Melissa Motichek/Al Feinberg<br />Headquarters, Washington October 2, 2003<br />(Phone: 202/358-1272/4504)<br /><br />RELEASE: 03-316<br /><br />NASA SIGNS MISSION ASSURANCE AGREEMENT<br /><br /> NASA signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the <br />U.S. Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The <br />MOA allows the two organizations to exchange information and <br />collaborate on crucial matters affecting safety and mission <br />success.<br /><br />Under the agreement, NASA and MDA will exchange information <br />about safety and quality methodology and participate jointly <br />in work groups, studies, analysis, and supplier <br />audit/assessment activities. NASA and MDA have also agreed to <br />share relevant documents, data and information about topics <br />such as mission assurance practices, the status of risks in <br />parts and materiel supply chains.<br /> <br />"Sharing information and ideas that address the challenges of <br />safe and successful space flight will help both agencies," <br />said Bryan O'Connor, NASA's Associate Administrator for <br />Safety and Mission Assurance, after signing the agreement <br />Tuesday.<br /><br />This MOA is the latest in a series of actions resulting from <br />information exchanges between NASA and other organizations <br />that manage high-risk operations. This includes an MOA signed <br />in August with the U.S. Navy to identify and use the "best of <br />the best" safety and engineering practices of each <br />organization.<br /><br />For photographs from the NASA/MDA MOA ceremony on the <br />Internet, visit:<br /><br />www.nasa.gov/news/highlights/missile_moa.html<br /><br />For more information about NASA on the Internet, visit:<br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov