Lesson Info:

• Lesson Number: 1411
• Lesson Date: 2004-01-26
• Submitting Organization: JPL
• Submitted by: Robert T. Mitchell/Carol Dumain

Subject:

Abstract:

Cassini was one of the first major JPL missions to successfully conduct a risk management program during the Mission Operations and Data Analysis (MO&DA) phase. It was complicated by the distribution of the 500-person MOS Team across the U.S. and Europe, involving over 16 sub-teams, 9 time zones, and ITAR-mandated information exchange limitations. Define a formal risk management process early in MO&DA that will be tightly scoped to the operational phase of MO&DA. Also manage the human performance risks (fatigue, health, etc.) to mission ops. Select a flexible RM database tool.

Description of Driving Event:

Cassini is one of the first major JPL missions to successfully conduct a risk management program during the Mission Operations and Data Analysis (MO&DA) phase, in addition to the normal system development program. When the risk management program was revived 3 years after the 1997 launch, the Mission Operations System (MOS) Team viewed it as a new and challenging practice. Implementation was complicated by the distribution of the 500-person MOS Team across the U.S. and Europe, involving over 16 sub-teams, 9 time zones, and information exchange limitations mandated by International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

[D]

To plan the risk management process for MO&DA, training workshops and tutorials were held during 2000, and a risk management plan and schedule were issued in early 2001. Subsequent brainstorming sessions produced a Significant Risk List (SRL), risk items were sorted by mission phase, and they were documented in an on-line tool and categorized according to likelihood and impact. A Risk Team met quarterly to review the project»s risk posture, add risk metrics to the on-line tool, and brief the MOS Team and NASA. The risk posture was a standard briefing topic at Cassini readiness reviews and monthly management reviews.

A key to the success of this program was deferring wider participation until the risk management process was well established and understood by the JPL MOS Team. JPL did not solicit European Space Agency (ESA) and Instrument Team participation until late 2002, when the on-line tool, initial SRL, and risk performance metrics had already achieved a measure of acceptance at JPL. With these tools in place, changes in the project risk profile became easily visible to the MOS Team and Cassini project management.

References:

1. Robert T. Mitchell, “Cassini: An Overview of Lessons Learned,” NASA Risk Management Colloquium IV, September 4, 2003.
2. 
   
3. JPL Risk Management Process Implementation Guideline, JPL DocID 57312, August 16, 2002.
4. ”Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) Human Factors Management Action Plan”, December 12, 2003, as part of “Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) Safety Plan/Requirements for Visitation and Media Coverage for MER Landings”.

Additional Key Words: risk assessment, mission risks, operations risks, risk drivers, failure mode, risk impact, risk likelihood, risk training, international partners

Lesson(s) Learned:

Cassini demonstrated that active management of risks can be implemented effectively during mission ops despite the need to involve a large, geographically distributed, MOS organization.

Recommendation(s):

1. Implement a formal risk management process during MO&DA that is tightly scoped to the operational phase (i.e., Cruise, Tour, Orbit Insertion, Probe Mission).
2. 
   
3. Define the scope of the risk management program early in the MO&DA phase, obtain project manager endorsement to encourage MOS Team acceptance, reassess risks at appropriate milestones, and continue the process until end-of-mission.
4. Adopt a flexible risk management database tool that is compatible across platforms and clearly depicts the project's evolving risk posture.
5. The risk management process should include attention to human performance factors (stress, fatigue, health, work schedule, etc.) during mission operations. See reference 3.

Evidence of Recurrence Control Effectiveness:

A JPL preventive action notice (PAN) will be issued to incorporate human performance risk factors in the MO&DA risk management process.

Documents Related to Lesson:

NASA NPR 8000.4, “Risk Management Procedures and Guidelines”

Mission Directorate(s):

• Exploration Systems
• Science
• Aeronautics Research

Applicable Crosscutting Process(es):

• Manage Strategically
• Provide Aerospace Products & Capabilities: Implementation

Additional Key Phrase(s):

• External Relations
• Flight Equipment
• Flight Operations
• Hardware
• Mishap Reporting
• Payloads
• Policy & Planning
• Program and Project Management
• Range Operations
• Risk Management/Assessment
• Safety & Mission Assurance
• Spacecraft

Approval Info:

• Approval Date: 2004-05-20
• Approval Name: Carol Dumain
• Approval Organization: JPL
• Approval Phone Number: 818-354-8242