Session 2 Jet Propulsion
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Questions and Answers

What was the primary role of Daniel Goldin when he was appointed in 1992?

  • NASA administrator (correct)
  • Congressional advisor
  • NASA engineer
  • Executive at TRW

Who founded JPL during World War II?

  • NASA's first officials
  • A group of CalTech graduate students and Professor Theodore von Karman (correct)
  • The U.S. Army
  • Dr. Robert Goddard

Which phrase did Daniel Goldin use to encourage innovation at JPL?

  • Risk-free innovation
  • Cutting-edge performance
  • Faster, better, cheaper (correct)
  • Safe, efficient, effective

What significant event occurred on February 1, 1958?

<p>The launch of Explorer 1, America's first satellite (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What management philosophy did Goldin advocate for NASA during his tenure?

<p>Adopting new techniques and technologies (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Daniel Goldin view the relationship between risk and cost in NASA's missions?

<p>Accepting more risk could reduce costs (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which space program did JPL become primarily involved with after NASA's formation?

<p>Planetary spacecraft missions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main achievements of JPL in the 1950s?

<p>Carrying out successful sub-orbital flights (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a major public sentiment toward NASA's budget during the early 1990s?

<p>Demand for reforms (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best characterizes the outcome Goldin aimed for with his management approach?

<p>Maximizing output without increasing budget (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which major discovery was linked to the data sent back by Explorer 1?

<p>The discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of missions did JPL design and operate to pave the way for manned Apollo landings?

<p>Robotic spacecraft missions to the Moon (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where did Daniel Goldin gain experience prior to his appointment at NASA?

<p>As an executive at aerospace contractor TRW (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What main message did Goldin emphasize in his 1992 speech to JPL?

<p>Innovation requires risk-taking (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did CalTech employees play at JPL?

<p>They had full-time employment managing contractors (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When was NASA formed and how did it affect JPL's role?

<p>In 1958, consolidating space programs and designating JPL as a primary center for planetary spacecraft (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the Mars Biological Explorer (MBE) mission?

<p>To analyze subsurface samples for bio-markers (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of the MBE mission was characterized by the uncertainty termed 'unknown unknowns'?

<p>Entry-descent-landing (EDL) stage (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did the engineer compare guiding a spacecraft to hitting a baseball?

<p>Both require precise calculations of speed and angle (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant finding from recent missions to Mars prior to the MBE mission?

<p>Presence of iced water and minerals indicative of water (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How fast did the spacecraft need to decelerate upon entering Mars' atmosphere?

<p>12,000 miles per hour (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the entry-descent-landing phase of the MBE from the cruise phase?

<p>The cruise phase is simpler and more predictable (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the total budget of the Mars Biological Explorer mission?

<p>$745 million (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the MBE mission aim to analyze in its subsurface samples?

<p>Bio-markers indicating life processes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What consequence is defined as 'Very High' for a mission risk?

<p>Mission failure (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which score corresponds to a 'Low' implementation risk consequence?

<p>2 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If a risk has a score of 4 in the context of implementation consequences, what does this signify?

<p>Consumed all budget, schedule or margin (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the definition of 'Moderate' consequence for a mission risk?

<p>Moderate degradation in mission benefits (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence for an implementation risk that results in 'Very Low' degradation?

<p>Minimal reduction in margin or launch date slack (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a score of 5 signify for an implementation risk?

<p>Overran budget or contingency; unable to launch (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the classification, which score is associated with 'Small degradation in mission benefits'?

<p>2 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of risk is classified as having a 'Moderate' consequence for mission risk?

<p>50% degradation in mission benefits (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the JPL missions mentioned?

<p>To conduct interplanetary exploration (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following spacecraft was NOT mentioned as part of JPL's missions?

<p>Pioneer (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant event occurred in January 1986 according to the provided content?

<p>The Challenger disaster (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which mission's failure is described as JPL's most visible failure?

<p>Mars Observer (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the cultural traits at JPL that hindered safety?

<p>Reliance on past success as a substitute for sound engineering practices (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant goal for Scott Hubbard when he appointed Gentry Lee?

<p>To design a new architecture for the Mars Mission Program (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How much was the estimated cost of the Mars Observer project?

