NASA's new space flight project requirements: Earlier definition for later cost stability

NASA Procedural Requirement (NPR) 7120.5, revision E, was released on August 14, 2012. The new NPR, titled NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Requirements, communicates NASA's top-level requirements for space flight programs and projects. The requirements are levied on NASA managers and the project engineering and programmatic teams who are developing and operating NASA's space flight missions. NASA made significant additions and changes to the requirements governing space flight programs and projects, in particular to the project life cycle, project reviews, and the project programmatic and engineering products that document project plans for developing and operating spacecraft and missions. These document products are also used to assess project readiness for approval to move into the next life cycle phase. Development of the new products, and of existing products earlier in the project life cycle, will require changes in how NASA's space flight projects are managed and implemented. In particular, projects will need additional funding and/or schedule time during the Formulation Phase of the project life cycle. Other notable changes were made to the NPR, including the addition of a program/project compliance matrix and revision of the waiver process. This paper will describe the key changes to project requirements in the new NPR, how they will impact the development of space flight projects, and how JPL is preparing to implement the new requirements.