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7.02 - Classification and Safety-Criticality
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1. Introduction

NASA has two significant independent classification schemas for software:

  1. a software engineering classification as described in NPR 7150.2 083, NASA Software Engineering Requirements, Appendix D, and
  2. the software can be determined to be safety-critical software as described in NASA-STD-8739.8 278, Software Assurance and Software Safety Standard.

SWE-020 - Software Classification describes the relationship between these classifications. For a given system or subsystem, the software is expected to be uniquely defined within a single classification pair (software engineering classification X software safety definition). Knowing this pair determines the minimal set of software requirements from NPR 7150.2 needing to be addressed (via Appendix C of NPR 7150.2) by the project's software team. See also Topic 7.16 - Appendix C. Requirements Mapping and Compliance Matrix.

1.1 Software Classifications

The classifications table below comes directly from NPR 7150.2D, paragraph P.2 APPLICABILITY:

Figure 1. NASA software classification structure

NASA-Wide Software Classifications

Class A      Human-Rated Space Software Systems  

Class B      Non-Human Space-Rated Software Systems or Large-Scale Aeronautics Vehicles

Class C      Mission Support Software or Aeronautic Vehicles, or Major Engineering/Research Facility Software   

Class D      Basic Science/Engineering Design and Research and Technology Software

Class E       Design Concept, Research, Technology, and General Purpose Software   

Class F       General Purpose Computing, Business, and IT Software

Notes: It is not uncommon for a project to contain multiple systems and subsystems having different software classes. 

1.2 Software Safety Criticality

The description of Safety-Critical Software comes directly from NASA-STD-8739.8B:

8739.8B para 3.2 Definitions: Safety-Critical Software

Safety-Critical Software.  Software is classified as safety-critical if the software is determined by and traceable to a hazard analysis. Software is classified as safety-critical if it meets at least one of the following criteria:

a. Causes or contributes to a system hazardous condition/event,
b. Controls functions identified in a system hazard,
c. Provides mitigation for a system hazardous condition/event,
d. Mitigates damage if a hazardous condition/event occurs,
e. Detects, reports, and takes corrective action if the system reaches a potentially hazardous state.

Software is classified as safety-critical if the software is determined by and traceable to hazard analysis. See Appendix A for guidelines associated with addressing software in hazard definitions. See SWE-205 - Determination of Safety-Critical Software. Other independent means of protection (software, hardware, barriers, or administrative) should be considered as part of the system hazard definition process.

Defining software safety criticality involves the determination of whether the software is performing a safety-critical function, including verification of safety-critical software, hardware, or operations component, subsystem, or system.

All Safety-critical software has to be classified as Class D or higher.


1.3 Additional Guidance

Links to Additional Guidance materials for this subject have been compiled in the Relevant Links table. Click here to see the  Additional Guidance in the Resources tab.

2. Classification Descriptions

Software classification determines NPR 7150.2 083 requirement applicability for a specific system or sub-system. As stated in NPR 7150.2: "These definitions are based on 1) usage of the software with or within a NASA system, 2) criticality of the system to NASA's major programs and projects, 3) extent to which humans depend upon the system, 4) developmental and operational complexity, and 5) the extent of the Agency's investment." Classes A through E cover engineering-related software. Class F covers Business and Information Technology Infrastructure Software. Using the Requirements Mapping Matrix, the number of applicable requirements and their associated rigor are scaled back for lower software classes. Situations in which a project contains separate systems and subsystems having different software classes are not uncommon.

For a given system or subsystem, software is expected to be uniquely defined within a single class. If more than one software class appears to apply, then assign the higher of the classes to the system/subsystem. Any potential discrepancies in classifying software within Classes A through-- E are to be resolved using the definitions and the five underlying factors listed in the previous paragraph. Engineering and SMA provide dual TA chains for resolving classification issues. The NASA Chief Engineer is the ultimate TA for software classification disputes concerning definitions in this NPR.


The material in this table is from Appendix D of NPR 7150.2.

The balance of this appendix has been reorganized into a table format to make it easier to read. 

