The ASAP bases its advice on direct observation of NASA operations and decision-making. In the aftermath of the Shuttle Columbia accident, Congress required that the ASAP submit an annual report to the NASA Administrator and to Congress. The annual report is to examine NASA’s compliance with the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB), as well as NASA’s management and culture related to safety.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will announce meetings of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel on this page.

Upcoming ASAP Meeting

March 16, 2026

Federal Register :: Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel; Meeting

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice: 26–014]

Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel; Meeting

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announces a forthcoming meeting of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP).

DATES: Monday, March 16, 2026, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., eastern time.

ADDRESSES: Public attendance will be virtual only. See dial in information below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Marcia Guignard, ASAP Administrative Officer, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546, (202) 358–4717 or marcia.guinard@nasa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel(ASAP) will hold its First Quarterly Meeting for 2026. This discussion is pursuant to carrying out its statutory duties for which the Panel reviews, identifies, evaluates, and advises on those program activities, systems, procedures, and management activities that can contribute to program risk. Priority is given to those programs that involve the safety of human flight. The agenda will include:
—Updates on the Commercial Crew Program
—Updates on Advanced Exploration Systems Program
—Updates on Health and Human Exploration

This meeting is only available telephonically. Any interested person may call the USA toll free conference call number 800–369–3107; passcode 3116192 and then the # sign. At the beginning of the meeting, members of the public may make a verbal presentation to the Panel on the subject of safety in NASA, not to exceed 5 minutes in length. To do so, members of the public must contact Ms. Marcia Guignard, at marcia.guignard@nasa.gov, or at (202) 358–4717 at least 48 hours in advance. Any member of the public is permitted to file a written statement with the Panel via electronic submission to Ms. Guignard at the email address previously noted. Verbal presentations and written statements should be limited to the subject of safety in NASA. It is imperative that the meeting be held on this date to accommodate the scheduling priorities of the key participants.

Jamie M. Krauk,
Advisory Committee Management Officer, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

[FR Doc. 2026–04064 Filed 2–27–26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7510–13–P

Background

The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel is a senior advisory committee that reports to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Congress. The Panel was established by Congress after the Apollo 204 Command and Service Module spacecraft fire in January 1967. 

The Panel’s statutory duties, established under Section 6 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 1968, and as amended under 51 U.S.C. § 31101 are as follows:

1. Review safety studies and operations plans referred to it, including evaluating the Administration’s compliance with the return-to-flight and continue-to-fly recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, and make reports thereon;
2. Advise the Administrator and Congress with respect to-
   • (A) the hazards of proposed or existing facilities and proposed operations;
   • (B) the adequacy of proposed or existing safety standards; and
   • (C) management and culture related to safety; and
3. Perform such other duties as the Administrator may request.

The Act as amended is an effective piece of legislation for two important reasons. One, for the first time in NASA’s history, an independent safety review body provides timely and continuous oversight of its aerospace programs. Two, NASA is required to keep the House Committee on Science and Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation fully informed of its activities. 

For further information, please refer to the following documents: 

• Public Law creating the Panel (pdf) 
• 51 USC 31101: Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel – Current Law Management Instruction implementing the Panel (pdf) 
• NASA Management Instruction implementing the Panel (pdf) 
• Document describing how the Panel would implement recommendations (pdf) NOT 508 COMPLIANT

Activities

Each year since its inception in 1968, the Panel conducts a number of multifaceted, fact-finding sessions at NASA, its Centers, and contractor sites to review, evaluate, and advise on a wide range of program activities, systems, procedures, and management policies that contribute to risk. After this extensive data gathering process, the Panel then provides identification and assessment of these elements to top management. Priority is given to programs involving human space flight safety. 

In addition to undertaking specific assignments or investigations as requested by the NASA Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and the Congress, the Panel:

• Continuously examines the technical management capability of NASA programs from a safety/reliability viewpoint to assess their strengths and weaknesses. 
• Selects a small number of specific program/project functional hardware/software areas and assess their worthiness with regard to safety/reliability. 
• Assesses those judgments rendered by internal and external review groups. 
• Acts to cause NASA and its contractors to be introspective regarding critical hardware/software systems and subsystems, and the decisions affecting them.

The work of the Panel culminates each year in the publication of its Annual Report. This comprehensive Report presents findings and recommendations in key areas defined by the Panel during the previous year. The Report is a public document distributed to the NASA Administrator, appropriate House and Senate Committees and Subcommittees, NASA Centers, American and international industries, the media, academia and the public.