Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Artist concept of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) 70-metric-ton configuration launching to space. SLS will be the most powerful rocket ever built for deep space missions, including to an asteroid and ultimately to Mars.
Credit: NASA

The NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a November 14 report that flags the space agency’s current and top management and performance challenges.

Its key observation is that NASA’s “static” budgets, along with fiscal uncertainties, makes it tough for the space agency to move forward on its agenda.

Looking forward to 2015, the NASA OIG identified the following:

— Managing NASA’s Human Space Exploration Programs: the International Space Station, Commercial Crew Transportation, and the Space Launch System

— Managing NASA’s Science Portfolio

— Ensuring Continued Efficacy of the Space Communications Networks

— Overhauling NASA’s Information Technology Governance Structure

— Ensuring the Security of NASA’s Information Technology Systems

— Managing NASA’s Infrastructure and Facilities

— Ensuring the Integrity of the Contracting and Grants Processes and the Proper Use of Space Act Agreements

“The late October failure of a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station underscores the difficulty of spaceflight and increases the challenges associated with NASA’s approach to using commercial partners to resupply the Station,” the OIG report notes.

“Similar to last year, we noted that declining budgets and fiscal uncertainties have compounded the difficulty of meeting these and other NASA challenges.”

James Webb Space Telescope
Credit: Northrop Grumman

The report takes a hard look at a number of on-going NASA efforts, from extending the life of the International Space Station; developing the Space Launch System; completing the James Webb Space Telescope; as well as scrutinizing the space agency’s Near-Earth Objects (NEO) Observation Program.

The OIG report also carries a response from NASA’s chief, Charles Bolden, noting in part:

“The audits and investigations that your office conduct provide valuable oversight and insight,” Bolden says.

“The one overarching and seven specific management and performance challenges identified in your 2014 assessment provide NASA with additional tools and solutions set for improvement, which the Agency continues to build upon. We continue to aggressively pursue mitigation of the challenges that your office has identified…”

A tip of the space visor goes to SpacePolicyOnline.com News for calling attention to the release of this new NASA OIG report.

Take a look at the full report here:

http://oig.nasa.gov/NASA2014ManagementChallenges.pdf