NASA Office of Inspector General

« HOME

Space Operations

Ridge Bowman, Director

NASA’s space exploration challenges have become increasingly complex with the retirement of the Space Shuttle in July 2011, the emergence of commercial companies seeking to provide access to the International Space Station and low Earth orbit, and development of new technologies for future long-term exploration. The mission of the Space Operations Directorate is to assist NASA by identifying needed improvements in the leadership and management of Agency operations related to launch services, space transportation, space communications, and human and robotic exploration in and beyond low-Earth orbit. Our work generally focuses on the programs and projects in NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, including the International Space Station, launch services, commercial crew and cargo development, and next generation human space flight systems. Below you will find links to audit reports produced by the Space Operations Directorate over the last 5 years.

• September 25, 2012
  NASA's Plans for the Ares I Mobile Launcher (IG-12-022)
• December 8, 2011
  NASA's Management of Moon Rocks and Other Astromaterials Loaned for Research, Education, and Public Display (IG-12-007)
• September 29, 2011
  A Review of NASA's Replacement of Radiation Monitoring Equipment on the International Space Station(IG-11-027)
• June 30, 2011
  NASA's Challenges Certifying and Acquiing Commercial Crew Transportation Services(IG-11-022)
• March 15, 2011
  Preparing for the Space Shuttle Program's Retirement: Review of NASA's Controls over Public Sales of Space Shuttle Property (IG-11-016)
• February 17, 2011
  Review of NASA's Acquisition of Commercial Launch Services (IG-11-012)
• December 7, 2010
  Preparing for the Space Shuttle Program's Retirement: A Review of NASA's Disposition of Information Technology Equipment (IG-11-009)
• November 10, 2010
  Final Memorandum Assessing Launch Services Program's Interim Response Team Training Requirements(IG-11-003)
• June 18, 2010
  Review of NASA's Microgravity Flight Services (IG-10-015)
• March 29, 2010
  Review of the Constellation Program's Request to Discontinue Using the Metric System of Measurement (IG-10-011)
  
  Addendum: May 3, 2010 Addendum to Final Report, "Review of the Constellation Program's Request to Discontinue Using Metric System of Measurement"
• March 25, 2010
  Review of NASA's Progress on Retiring the Space Shuttle Program (IG-10-012)
• May 21, 2009
  NASA's Management of Ares I Human-Rating Requirements (IG-09-016)
• February 25, 2009
  NASA's Constellation Standing Review Boards Established Without Due Regard for Member Independence Requirements (IG-09-011)
• January 5, 2009
  Final Memorandum on the Review of the Space Shuttle Liquid Hydrogen Fuel Tank Sensors (IG-09-009)
• October 31, 2008
  More Stringent Entrance Criteria Needed for Project Life-Cycle Reviews (IG-09-004)
  
  Addendum: 01/27/09 Addendum to Final Report on More Stringent Entrance Criteria Needed for Project Life-Cycle Reviews
• July 31, 2008
  Final Memorandum on the Audit of International Space Station Contracts Government Cost and Price Analyses (IG-08-024)
• May 9, 2008
  Final Memorandum on the Audit of NASA's Management of the Test Operations Contract (IG-08-019)
• April 28, 2008
  Final Memorandum on the Standing Review Board for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle Project (IG-08-018)
  Addendum: 02/09/09 Addendum to Final Memorandum on the Standing Review Board for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle Project
• March 10, 2008
  Final Memorandum on Glenn Research Center's Land-based Mobile Communication System (IG-08-012)
• February 15, 2008
  Final Memorandum on Review of a Shuttle Training Aircraft Mishap on October 19, 2007 (IG-08-009)
• September 28, 2007
  Final Memorandum on Observations on the Review and Approval of Glenn Research Center's Relocation of the Cryogenic Components Laboratory Facility (IG-07-027)
  Addendum: 11/30/07 Addendum to Final Memorandum on Observations on the Review an Approval of Glenn Research Center's Relocation of the Cryogenic Components Laboratory Facility
• September 24, 2007
  Effective Inspection Program Key to Improving Laboratory Safety at Glenn Research Center (IG-07-032)
• September 19, 2007
  Final Memorandum on the Audit of Space Shuttle Program Costs (IG-07-026)
• July 24, 2007
  Final Memorandum on Marshall Space Flight Center's Approach to Establishing Product Data Management and Mechanical Computer-Aided Design Software Tools as Standard Center-Wide (IG-07-013)
  
  Addendum: 02/19/08 Addendum to Final Memorandum on Marshall Space Flight Center's Approach to Establishing Product Data Management and Mechanical Computer-Aided Design Software Tools as Standard Center-Wide
• May 17, 2007
  Final Memorandum on the Audit of the Management of Aircraft Operations (IG-07-016)
• January 25, 2007
  NASA's Plan for Space Shuttle Transition Could Be Improved by Following Project Management Guidelines (IG-07-005)
  Addendum: 5/10/07 Addendum to the Final Report on NASA's Plan for Space Shuttle Transition Could be Improved by Following Project Management Guidelines
• January 9, 2007
  Final Memorandum on the Review of T-0 Access Stair Trucks Located at Dryden Flight Research Center (ML-07-004)