Definition Examples and Exclusions

Class A Human Rated Space Software Systems

Human Space Flight Software Systems*:

Ground and flight software systems developed or operated by or for NASA needed to perform a primary mission objective of human space flight and directly interact with human space flight systems. Limited to software required to perform "vehicle, crew, or primary mission function," as defined by software that is:

(a) Required to operate the vehicle or space asset (e.g., spacesuit, rover, or outpost), including commanding of the vehicle or asset.

(b) Required to sustain a safe, habitable1 environment for the crew.

(c) Required to achieve the primary mission objectives, or

(d) Required to directly prepare resources (e.g., data, fuel, power) that are consumed by the above functions.

*Includes software involving launch, on-orbit, in space, surface operations, entry, descent, and landing.

1 Current standards that address habitability and environmental health, including atmospheric composition and pressure, air, and water quality and monitoring, acceleration, acoustics, vibration, radiation, thermal environment, combined environmental effects, and human factors, are documented in NASA-Standard-3001 Volume 1, Space Flight Human-System Standard: Crew Health, NASA-Standard-3001 Volume 2, Space Flight Human-System Standard: Human Factors, Habitability, and Environmental Health, FAA HFDS - Human Factors Design Standard.


Examples of Class A software (human-rated space flight) include but are not limited to the mission phases listed below: 

Examples of Class A software (human-rated space flight) include, but are not limited to, the mission phases listed below.

1. During Launch:

Abort modes and selection; separation control; range safety; crew interface (display and controls); crew escape; critical systems monitoring and control; guidance, navigation, and control; and communication and tracking.

2. On-Orbit/In Space:

Extravehicular activity (EVA); control of electrical power; payload control (including suppression of hazardous satellite and device commands); critical systems monitoring and control; guidance, navigation, and control; life support systems; crew escape; rendezvous and docking; failure detection; isolation and recovery; communication and tracking; and mission operations.

3. On Ground:

Pre-launch and launch operations; Mission Control Center (and Launch Control Center) front-end processors; spacecraft commanding; vehicle processing operations; re-entry operations; flight dynamics simulators used for ascent abort calls; and launch and flight controller stations for human-crewed spaceflight.

4. Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL):

Command and control; aero-surface control; power; thermal; fault protection; and communication and tracking.

5. Surface Operations:

Planet/lunar surface EVA and communication and tracking.


Exclusions:

Class A does not include: 

1. Software that happens to fly in space but is superfluous to mission objectives (e.g., software contained in an iPod carried onboard by an astronaut for personal use); or

2. Software that exclusively supports aeronautics, research and technology, and science conducted without space flight applications; or

3. Systems (e.g., simulators, emulators, stimulators, facilities) used to test Class A systems containing software in a development environment.

 Class B Non - Human Space Rated Software Systems or Large Scale Aeronautics Vehicles


1. Space Systems involve flight and ground software that should perform reliably to accomplish primary mission objectives or major function(s) in non-human space rated systems. Included is software involving launch, on-orbit, in space, surface operations, entry, descent, and landing. These systems are limited to software that is:

(a) Required to operate the vehicle or space asset (e.g., orbiter, lander, probe, flyby spacecraft, rover, launch vehicle, or primary instrument) such as commanding of the vehicle or asset;

(b) Required to achieve the primary mission objectives; or

(c) Required to directly prepare resources (data, fuel, power) that are consumed by the above functions.

2. Airborne Vehicles include large scale1 aeronautic vehicles unique to NASA in which the software:

(a) Is integral to the control of an airborne vehicle;

(b) Monitors and controls the cabin environment; or

(c) Monitors and controls the vehicle’s emergency systems.

This definition includes software for vehicles classified as “test,” “experimental,” or “demonstration” that meets the above definition for Class B software. Also included are systems in a test or demonstration where the software’s known and scheduled intended use is to be part of a Class A or B software system. 

1 Large-scale (life cycle cost exceeding $250M) fully integrated technology development system – see NPR 7120.8.

Examples of Class B software include, but are not limited to:

1. Space, Launch, Ground, EDL, and Surface Systems:

Propulsion systems; power systems; guidance navigation and control; fault protection; thermal systems; command and control ground systems; planetary/lunar surface operations; hazard prevention; primary instruments; science sequencing engine; simulations that create operational EDL parameters; subsystems that could cause the loss of science return from multiple instruments; flight dynamics and related data; and launch and flight controller stations for non-human spaceflight.