<p>$1 billion (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which project did Gentry Lee work on that successfully landed a spacecraft on Mars?

<p>Viking (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did JPL play in the Hubble Space Telescope project?

<p>It developed the camera used in the telescope. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one organizational barrier mentioned in relation to JPL’s safety practices?

<p>Stifling of professional differences of opinion (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding JPL's relation to the Apollo 1 disaster?

<p>JPL had no involvement in the Apollo 1 mission. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable mission that Gentry Lee was involved in as chief engineer?

<p>Galileo (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which celestial body was NOT part of the Voyager missions?

<p>Pluto (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During which era did JPL experience the last of its grand-scale missions?

<p>“Faster, better, cheaper” era (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What impact did informal chains of command have at JPL?

<p>They created confusion and bypassed organizational rules (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a major drawback of the organizational practices mentioned?

<p>Poor integration of management across programs (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Mars Biological Explorer mission was launched after a development period of four years.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the organization that manages and operates the Jet Propulsion Laboratory?

<p>California Institute of Technology (CalTech)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If the risk review board decided the remaining risks for the MBE mission were too high, the next launch opportunity would be ______ months later.

<p>26</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their definitions:

<p>Risk = A potential event that could have a negative impact on a mission. Consequence = The severity of the impact of a risk if it occurs. Implementation risk = A risk that could impact the successful implementation of a mission. Mission risk = A risk that could impact the overall success of a mission.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the article, what is one consequence of an implementation risk that has a score of 4?

<p>Large degradation in mission benefits. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the JPL engineer who contemplated whether to recommend launching or delaying the Mars Biological Explorer mission?

<p>Gentry Lee</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Mars Biological Explorer mission is funded by the U.S. government through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary objective of the Mars Biological Explorer (MBE) mission?

<p>To search for evidence of past or present life on Mars (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The MBE mission was the first project to utilize the system from initial project formulation to launch.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the estimated cost of the MBE mission?

<p>$745 million</p> Signup and view all the answers

The spacecraft would arrive at the atmosphere of Mars traveling at ______ miles per hour.

<p>12,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following phases of the MBE mission with their associated challenges:

<p>Launch = Unknown unknowns Cruise = Known unknowns Entry-descent-landing = Unpredictable surface composition and slope Surface operations = Guiding the spacecraft</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mission of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)?

<p>The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's primary mission is to design, develop, and operate robotic spacecraft for exploration of the Solar System.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The 'unknown unknowns' are considered 'business as usual risks' at JPL.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a type of risk encountered in JPL projects?

<p>Operational risks (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Gentry Lee, JPL's chief systems engineer, described his role as a '______' to ensure the smooth functioning of projects.

<p>minister without portfolio</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following risk types with their descriptions:

<p>Business as usual risks = Risks encountered in familiar situations, where mitigation strategies are well-established. Development risks = Risks arising from unexplored engineering territories, requiring new solutions. Unknown unknowns = Risks that are not known or anticipated during project planning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant cultural challenge that Gentry Lee faced at JPL?

<p>Overcoming resistance to risk mitigation among engineers who are accustomed to being right, and who may not readily accept changes to their designs and engineering decisions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

JPL engineers typically come from the top of their class at prestigious universities.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for JPL's existence?

<p>To design and operate spacecraft for exploring the Solar System (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

JPL's existing risk assurance process was initially viewed as a core part of the engineering process.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Gentry Lee, aiming to embed risk management into the engineering process, wanted to ensure that risk management remains ______ during a project's lifecycle.

<p>front-of-mind</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did Gentry Lee use the Roman god Janus as a reference for risk management?

<p>Janus symbolized the need to balance innovation with reflection, learning from past experiences to avoid future mistakes. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Gentry Lee's primary objective with the implementation of a comprehensive risk management system?

<p>To ensure that risk management was embedded into the engineering process and became a constant consideration throughout a project's duration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms related to risk management with their respective definitions:

<p>Risk Management = The process of identifying, assessing, and controlling potential risks across various stages of a project. Intellectual Confrontation = A culture that encourages open discussion and debate to challenge assumptions and improve decisions. Front-of-Mind = A state of high awareness and active consideration of a topic or element. Milestone Reviews = Formal evaluations of a project's progress at specific stages, typically involving risk assessments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a reason why accepting a culture of intellectual confrontation is important for effective risk management?

