NASA MISSION SUPPORT

2023 ANNUAL REPORT

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration
TABLE OF CONTENTS

A MESSAGE FROM BOB GIBBS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4

A MESSAGE FROM BILL NELSON ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5

WHAT IS MISSION SUPPORT? �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6

WHO IS THE MISSION SUPPORT COMMUNITY? ��������������������������������������������������������������������������6

MISSION SUPPORT PRIORITIES ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9

DISCOVER �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������11

FIRST ASTEROID TO RETURN TO EARTH ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������11

SHARING MATERIAL FROM ASTEROID BENNU ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������11

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE WEATHERING THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT ���������������������������������������12

REDUCING THE RISK OF ORBITAL DEBRIS �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������12

RAINBOW OF X-RAYS ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������12

FLYING SCIENCE LABORATORIES �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������13

EARTH INFORMATION CENTER �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION AND PRESERVATION ���������������������������������������������������������������������������14

A DARING ENDEAVOR ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������15

LASER FOCUS ON SAFETY �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������15

MODERNIZING NASA’S DIGITAL PRESENCE ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������15

EXPLORE ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������17

ARTEMIS PROGRESS ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������17

NEW PARADIGM AND PRIORITY FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE OPERATIONS ��������������������������������������������19

PROTECTING ASTRONAUTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������19

RETURNING SAMPLES FROM MARS ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������20

PLANETARY PROTECTION ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������20

ARC FLASH ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������20

LAUNCH SAFETY �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������20

DEVOTED TO HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT SAFETY ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������21

COLUMBIA ANNIVERSARY ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������21

IMPROVING SPACECRAFT SAFETY AND RELIABILITY �������������������������������������������������������������������������������21

NEW FAILURE ANALYSIS CAPABILITIES ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������22

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR MOON TO MARS EXPLORATION �����������������������������������������������22

PEACEFUL INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN SPACE ���������������������������������������������������������������������������23

LICENSES AND AUTHORIZATIONS FOR HIGH-VISIBILITY MISSIONS �����������������������������������������������������23
TABLE OF CONTENTS

INNOVATE ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 25

PROCUREMENT SUCCESS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 25

PARTNERSHIPS PROMOTE PROGRESS ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 25

MISSION-DRIVEN, SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 27

MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL LEASING AGREEMENTS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 28

ON THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY GAINS ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 29

CUTTING-EDGE PFAS TREATMENT SYSTEM ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 29

WHITE HOUSE CANCER MOONSHOT INITIATIVE ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 30

ENSURING SAFE DECISIONS ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 30

RISK MANAGEMENT, REFINED ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 30

ADVANCE ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 32

NEW RECRUITING STRATEGIES ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 32

WORKFORCE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 33

EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 34

OUTREACH PRIORITIZES DIVERSE COMMUNITIES ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 35

CONNECTIONS WITH CONGRESS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 36

WORKING TOGETHER ON PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES ������������������������������������������������������������������� 37

KEY STEPS STRENGTHEN CYBERSECURITY ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 38

DIGITAL ENGINEERING GARNERS NEW INSIGHTS ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 39

MISSION SUPPORT COMMUNITY ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 40

BY THE NUMBERS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 40

APPENDIX ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 43
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

4

WELCOME

Dear friends of the Mission Support community,

Every launch, every discovery, and every innovation that NASA touches is the 

result of an incredible team effort. Underpinning NASA’s accomplishments is 

the hard work done by NASA’s Mission Support community. This dedicated 

workforce is charged with providing the enterprise services essential 

to the success of the agency. The following report is a celebration of this 

community’s successes and its contributions to NASA’s success for 2023.

Throughout the report you see many examples of how Mission Support 

makes NASA’s success possible. This is especially evident as we look at 

NASA’s people, places, and technology. These three foundational areas help 

enable every part of the agency. Whether we’re recruiting future scientists, 

engineers, and public servants (PAGE 32), instituting new technology to 

share NASA with the world online (PAGE 15), or using innovative leasing 

agreements to provide value to the taxpayer and build partnerships with 

industry and academia (PAGE 25), NASA’s Mission Support community 

is making sure NASA’s missions and centers have the people, places, and 

technology they need.

In the past year, the Mission Support community supported more launches 

than ever before. It solved complex mission-critical problems, saved American 

taxpayers millions of dollars, and helped NASA pave the way for the future 

of air and space. It is a critical partner in every mission, every launch, and 

every discovery at NASA, and its story is the story of NASA. I hope you enjoy 

learning more through the stories of success in this report.