2. Aeronautics Vehicles (Large Scale NASA Unique):

Guidance, navigation, and control; flight management systems; autopilot; propulsion systems; power systems; emergency systems (e.g., fire suppression systems, emergency egress systems, emergency oxygen supply systems, traffic/ground collision avoidance system); and cabin pressure and temperature control. 

c. Exclusions:

Class B does not include:

1. Software that exclusively supports non-primary instruments on non-human space rated systems (e.g., low-cost non-primary university supplied instruments); or

2. Systems (e.g., simulators emulators, stimulators, facilities) used in testing Class B systems containing software in a development environment; or

3. Software for NASA Class D payloads, as defined in NPR 8705.4.

Class C Mission Support Software or Aeronautic Vehicles, or Major Engineering/ Research Facility Software

1. Space Systems include the following types of software:

(a) Flight or ground software necessary for the science return from a single (non-primary) instrument;

(b) Flight or ground software used to analyze or process mission data;

(c) Other software for which a defect could adversely impact the attainment of some secondary mission objectives or cause operational problems;

(d) Software used for the testing of space assets;

(e) Software used to verify system requirements of space assets by analysis; or

(f) Software for space flight operations not covered by Class A or B software.

2. Airborne Vehicles include systems for non-large scale aeronautic vehicles in which the software:

(a) Is integral to the control of an airborne vehicle;

(b) Monitors and controls the cabin environment; or

(c) Monitors and controls the vehicle’s emergency system.

Also included are systems on an airborne vehicle (including large-scale vehicles) that acquire, store, or transmit the official record copy of flight or test data.

3. Major Engineering/Research Facility is systems that operate a major facility for research, development, test, or evaluation (e.g., facility controls and monitoring, systems that operate facility-owned instruments, apparatus, and data acquisition equipment).

4. Sounding Rockets and Sounding Rocket payloads.

5. Software for NASA Class D payloads, as defined in NPR 8705.4.

Examples of Class C software include, but are not limited to:

1. Space Systems:

Software that supports prelaunch integration and test; mission data processing and analysis; analysis software used in trend analysis and calibration of flight engineering parameters; primary/major science data collection storage and distribution systems (e.g., Distributed Active Archive Centers); simulators, emulators, stimulators, or facilities used to test Class A, B, or C software in development; integration and test environments; software used to verify system-level requirements associated with Class A, B, or C software by analysis (e.g., guidance, navigation, and control system performance verification by analysis); simulators used for mission training; software employed by network operations and control (which is redundant with systems used at tracking complexes); command and control of non-primary instruments; ground mission support software used for secondary mission objectives, real-time analysis, and planning (e.g., monitoring, consumables analysis, mission planning); CubeSat mission software; SmallSat mission software; sounding rocket software and sounding rocket experiments or payload software; and all software on NASA Class D payloads, as defined in NPR 8705.4 to examples of Class C software.

2. Aeronautics Vehicles:

Guidance, navigation, and control; flight management systems; autopilot; propulsion systems; power systems; emergency systems (e.g., fire suppression systems, emergency egress systems, emergency oxygen supply systems, traffic/ground collision avoidance system); cabin pressure and temperature control; in-flight telescope control software; aviation data integration systems; automated flight planning systems and primary/major science data collection storage and distribution systems (e.g., Distributed Active Archive Centers); sounding rockets and sounding rocket experiments or payload software; flight software for free-flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in public airspace or over-controlled ranges; Balloon Flight software and balloon flight experiment software, and all software on NASA Class D payloads, as defined in NPR 8705.4.

3. Major Engineering/Research Facility:

Major Center facilities; data acquisition and control systems for wind tunnels, vacuum chambers, and rocket engine test stands; ground-based software used to operate a major facility telescope; and major aeronautic applications facilities (e.g., air traffic management systems; high fidelity motion-based simulators).

c. Exclusions:

Class C does not include: 

Systems unique to research, development, test, or evaluation activities in a major engineering/research facility or airborne vehicle in which the system is not part of the facility or vehicle and does not impact the operation of the facility or vehicle.