<p>It encourages individuals to focus on their individual expertise and avoid conflicting views. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant cultural barrier at JPL that impeded safety practices?

<p>People’s ambitions and careers were often intertwined with being right all the time, hindering them from accepting potential risks or challenges to their ideas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Gentry Lee's implementation of a comprehensive risk management system took ______ years to complete.

<p>six</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary role of the Risk Review Board during the Mars Biological Explorer (MBE) project?

<p>To provide independent, critical assessments of the mission design. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Mars Biological Explorer (MBE) project was a real mission that took place in the past.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the term used to describe the six minutes during the EDL stage of the MBE mission when communication with the spacecraft was lost?

<p>Six Minutes of Terror</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Risk Review Board sought to encourage a culture of ______ during the MBE project.

<p>intellectual confrontation</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following individuals or groups with their respective roles in the MBE project:

<p>Gentry Lee = Chair of the Risk Review Board JPL Engineers = Designed and built the spacecraft Risk Review Board = Independent critical assessment of the mission</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Risk Review Board only consisted of members who had been directly involved in the Mars Biological Explorer project.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Gentry Lee, what type of personality was sought for the members of the Risk Review Board?

<p>People with a lot of self-confidence who are willing to speak out and challenge.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT mentioned as a reason why the Risk Review Board was important for the success of the mission?

<p>They ensured that the project met all budget constraints. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What score indicates a 'Very High' consequence in mission risk?

<p>5 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A score of 2 in implementation risk indicates a minimal reduction in margin or launch date slack.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the highest score for 'Low' consequence in implementation risk?

<p>2</p> Signup and view all the answers

A score of 4 in mission risk indicates __________ degradation in mission benefits.

<p>significant (75%)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is classified as a 'Moderate' consequence for mission risk?

<p>Moderate degradation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the risk score with its corresponding consequence definition:

<p>1 = Minimal degradation in mission benefits 2 = Small degradation in mission benefits 3 = Moderate degradation in mission benefits 4 = High degradation in mission benefits 5 = Very High degradation in mission benefits</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a score of 5 represent for implementation risks?

<p>Overran budget or contingency; unable to launch with current resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

A risk with a score of 1 results in a 'Very Low' consequence.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

What was JPL's purpose and origin?

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) was founded during World War II by CalTech graduates and their advisor, Professor Theodore von Kármán, to develop and test rockets. It was initially sponsored by the U.S. Army.

What were JPL's contributions to early space exploration?

During the 1950s, JPL launched three successful sub-orbital flights. In 1958, it launched Explorer 1, America's first satellite, which contributed to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts surrounding Earth.

What is JPL's role within NASA?

After the creation of NASA in 1958, JPL became its primary center for planetary spacecraft.

What major missions did JPL lead to prepare for the Apollo missions?

JPL engineers designed and operated the Ranger and Surveyor robotic spacecraft missions to the Moon, which paved the way for the manned Apollo landings.

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What are some notable achievements of JPL?

JPL's notable achievements include sending spacecraft to Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, and its moons, as well as Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

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What other notable contribution did JPL make besides space missions?

JPL's contributions extend beyond spacecraft. They also developed the camera for NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, which captured groundbreaking images of space.

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What is the role of the Deep Space Network?

JPL operates the Deep Space Network, which acts as the communication link between Earth and robotic missions in space.

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What significant failure did JPL experience?

The Mars Observer, a $1 billion JPL project, lost contact in 1993, making it a major setback for the organization.

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Was JPL involved in the Apollo 1 fire?

The Apollo 1 fire, which claimed the lives of three astronauts during a ground test, was a tragedy for NASA, not JPL.

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Was JPL involved in the Challenger disaster?

The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, which resulted in the death of all crew members, including a teacher, was another tragedy for NASA, not JPL.

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What do JPL's failures teach us about space exploration?

JPL's failures, like the Mars Observer, highlight the risk and challenges inherent in space exploration.

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How does JPL's role differ from NASA's broader mission?

