Conference 7.286::space

499.0. "Space Shuttle Crew Priorities" by MTWAIN::KLAES (No guts, no Galaxy...) Wed Jan 18 1989 10:32

Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Path: decwrl!labrea!agate!bionet!ames!yee
Subject: NASA policy on Shuttle flight eligibility announced (Forwarded)
Posted: 14 Jan 89 21:14:25 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
 
David W. Garrett
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                  January 12, 1989
 
    NASA POLICY ON SHUTTLE FLIGHT ELIGIBILITY ANNOUNCED
 
    NASA Policy for Payload Specialists and Space Flight Participants
 
    A.  General
 
    1.  The Challenger accident marked a major change in the U.S.
outlook and policies with respect to the flight of other than NASA
astronauts.  NASA and interested external parties, domestic and
international, must reexamine previous understandings, expectations,
and commitments regarding flight opportunities in light of the new
policies now being enunciated. 
 
    2.  NASA policies and their implementation recognize that:
 
        --every flight of the Shuttle involves risks;
 
        --flight opportunities will now generally be limited
          to professional NASA astronauts and payload
          specialists essential for mission requirements, and
 
        --top priority must be given to:
 
          .  establishing, proving, and maintaining the
             reliability and safety of the Shuttle system,
 
          .  timely and efficient reduction of the backlog
             of high priority scientific and national
             security missions, and
          
          .  maximum utilization of the Shuttle
             capacity for primary and secondary payloads
             that require transportation to or from orbit by
             the Space Shuttle.
 
    3.  All Shuttle flights will be planned with a minimum NASA crew
of five astronauts (commander, pilot, and three mission specialists). 
When payload or other mission requirements define a need and
operational constraints permit, the crew size can be increased to a
maximum of seven.  Any such additional crew members must be identified
at least 12 months before flight and be available for crew integration
at 6 months. 
 
    4.  NASA policy and terminology are revised to recognize two
categories of persons other than NASA astronauts, each of which
requires separate policy treatment.  They are: 
 
       a.  "Payload Specialists," redefined to refer to persons other
than NASA astronauts (commanders, pilots, and mission specialists),
whose presence is required on board the Space Shuttle to perform
specialized functions with respect to operation of one or more
payloads or other essential mission activities. 
 
       b.  "Space Flight Participants," defined to refer to persons
whose presence on board the Space Shuttle is not required for
operation of payloads or for other essential mission activities, but
is determined by the Administrator of NASA to contribute to other
approved NASA objectives or to be in the national interest. 
 
    B.  Payload Specialists
 
    Payload specialists may be added to shuttle crews when more than
the minimum crew size of five is needed and unique requirements are
involved.  In the case of foreign-sponsored missions and payloads, the
need and requirements for payload specialists will be negotiated and
mutually agreed between the foreign sponsors and NASA.  The selection
process for additional crew members to meet approved requirements will
first give consideration to qualified NASA mission specialists.  When
payload specialists are required they will be nominated by the
appropriate NASA, foreign, or other designated payload sponsor. In the
case of NASA or NASA-related payloads, the nominations will be based
on the recommendations of the appropriate Investigator Working Group (IWG). 
 
    C.  Space Flight Participants
 
    NASA remains committed to the long-term goal of providing space
flight opportunities for persons outside the professional categories
of NASA Astronauts and Payload Specialists when this contributes to
approved NASA objectives or is determined to be in the national
interest.  However, NASA is devoting its attention to proving the
Shuttle system's capability for safe, reliable operation and to
reducing the backlog of high priority missions.  Accordingly, flight
opportunities for Space Flight Participants are not available at this
time.  NASA will assess Shuttle operations and mission and payload
requirements on an annual basis to determine when it can begin to
allocate and assign space flight opportunities for future Space Flight
Participants, consistent with safety and mission considerations.  When
NASA determines that a flight opportunity is available for a space
flight participant, first priority will be given to a "Teacher in
Space" in fulfillment of space education plans. 
 
========================================================================
Received: by decwrl.dec.com (5.54.5/4.7.34)
	id AA28869; Sat, 14 Jan 89 14:11:07 PST