Class D Basic Science/Engineering Design and Research and Technology Software

1. Basic Science/Engineering Design includes:

(a) Ground software that performs secondary science data analysis;

(b) Ground software tools that support engineering development;

(c) Ground software or software tools used for informal testing of software systems;

(d) Ground software tools that support mission planning or formulation;

(e) Ground software that operates a research, development, test, or evaluation laboratory (i.e., not a major engineering/research facility); or

(f) Ground software that provides decision support for non-mission critical situations.

2. Airborne Vehicle Systems include:

(a) Software whose anomalous behavior would cause or contribute to a failure of system function resulting in a minor failure condition for the airborne vehicle (e.g., DO-178B, “Class D”);

(b) Software whose anomalous behavior would cause or contribute to a failure of system function with no effect on airborne vehicle operational capability or pilot workload (e.g., DO-178B, “Class E”); or

(c) Ground software tools that perform research associated with airborne vehicles or systems.

3. Major Engineering/Research Facility related software includes research software that executes in a major engineering/research facility but is independent of the operation of the facility.

Examples of Class D software include, but are not limited to:

1. Basic Science and Engineering Design:

Engineering design and modeling tools (e.g., computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), thermal/structural analysis tools); project assurance databases (e.g., problem reporting, analysis, and corrective action system, requirements management databases); propulsion integrated design tools; integrated build management systems; inventory management tools; probabilistic engineering analysis tools; test stand data analysis tools; test stand engineering support tools; experimental flight displays evaluated in a flight simulator; forecasts and assimilated data products; and tools used to develop design reference missions to support early mission planning.

2. Airborne Vehicles:

Software tools for designing advanced human-automation systems; experimental synthetic-vision display; and cloud-aerosol light detection and ranging installed on an aeronautics vehicle; flight software for physically constrained UAVs such as UAVs on tethers, within cages, or used in indoor labs; and experimental UAV payloads with minor consequences of failure.

c. Exclusions:

Class D does not include: 

1. Software that can impact primary or secondary mission objectives or cause loss of data that is generated by space systems;

2. Software that operates a major engineering/research facility;

3. Software that operates an airborne vehicle; or

4. Flight software (i.e., software that meets the flight portions of Class A, B, or C Software Classifications).

Class E Design Concept and Research and Technology Software

Definition:

1. Software developed to explore a design concept or hypothesis but not used to make decisions for an operational Class A, B, or C system or to-be-built Class A, B, or C system.

2. Software used to perform minor analyses of science or experimental data. Class E software cannot be safety-critical software. If the software is classified as safety-critical software, then it has to be classified as Class D or higher.

3. A defect in Class E software may affect the productivity of a single user or small group of users but generally will not affect mission objectives or system safety.

4. Class E software runs in a general-purpose computing environment or a board top environment. Class E software does not support ground tests, flight tests, or operations.

Examples of Class E software include, but are not limited to:

Examples of Class E software include, but are not limited to, parametric models to estimate performance or other attributes of design concepts; software to explore correlations between data sets; line of code counters; file format converters; and document template builders. Class E can include prototypes of flight and ground systems, developed at minimal cost, in the spirit of “exploring a design concept.” Once the design concept is demonstrated, and a program agrees to incorporate it for flight or ground operational use, or for an in-flight test of the technology, then the software should be upgraded to its appropriate classification, based on the operational (or in-flight test) use case. Class E software includes, but is not limited to, software such as word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, and presentation applications.

Exclusions

Class E does not include:'

1. Flight systems (i.e., software that meets the flight portions of Class A, B, C, or D Software Classifications);

2. Software developed by or for NASA to directly support an operational system (e.g., human-rated space system, robotics spacecraft, space instrument, airborne vehicle, major engineering/research facility, mission support facility, and primary/major science data collection storage and distribution systems);

3. Software developed by or for NASA to be flight-qualified to support an operational system;

4. Software that directly affects primary or secondary mission objectives;

5. Software that can adversely affect the integrity of engineering/scientific artifacts;

6. Software used in technical decisions concerning operational systems, or systems being developed for operation;

7. Software that has an impact on operational vehicles; or

8. Software that is safety-critical.

Business and Information Technology Infrastructure Software

Class F General Purpose Computing, Business, and IT Software

Definition:

General-purpose computing Business and IT software used in support of the Agency, multiple Centers, multiple programs/projects, single Centers/projects, or locally deployed General Purpose Infrastructure To-Be Component of the NASA Enterprise Architecture. These software applications are generally used to support voice, wide-area network, local area network, video, data Centers, business and IT application services (e.g., Finance, Logistics, Human Capital, Procurement), messaging and collaboration, and public Web. A defect in Class F software is likely to affect the productivity of multiple users across a single geographic location or several geographic locations and may affect mission objectives or system safety. Mission objectives can be cost, schedule, or technical objectives for any work that the Agency or a Center performs.