While JPL leads in planetary exploration, NASA's overall responsibility encompasses various aspects of space exploration, including human spaceflight.

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Faster, Better, Cheaper

A management philosophy adopted by NASA in the early 1990s, emphasizing completing missions quicker, more effectively, and at a lower cost.

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Who was Daniel Goldin?

The former head of NASA who introduced the "Faster, Better, Cheaper" philosophy.

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Why was "Faster, Better, Cheaper" Implemented?

The "Faster, Better, Cheaper" philosophy aimed to make NASA missions more efficient, leading to a significant reduction in costs.

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How did JPL embrace the new management philosophy?

JPL was challenged to implement the "Faster, Better, Cheaper" philosophy, aiming to achieve more with the same or less funding.

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What did the "Faster, Better, Cheaper" philosophy encourage?

The "Faster, Better, Cheaper" approach encouraged taking more risks to achieve greater efficiency.

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What critical aspect did "Faster, Better, Cheaper" emphasize?

JPL was challenged to be bold and take risks to execute the "Faster, Better, Cheaper" philosophy.

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What was the core goal of "Faster, Better, Cheaper"?

The "Faster, Better, Cheaper" philosophy aimed to achieve more while spending less money.

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What drove the need for the "Faster, Better, Cheaper" reform?

NASA was under public and political pressure to improve its performance and efficiency.

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Reliance on Past Success

A situation where an organization relies on past successes as a substitute for thorough, reliable engineering practices.

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Organizational Barriers to Communication

Organizational barriers can prevent the flow of crucial safety information between teams or departments.

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Lack of Integrated Management

When different parts of an organization (e.g., design, manufacturing, testing) don't work well together, it can lead to safety issues.

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Informal Decision Making

Informal rules and decision-making processes that aren't officially documented can arise, potentially bypassing safety protocols.

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JPL's New Risk Management Program

JPL's efforts to improve its risk management practices by implementing a new program to increase mission success rates.

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NASA's 'Faster, Better, Cheaper' Era

The era in which NASA prioritized faster, cheaper, and more frequent missions, potentially sacrificing quality and safety for speed.

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Gentry Lee

A key figure in the implementation of JPL's new risk management program, who previously worked on the Viking and Galileo missions.

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The Galileo Mission

A large-scale mission that explored Jupiter with both an atmospheric probe and an orbiter, representing a period before NASA's 'faster, better, cheaper' era.

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What was significant about the Mars Biological Explorer (MBE) program?

The Mars Biological Explorer (MBE) mission was the first to utilize a new system developed by JPL, from initial planning to launch. The mission aimed to search for signs of past or present life on Mars.

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Why did NASA believe that Mars could have supported life?

Scientists believed that Mars could have supported life due to the discovery of ice water at the North Pole and the presence of salts and minerals elsewhere that could have formed with water.

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What was the primary objective of the MBE mission?

The MBE mission was designed to land a non-mobile platform on Mars to collect subsurface samples and analyze them for bio-markers, evidence of past or present life.

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How challenging was guiding the MBE spacecraft to Mars?

A spacecraft needs to be guided to its target planet with extreme precision. The MBE mission's spacecraft would travel from Earth to Mars, both of which are moving in their own orbits around the sun and spinning on their axes. This makes the journey much harder than shooting a baseball from one stadium to another.

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What were the four main stages of the MBE mission?

The MBE mission involved four main stages: launch, cruise, entry-descent-landing (EDL), and surface operations.

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Why was the entry-descent-landing (EDL) stage the most challenging part of the MBE mission?

The entry-descent-landing (EDL) stage was considered the most challenging part of the mission because the spacecraft would enter Mars's atmosphere at high speed and needed to slow down rapidly and land safely. The surface conditions were unknown, adding to the risks.

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What was the spacecraft's speed upon entering Mars's atmosphere?

The spacecraft's arrival at Mars's atmosphere was at a tremendous speed, equivalent to 20 times the speed of a speeding bullet. The spacecraft needed to slow down and land safely within a very short time.

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Why was landing the MBE spacecraft on the surface of Mars difficult?

The surface of Mars is unpredictable, with unknown composition and slopes, making the landing even more challenging for the MBE mission.