Sincerely,

Bob Gibbs

Bob Gibbs

Associate Administrator,

Mission Support Directorate

A MESSAGE FROM

BOB GIBBS

The work of the 

Mission

Support

community is 

foundational to 

mission

success.”

“
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

5

NASA Team, 

In 2023, NASA continued to push the boundaries of what’s possible and inspire 

the world though discovery. 

Images from the James Webb Space Telescope have continued to unfold the 

secrets of the universe. NASA is providing easy to use and critical climate 

data to all people. We’ve dared to soar in the skies farther, faster, and higher, 

while making aviation more dependable and sustainable. We continued to 

safely transport astronauts to the International Space Station to conduct 

groundbreaking science and test new technology. And our work continues on 

the Artemis II mission that will send astronauts to the Moon for the first time 

in over half a century. 

When I think about some of the things we’ve accomplished together, I’m grateful 

for the thousands of people that contribute to that success. For every inspiring 

moment NASA shares with the world, our Mission Support community plays a 

critical role in making it possible. 

Mission Support provides the services and support that are essential to every 

launch, every discovery, and every spark of innovation at NASA. 

Beyond our missions that inspire the world, mission support protects the health 

and safety of NASA employees and the public, oversees facilities and data, 

secures vital contracts and acquisitions, on top of ensuring NASA remains the 

finest place to work in the federal government. And it’s why NASA continues to 

be a global leader in responsible and sustainable space exploration. 

At every NASA center, the Mission Support community is making the impossible, 

possible, boosting American innovation, and investing in our local, state, and 

national economies. 

While this annual report only scratches the surface of the Mission Support 

community’s work and accomplishments in 2023, it’s proof that NASA does 

big things – things that inspire us and unite us. I can’t wait to see what we will 

achieve together in the future.

Onward and Upward,

Bill Nelson

Bill Nelson

NASA Administrator

A MESSAGE FROM

THE ADMINISTRATOR

... NASA is 

home to the 

world’s finest 

workforce, and 

there is no limit 

to what we can 

achieve when 

we work

together.”

“
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

6

People first, mission always. It’s the mindset of NASA’s Mission Support community. And it’s more than a mindset—

it’s a commitment that keeps NASA as the best place to work in the federal government and the world leader in 

exploration and discovery.

The organizations that make up the Mission Support community serve NASA missions in countless ways across the 

agency. It may be a planner who anticipates a risk before it becomes an issue, a procurement team that makes 

sure a mission has what it needs without delay, or a technical guru who resolves a flight safety issue. Whether the 

mission is managed by Aeronautics Research, Exploration Systems Development, Science, Space Operations, or Space 

Technology, success depends on wide-ranging Mission Support contributions.

Mission support is so tightly interwoven with mission that it would be hard to separate the two. Missions don’t happen 

without mission support. NASA is a recognized leader in mission support services in the federal government. The 

value of mission support is quickly evidenced by the agency’s stellar workforce, international cooperation in space, 

aeronautics innovation, astronaut safety, and so much more.

Because the Mission Support community touches everything done at NASA, it helps shape the culture of the agency—

nurturing a spirit of unity in the shared purpose of discovery to make an enduring impact on humanity.

What is Mission Support?

PEOPLE FIRST, 

MISSION ALWAYS.

For every organization, there are essential business and institutional 

functions that serve as the foundation for that organization’s work. At 

NASA, those indispensable services are provided by the Mission Support 

community, composed of the Mission Support Directorate (MSD) Front 

Office; 13 Mission Support Enterprise Organizations (MSEOs), which 

include five that report to MSD and eight partners; three Technical 

Authorities (TAs); and business and technical professionals at 10 NASA 

centers.

At the center of NASA’s Mission Support community is MSD. MSD’s role 

is to fuel the organizations charged with providing the essential services 

for NASA’s missions and centers to accomplish their work. MSD does 

this by coordinating and integrating mission support efforts, sparking 

innovation and transformation, and solving problems standing in the 

way of NASA’s success.

The associate administrator for MSD is responsible for the Mission 

Support community’s budgets. This includes the services, capabilities, 

and oversight that ensure NASA has the technical skills, physical assets, 

financial resources, infrastructure, and top talent to be successful, safe, 

and reliable.

Who is the Mission Support Community?