Examples of Class F software include but are not limited to:

Examples of Class F software include, but are not limited to, Agency-wide enterprise applications (e.g., WebTADS, SAP, eTravel, ePayroll, Business Warehouse), Center-specific software, or specific Web applications, including mobile applications; Agency-wide educational outreach software; software in support of the NASA-wide area network; and the NASA Web portal.

2.1 Additional Guidance

Links to Additional Guidance materials for this subject have been compiled in the Relevant Links table. Click here to see the  Additional Guidance in the Resources tab.

3. Classification Examples

The following chart lists projects by software classification as examples of how software has been classified for Class A-E software. The project can use these examples to help inform their classification activities.

ProjectsSoftware Classification
CCP (Commercial Crew Program)A
Exploration Ground SystemsA
Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program A
Flight Software on the Commercial Crew ProgramsA
Free Flyer ProjectA
GatewayA
Ground Systems Development and Operations (GSDO) Program - End-to-End Command and ControlA
Human Landing System (HLS)A
International Space Station (ISS) Avionics & Software Critical Flight SoftwareA
Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (EFT-1) Flight SoftwareA
Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (EM-1) Flight SoftwareA
Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (EM-2) Flight SoftwareA
Orion Flight SoftwareA
PPE (power and propulsion element)A
Space Launch System Flight SoftwareA
Space Shuttle Flight SoftwareA
ACCESS (Advanced Communications Capabilities for Exploration and Science Systems)B
Chandra Space Telescope Flight SoftwareB
Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO)B
CloudSat and the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) Flight SoftwareB
Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter CRISTAL (ESA Mission)B
core Flight System (cFS)B
Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) Flight SoftwareB
DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging (DAVINCI) mission)B
DragonflyB
Europa ClipperB
Flight Software on Various Small Satellite Missions (e.g., EDSN, BioSentinel, EuCROPIS)B
GDC (Geospace Dynamics Constellation)B
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES-R) Flight SoftwareB
GeoXO Geostationary Extended Observations (NOAA mission)B
GLIDE (Global Lyman-alpha Imagers of the Dynamic Exosphere)B
Global Hawk AircraftB
GMSEC (Goddard Mission Services Evolution Center)B
Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) Flight SoftwareB
HelioSwarmB
HSTB
Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat II) Flight SoftwareB
IMAP (APL- Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe)B
InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) Flight SoftwareB
Investigation of Convective Updrafts (INCUS)B
Ionospheric Connection (ICON) Explorer Flight SoftwareB
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Flight SoftwareB
Joby S4 AircraftB
Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS (Ground))B
Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Flight SoftwareB
Kepler: Flight SoftwareB
Kepler: Science Pipeline SoftwareB
Landsat NextB
Laser Communication Rely DemoB
Low Boom Flight Demonstrator X-59B
Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS)B
Mars Sample ReturnB
Mars Surface Mission/Mars 2020B
MSLB
NAVIGATION TECHNOLOGY SATELLITE – 3 (NTS-3) Air Force Research Lab ProjectB
Neo Surveyor (space-based infrared telescope)B
Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx)B
PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem)B
PSYCHEB
Quicksounder (NOAA)B
Roman Space TelescopeB
Solar Probe Plus (SPP)B
Space Network Ground Segment Sustainment (SGSS)B
SphereXB
Starling (A Multi-CubeSat Mission to Demonstrate Autonomous Swarm Technologies)B
Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE III) Flight Software, Experiment on ISSB
SunRise (CubeSat/SmallSat)B
Sustainable Flight Demonstrator X-66B
SWFO (Space Weather Follow On)B
Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)B
Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) Flight SoftwareB
14x22-Foot Subsonic Wind TunnelC
20-foot Vertical Spin Tunnel Rotary Balance Control System, Fan Control SystemC
8 foot High Temperature TunnelC
A-1 Control SystemC
Advanced Microgravity Combustion Experiment (ACME)C
Air traffic management systemsC
Airborne Collision Avoidance System For Unmanned Aircraft (ACAS Xu)C
Airborne Synthetic Aperture RadarC
AirSTAR (Flight Software)C
AOS Deployable Optical Receiver Aperture (DORA)C
Archive Next Generation software (ANGe)C
ARCSTONE C
Astrobee Flight and Ground SoftwareC
Atmosphere Observing System (AOS)C
Autonomous Satellite Technology for Resilient Applications (ASTRA)C
B1221 Research ComplexC
B1230 Data Acquisition Systems LaboratoryC
Balloon Flight software and balloon flight experiment softwareC
CADRE (Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration)C
CAPE (Cubesat Application for Planetary Entry Missions)C
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES FM5 on NPP)C
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES FM6 FVTS Simulator)C
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES FM6 on NPOESS)C
CloudSat and the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) Science Level 1, 2  and 3 CodeC
Cockpit Motion FacilityC
Combined Loads Test SystemC
Compressor Station Automation ProjectC
CubeSat mission softwareC
Data acquisition and control systems for wind tunnelsC