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What is a risk assessment matrix?

A risk assessment matrix evaluates the potential impact of a risk and its probability of occurring.

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What is a critical risk?

A high consequence, high likelihood risk would be considered a critical risk that needs immediate attention and mitigation.

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What are the levels of mission consequence?

Mission failure, significant degradation of mission benefits, moderate degradation of mission benefits, small degradation of mission benefits and minimal degradation of mission benefits represent the different levels of consequence.

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What are the levels of implementation consequence?

Overrun budget, consumed all budget, significant reduction in margin, small reduction in margin and minimal reduction in margin represent the different levels of implementation consequence.

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How are risks classified?

Risks are classified based on their potential consequences and likelihood of occurrence using a matrix system.

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How did the MBE project team use a risk assessment matrix?

The MBE project team used a risk assessment matrix to categorize risks based on their impact and probability.

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How would the MBE team prioritize risks?

The project team would prioritize mitigating risks that have a high impact and are likely to occur.

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What is the purpose of a risk assessment matrix for the project team?

The risk assessment matrix helps identify and prioritize risks to optimize resource allocation and ensure project success.

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Mars Biological Explorer (MBE) mission

A mission aimed to collect and analyze samples to find life signs on Mars.

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Entry-Descent-Landing (EDL) stage

The most challenging part of the MBE mission, involving high-speed entry into Mars's atmosphere.

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Critical risk

A risk that has high likelihood and high consequence, needing immediate attention.

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Risk assessment matrix

A tool to evaluate risks based on impact and probability.

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Guiding the MBE spacecraft

Involves precise navigation from Earth to Mars due to their orbits.

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Four main stages of the MBE mission

Launch, cruise, entry-descent-landing, and surface operations.

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Levels of mission consequence

Different levels of mission impact, ranging from failure to minimal degradation.

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Prioritizing risks in MBE

Focus on risks that have high impact and likelihood to mitigate them.

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Intellectual Confrontation

A culture that encourages open debate to find the best ideas.

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Embedded Risk Management

Integrating risk management into the engineering process continuously.

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Innovation Balance

The need to balance forward-thinking with learning from past mistakes.

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Risk Assurance Process

Structured approach to identify and mitigate risks in projects.

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Comprehensive Risk System

A system developed to manage risks across planetary missions effectively.

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Project Engineers' Perspective

How engineers view risk management, often as secondary.

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Learning from Experience

The process of reflecting on past projects to avoid future mistakes.

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Cultural Shift

The change in attitude towards valuing collective ideas over individual correctness.

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Chief Systems Engineer at JPL

The role responsible for ensuring the engineering integrity of all JPL planetary missions.

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Risk Types in Projects

Three types of risks: business as usual, development, and unknown unknowns.

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Risk Mitigation

The process of identifying, assessing, and reducing risks to improve the success of a project.

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Unknown Unknowns

Risks imposed by environmental factors that cannot be anticipated or controlled.

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Cultural Resistance in Engineering

Challenges faced in accepting and implementing risk mitigation strategies due to inherent professional pride.

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Risk Assessment Matrix Purpose

A tool used to evaluate risks based on their impact and probability to prioritize mitigation efforts.

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Mission Success Likelihood

An aggregate measure of various risks to determine whether the mission should proceed.

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Gentry Lee's Role

A significant figure involved in improving JPL's risk management processes, previously worked on major missions.

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Stages of MBE mission

The MBE mission involved four stages: launch, cruise, entry-descent-landing, and surface operations.

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Entry-Descent-Landing (EDL) challenges

The EDL stage faced risks from high-speed entry into Mars’s atmosphere and unknown surface conditions.

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Spacecraft speed at Mars entry

The spacecraft entered Mars's atmosphere at 12,000 mph, or 20 times the speed of a bullet.

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Why Mars may support life

Discovery of ice water and salts on Mars led to belief that it could have supported life.

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Guiding the spacecraft to Mars

Guiding involves precision as both Earth and Mars move in orbits around the sun.

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Non-mobile platform of MBE

The MBE mission used a stationary platform to collect subsurface samples on Mars for analysis.