Mission Support

Directorate Front Office

Mission Support 

Enterprise 13 Organizations 

Technical 3 Authorities

10 Centers

Mission Support Commu

nity
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

7

MISSION SUPPORT 

COMMUNITY

The MSD Front Office includes five offices that focus on enterprise-enabling capabilities that help guide, align, and 

integrate the mission support enterprise.

Within MSD there are also five direct-report offices that deliver the essential enterprise services to support all NASA 

business. 

Mission Support Headquarters and Operations Office (MSHOO) provides leadership, management, and 

integration for effective NASA Headquarters operations and support services, including employee engagement, 

well-being, and morale through the NASA Exchanges. 

Mission Support Integration Office (MSIO) leads the ongoing improvement of mission support services by 

providing guidance, frameworks, and tools that help the Mission Support community improve its work and 

move toward a more integrated institutional service model. 

Mission Support Resources Management Office (MS RMO) leads the effective and strategic distribution of 

resources based on organizational performance and mission requirements through formulation and execution 

of NASA’s mission support budgets. Within MSRMO is the Partnerships Office, which provides agency-level 

strategic policy and guidance for domestic and unclassified partnership matters. 

Program Management and Support Office (PMSO) supports effective leadership and management of NASA’s 

workforce, infrastructure, facilities, contracts, budget, and strategic relationships by providing essential services 

to the MSD associate administrator and Front Office. 

Aircraft Capability Management Office (ACMO) provides leadership for NASA’s aircraft capability portfolio, 

which includes the workforce, competencies, equipment, facilities, infrastructure, property, and enabling 

technologies that support the functionality and effectiveness of NASA’s aircraft capabilities.

Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) grows, engages, and develops a highly dedicated and 

diverse workforce with a focus on equity and inclusion. 

Office of Procurement (OP) enables acquisition business solutions to optimize capabilities and operations. 

Office of Protective Services (OPS) safeguards NASA’s employees, contractors, missions, and facilities. 

Office of Strategic Infrastructure (OSI) manages assets and capabilities, deploys sustainable practices, and 

reduces current and future infrastructure-related risks. 

NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC) provides more than 60 business activities to all NASA centers, mission 

directorates, and MSEOS. 

Mission Support Directorate (MSD) Front Office

Direct Report Offices
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

8

Enterprise partner offices collaborate with MSD and support NASA by providing the professional expertise and 

services needed for the NASA enterprise.

NASA’s TAs bring vital, mission-enabling technical expertise to all of NASA.

Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) supplies leadership for the planning, analysis, justification, 

control, and reporting of all agency fiscal resources.

Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) enables the secure use of data and technology to accomplish 

NASA’s mission.

Office of Communications (OCOMM) ensures that the public goes with NASA to explore the unknown in air 

and space, innovate for the benefit of humanity, and inspire the world through discovery – through a variety of 

digital, in-person, and media-facilitated methods.

Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity (ODEO) leads diversity and civil rights policies, programs, and 

services.

Office of the General Counsel (OGC) supplies commercial, contract, general, and international law support.

Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR) provides leadership for all NASA international and 

interagency activities and partnerships, and policy interactions with U.S. Executive Branch offices and agencies.

Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs (OLIA) provides leadership in interactions between NASA 

and the U.S. Congress as well as state and local governments.

Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) promotes and integrates small businesses into the industrial 

base of contractors and subcontractors that support the future of space exploration, scientific discovery, and 

aeronautics research.

Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE) advises the NASA administrator and other senior officials on matters 

pertaining to the technical readiness and execution of NASA programs and projects.

Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer (OCHMO) provides policy and oversight of all health and 

medical activities at NASA.

Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA) assures the safety and enhances the success of all NASA 

activities through agencywide safety, reliability, assurance, and space environment sustainability.

Enterprise Partner Offices

Technical Authorities (TAs)

THE MISSION SUPPORT COMMUNITY
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

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THE MISSION SUPPORT COMMUNITY

The leadership and support teams at NASA centers and their component facilities play a crucial role in the execution 

of missions. Center leaders and support teams work with MSD to align center needs with Mission Support priorities. 

Centers ensure their laboratories, critical capabilities, and associated specialized equipment are mission-ready and 

meet NASA standards. Each center provides analytical support and conducts research and development projects to 

guarantee NASA has the technical capabilities and capacity for all missions.

Mission support at NASA has a broad portfolio of responsibilities, and all work done by the community helps ensure 

NASA reaches its goals. But as with all organizations, some priorities rise to the top as deserving focused attention. In 

2023, the Mission Support community prioritized the foundational areas of people, places, and technology. These three 

key functions represent the pole star around which NASA’s success turns. Without a skilled, diverse, and innovative 

workforce NASA would not be what it is. The agency’s technology, from the systems we use to the cybersecurity that 

underpins them, enables NASA and its partners to better understand Earth and reach beyond the stars. And NASA is 

home to truly unique facilities—launch pads, wind tunnels, rocket assembly plants, and more—that change the world. 

