Spotlight on Lessons Learned

While pinching copper tubes is a standard practice for many applications on Earth, it presents challenges for spaceflight applications.

Potential modeling inaccuracy may be avoided in thermal vacuum tests by using heater plates instead of quartz lamps.

The Space Shuttle Transition and Retirement team demonstrated that identifying a cross-cutting environmental function and having an integrated team are essential to successful management and disposition of a large amount of property.

Exploration Ground Systems Program challenges, solutions and lessons learned since the end of the Space Shuttle Program have been captured in an effort to transfer the knowledge to NASA program and project managers.

Problems experienced with SpaceWire cable used in flight hardware intended for deployment on the International Space Station resulted in lessons learned and recommendations to help avoid similar issues.

The importance of vibration testing in qualifying and accepting spaceflight hardware cannot be overstated, but the testing also introduces significant programmatic risk.

The failure of a high pressure industrial water valve actuator assembly at a NASA test stand underscored the need for disciplined configuration control practices to ensure facility systems are built and maintained to the specified design.

NASA’s High Alpha Technology Program used a highly modified F-18 airframe as its focal point and captured important lessons on improving high angle-of-attack capabilities.

Accepting a task to perform a fast-track engine test prior to fully understanding its risks and challenges led to cost and schedule issues.