Design Change

Strong lines of communication between designers and analysts must be maintained to ensure fidelity of analysis results as flight component configurations evolve.

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The NASA Autonomous Flight Termination Unit. Credit: NASA
Spotlight on Lessons Learned: Static Software Analysis of the NASA Autonomous Flight Termination Software

A NASA Engineering and Safety Center assessment of the Autonomous Flight Termination System resulted in coding standard and software static analysis recommendations for software development teams.

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The Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, was designed to make space-based observations of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere to better understand the characteristics of climate change. This illustration shows the OCO-1 satellite in space, with Earth in the background. Credit: NASA
Spotlight on Lessons Learned: Orbiting Carbon Observatory Launch Vehicle Mishap Investigation Results

Failure of a launch vehicle payload fairing to separate during ascent resulted in the loss of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite mission.

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Graphic for Spotlight on Lessons Learned.
Spotlight on Lessons Learned: System / Facility Impedance Checks

Impedance compatibility problems between test facilities and electronics hardware can result in damage or failure.

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This illustration shows a CubeSat scanning and mapping an asteroid. Credit: NASA
Spotlight on Lessons Learned: Open-Source and Commercial Web Software Vulnerabilities

Projects that use commercial web software should take proactive measures to mitigate IT security risks.

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Here, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield prepares to set up the ISERV in the Destiny module of the International Space Center. Credit: NASA
Spotlight on Lessons Learned: Program Management of ISERV Design, Development, and Qualification Class D Hardware Integration

Specific events and obstacles encountered during the design and development of the ISERV payload provide the basis of an applicable program management lesson learned.

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Surface Mount Battery
Spotlight on Lessons Learned: Button Battery Power Supply Issue

An issue with a button battery holder appears to be the cause of an unplanned reset of the Real-Time Clock on the International Space Station Urine Processing Assembly.

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