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Risk assessment matrix in MBE

A tool used by the MBE team to evaluate and prioritize risks based on impact and probability.

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Mission consequence scores

Scale measuring the impact of risk on mission success, ranging from 1 to 5.

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Implementation consequence scores

Scale measuring the impact of risks on project resources and budget, also ranging from 1 to 5.

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Levels of implementation consequence

Categories from 'Overran budget' to 'Minimal reduction' indicating risk impact on implementation.

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Risk assessment matrix usage

Tool used to categorize risks based on their impact and likelihood.

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Consequence evaluation

Assessing the consequences and likelihood of risks to optimize project planning.

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Six Minutes of Terror

A critical EDL stage where engineers lost communication with the spacecraft.

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Risk Review Board

A group of experts tasked with evaluating and challenging project risks.

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Entry-Descent-Landing (EDL)

The most challenging phase of the MBE mission involving spacecraft landing on Mars.

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Mission Consequence Levels

Different categories of mission failure impacts ranging from minimal to severe.

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Prioritizing Risks

The process of addressing risks with the highest impact and likelihood first.

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Study Notes

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

  • JPL is a research and development center, managed by Caltech under contract with NASA.
  • JPL employs approximately 5,000 full-time Caltech employees and thousands of contractors.
  • JPL's founding was during World War II to develop and test rockets and guided missiles for the US Army.
  • JPL launched Explorer 1 in 1958, America's first satellite, providing data on the Van Allen radiation belts.
  • JPL became NASA's primary planetary spacecraft center in the 1950s, leading to the Ranger, Surveyor, Mariner, Galileo, and Voyager missions.
  • JPL manages the Hubble Space Telescope camera and the Deep Space Network for interplanetary communication.
  • Several tragic NASA failures occurred, including the Apollo 1 fire (1967) and the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion (1986), and the loss of the Mars Observer in 1993.
  • The agency's mission includes interplanetary exploration, including missions to Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
  • The agency designed and operated the camera for NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and maintained communication with robotic missions across the solar system.
  • The Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander failures in the 1990s highlighted the challenges to risk management.
  • The agency's purpose is interplanetary exploration, including missions to Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
  • The agency designed and operated the camera for NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and maintained communication with robotic missions across the solar system.

History and Mission

  • JPL's early development involved sub-orbital flights and sub-orbital rocket and missile testing.
  • The mission encompassed early robotic spacecraft missions to the moon which paved the way for the manned Apollo missions.
  • The agency's mission includes interplanetary exploration, including missions to Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
  • The agency designed and operated the camera for NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and maintained communication with robotic missions across the solar system.
  • The Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander failures in the 1990s highlighted the challenges to risk management.

Implementing a New Risk Management Culture at JPL

  • In 2000, NASA's new Mars Program Director, Scott Hubbard, asked Gentry Lee to implement a risk management program to increase mission success rates.
  • Lee's role was Systems Engineer responsible for all JPL planetary missions.
  • He established a Risk Review Board to identify, assess, and mitigate mission-threatening risks, emphasizing intellectual confrontation in assessing potential issues.
  • The Board's process involved identifying and categorizing risks by consequence and likelihood, often using heat maps to visually represent risk probabilities.
  • The process aims to challenge assumptions, examine various mission design approaches, and anticipate potential issues in advance.

Critical Events Readiness Review (CERR)

  • A CERR meeting is held seven weeks before the launch to review and mitigate remaining risks identified by earlier reviews.
  • The meeting involved discussions on residual mission risks, risk mitigation strategies, estimates of mission success, and the possibility of launch delays.
  • If risks are deemed unacceptable, the launch may be delayed.
  • Delays are costly, impacting personnel, equipment maintenance, and eroding public/Congressional support and impacting associated projects dependent on the successful results of previous ones.
  • Decisions are driven by risk appetite, which varies by mission type. Flagship missions require a 96% success probability, while discovery missions may accept 90%.

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Jet Propulsion Laboratory PDF

Description

Test your knowledge about Daniel Goldin's impact on NASA and the history of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). This quiz covers key events, achievements, and management philosophies from the 1950s to the early 1990s. Explore the significant contributions of JPL and understand Goldin's approach to innovation and risk management.

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