CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA today responded to a key recommendation from the Challenger commission and formally set up a new office of safety, reliability and quality assurance to provide independent oversight of key systems.
NASA Administrator James Fletcher said George A. Rodney will head the new office as an associate administrator reporting directly to Fletcher. Rodney, currently with Martin-Marietta Orlando Aerospace Co., will join NASA about Aug. 1, NASA said.
The Challenger disaster commission, chaired by former Secretary of State William Rogers, recommended June 9 that a new safety office be established with wide-ranging oversight responsibilities to help prevent another space disaster.
'It would have direct authority for safety, reliability and quality assurance throughout the agency,' the commission's report said. 'The office should be assigned the work force to ensure adequate oversight of its functions and should be independent of other NASA functional and program responsibilities.'
The commission was especially critical of NASA management in the wake of the Jan. 28 Challenger disaster and the apparent absence of an agency-wide safety organization. Challenger was doomed by a faulty rocket booster fuel joint but word about the danger never made its way to top management.
Fletcher said the new office will satisfy the commission's concerns with responsibilities encompassing oversight of safety, reliability and quality assurance in all NASA activities and programs.
Fletcher said Rodney's office will:
-Make sure safety and reliability plans are established, documented, communicated and carried out.
-Review NASA safety practices and standards.
-Direct 'thorough, prompt and accurate investigation' of all mishaps and accidents.
-Ensure all safety and reliability issues are considered in various agency reviews leading up to launch.
-Make sure all NASA field centers have qualified personnel to accomplish the goals of the office.
Rodney, an experienced test pilot, has widespread experience managing aircraft and missile test programs and directing product 'integrity-assurance programs for manned and unmanned space systems.'
Prior to his present job providing independent assessments of the operational readiness of various company products, Rodney served in a similar capacity in work to build shuttle external fuel tanks.
He began his work with Martin-Marietta in 1945, holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering and is a graduate of the Air Force experimental test pilot school.