E-1 Control SystemC
E-3 Control SystemC
Flow Boiling Condensation Experiment (FBCE)C
Free-flying unmanned aerial vehicles C
General Aviation Main (GAMain)C
Geosynchronous Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR)  C
Geosynchronous Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR)  C
Ground-based software used to operate a major facility telescopeC
HDTN (High-Rate Delay Tolerant Networking)C
HGSC
High-Pressure Gas Facility Supervisory Control SystemC
High-Pressure Industrial Water Plant (HPIW) Control SystemC
High-energy Ion Telescope (HIT)C
High-fidelity motion-based simulatorsC
HNSCSSC
HPGF Air CompressorC
Lang+B56:B80ley Standard Real-Time Simulation and Core Vehicle Models (LaSRS Core)C
Langley Data Center Atmospheric Flight and Entry Systems ClusterC
LaRC Transonic Dynamics Tunnel ABDAS UpgradeC
LaRC Transonic Dynamics Tunnel FAS UpgradeC
Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) (ESA Mission)C
LCRNS (Lunar Communications Relay and Navigation Systems)C
LEIA (Lunar Explorer Instrument for Space Biology Applications)C
LIBERA (LASP instrument)C
Lunar Experiment Survival System and Handling (LESSH)C
Multi-Mission Ground Systems & Services (MGSS)C
NASA Class D payloadsC
NASA Data Acquisition System (NDAS) - High Speed and Low-Speed Data Acquisition (SSC, WSTF, MSFC, and GRC)C
NASA Data Acquisition System (NDAS) Redline System at WSTFC
NASA Data Acquisitions System (Ndas)C
National Transonic FacilityC
Near Earth Magnetometer Instrument in a Small Integrated System (NEMESIS)C
NSN (Near Space Network)C
Olympus (multi-purpose construction system primarily using local Lunar and Martian resources)C
Primary/major science data collection storage and distribution systemsC
Radiation Budget Instrument (RBI)C
Radiation Dosimetry Experiment (RAD-X)C
Radio Frequency Mass Gauge (RF Mass Gauge)C
Rocket engine test standsC
Rodent Research (ISS payload) C
Roman CGIC
SAFFIRE (Spacecraft Fire Safety Demonstration Project)C
SmallSat mission softwareC
SMBA (NOAA's Sounder for Microwave-Based Applications)C
SOFIA Science PipelineC
Sounding rocket experiments or payload softwareC
Sounding RocketsC
Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) TestbedC
Space Launch System System Integration Lab (SIL) Ground SoftwareC
Spacecraft Fire Safety (Saffire)C
Spacecraft Fire Safety DemonstrationC
Steam Distribution System (Steam Plant)C
Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE III) Ground Software, Experiment on ISSC
Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III on ISSC
Stratton Road SubstationC
Structures LaboratoryC
Synthetic aperture radar VenSARC
System Power Analysis for Capability EvaluationC
Test Stand Control System for EUSC
Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor TSIS-2C
Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Science Processing Operations Center (SPOC) SoftwareC
Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT) Facility Automation System UpgradeC
UAS projects C
UAVs in public airspace or over-controlled ranges; C
Vacuum chambersC
Vacuum Facility #5 (VF-5) Control SoftwareC
Various Health and Human Countermeasures ProjectsC
ZBOT-NC, IVGEN Mini, PBRE-WRS, and MAMSC
20W/20K CryoD
Advanced Spacecraft Integration and System Test (ASIST)D
Advanced Stirling Radio-Isotope GeneratorD
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate Test Data PortalD
Aerosol Wind Profiler (AWP) D
Airborne Instrumentation for Real-world Video of Urban EnvironmentsD
Airborne Location Integrating Geospatial Navigation SystemsD
Airspace and Traffic Operations Simulations (ATOS)D
AirSTAR (Phase V Ground Facility Software)D
Arc Jet Modernization D
COBRA Data Acquisition SystemD
Cognitive Comm (may contain a further portfolio of projects)D
Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS)D
Deterministic and Statistical Link Budget Simulator (DSLB)D
DTN (Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking)D
EMTG (Evolutionary Mission Trajectory Generator (EMTG))D
Environmental Control System for Exploration Upper Stage (EUS)D
Flutter and Strength Optimization Program for Lifting-Surface (FASTOP)D
Glenn Extreme Environment Rig Control SystemD
GlennICE (ICE models)D
Goddard Enhanced Onboard Navigation System (GEONS)D
GRC Facility Software SafetyD
Ground Recorder SystemsD
IMPACT (overseeing the lifecycle of Earth science data to maximize the scientific return)D
Integrated Test and Operations System (ITOS)D
INvestigation of Convective Updrafts (INCUS) D
LaRC Facilities projects D
LaRC Science and Research projectsD
Mosaic (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate)D
Multiple Axis Space Test Inertia Facility (MASTIF)D
NDAS Video (NVID) in the E-ComplexD
NGRTG (Next-Generation Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator)D
Optimal Trajectories by Implicit Simulation (OTIS)D
Pathfinding for Autonomous Airspace and VehiclesD
Regenerative Fuel CellsD
RFMG (Radio Frequency Mass Gauge (RFMG))D
Safeguard Software Managed Autonomously Restricted Terrain (SMART)D
Stereo CAmeras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies (SCALPSS) D
Suite of computationalD
Various Facility Data Acquisition SystemsD
Various Facility Industrial Control System SoftwareD
Various Models and Simulation SoftwareD
Various Research Software ProjectsD
Various SCAN Program ToolsD
Vertical Motion SimulatorD
Earth Independent Operations (EIO)E
Global Integrated Design Environment (GLIDE)E
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration in the National Airspace System project, or UAS in the NAS, ADS-BE
Various Research Software ProjectsE


3.1 Additional Guidance

Links to Additional Guidance materials for this subject have been compiled in the Relevant Links table. Click here to see the  Additional Guidance in the Resources tab.

4. Resources

4.1 References

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4.2 Tools


Tools to aid in compliance with this SWE, if any, may be found in the Tools Library in the NASA Engineering Network (NEN). 

NASA users find this in the Tools Library in the Software Processes Across NASA (SPAN) site of the Software Engineering Community in NEN. 

The list is informational only and does not represent an “approved tool list”, nor does it represent an endorsement of any particular tool.  The purpose is to provide examples of tools being used across the Agency and to help projects and centers decide what tools to consider.

4.3 Additional Guidance

Additional guidance related to this requirement may be found in the following materials in this Handbook:

4.4 Center Process Asset Libraries

SPAN - Software Processes Across NASA
SPAN contains links to Center managed Process Asset Libraries. Consult these Process Asset Libraries (PALs) for Center-specific guidance including processes, forms, checklists, training, and templates related to Software Development. See SPAN in the Software Engineering Community of NEN. Available to NASA only. https://nen.nasa.gov/web/software/wiki  197

See the following link(s) in SPAN for process assets from contributing Centers (NASA Only). 



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5. Lessons Learned

5.1 NASA Lessons Learned

No Lessons Learned have currently been identified for this requirement.

5.2 Other Lessons Learned

No other Lessons Learned have currently been identified for this requirement.

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