Together these three areas make NASA what it is, and because of that the Mission Support community laid special 

emphasis on them.

For 2024, the maturation of the Mission Support community will continue, with a special focus on the commonality 

of practices, processes, and procedures across functions. This goes hand-in-hand with an emphasis on making it 

easier to do business with and within NASA. Standardizing where it makes sense promotes efficiencies and helps 

everyone move forward together faster, providing more value to taxpayers. By prioritizing processes, practices, and 

procedures, the Mission Support community is working to reduce duplication of effort, save money, find better ways 

of working, and innovate how the community fulfills its responsibilities.

Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA 

Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH 

1 Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 

2

3

4

5

6

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL

Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

7

8

9

10

Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 

Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC

Stennis Space Center, Bay St. Louis, MS

Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 

Mission Support Priorities

Centers

People Places Technology

1

3 4

7

5

6

8

2

9

10
to Expand Human Knowledge 

through New Scientific Discoveries

dis cov er
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

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NASA’s OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer) spacecraft 

capped its seven-year journey in September 2023 with the successful deposit of a pristine sample of surface material 

from the asteroid Bennu in the Utah desert. OSIRIS-REx is the first U.S. asteroid sample return mission and nearly 

190,000 people were able to watch the live coverage of the sample return and reveal due to OCOMM’s live broadcast 

coverage. Since then, almost 2 million people have viewed the coverage. The OSI Logistics Management Division 

(LMD) provided transportation of the sample from its landing site to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. LMD 

facilitated coordination with U.S. Transportation Command to use a C-17 military charter to transport the sample 

on a 1,600-mile trip to Johnson and coordinated ground transportation and assistance with handling and offloading 

requirements with Johnson’s logistics team. Curation experts working in new clean rooms built by Mission Support 

personnel especially for the OSIRIS-REx mission carefully disassembled sample return hardware to get a glimpse at 

the bulk sample within. Initial studies of the asteroid sample show evidence of high-carbon content and water, which 

scientists say could indicate the building blocks of life on Earth may be found in the rock.

The Mission Support community took action to ensure 

science data collected through the OISIRIS-REx mission are 

accessible to all and produce practical benefits to society. 

OGC, together with Johnson’s Business Development 

and Technology Integration Office, the Astromaterials 

Acquisition and Curation Office, and OIIR, enabled the 

execution of more than 60 international and domestic loan 

agreements for material from asteroid Bennu.

First Asteroid to Return to Earth

Sharing Material from Asteroid Bennu 

DISCOVER

NASA inspires the world through discovery. The agency’s strategic goal No. 1—discover—is to expand human 

knowledge through new scientific discoveries. Objectives include understanding the Earth system and its climate; 

understanding the Sun, solar system, and universe; and ensuring NASA’s science data are accessible to all and produce 

practical benefits to society. From building customized clean rooms for investigating the first sample returned from 

an asteroid to reducing the risk of orbital debris that could menace the James Webb Space Telescope and other 

spacecraft, the Mission Support community provided essential expertise and services in 2023 to propel NASA’s quest 

to discover. Here are a few highlights.
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

12

The James Webb Space Telescope was engineered to withstand bombardment 

from micrometeoroid strikes, an unavoidable aspect of operating any spacecraft. 

The telescope’s primary mirror averages one to two micrometeoroid hits per 

month, matching what the engineering team anticipated when developing 

the observatory. One of the optical errors analyzed early on was higher than 

expected so NASA turned to the Mission Support community and other technical 

experts to form a working group to ensure all parts of the observatory continue 

performing at their best. OSMA’s Meteoroid Environment Office supported 

the observatory by working with program engineers to establish a “Meteoroid 

Avoidance Zone” for observations that will minimize the number of impacts on 

the primary mirror and provided custom meteor shower forecasts that enable 

observations to be rescheduled during times of high meteor activity. This was 

used during the 2023 Geminid meteor shower in mid-December when at least 

one observation was rescheduled to minimize risk to the Webb telescope. 

James Webb Space Telescope Weathering the Space Environment 

James Webb isn’t the only NASA mission concerned about hazards of the space environment. The No. 1 risk for NASA’s 

human spaceflight programs is micrometeoroids and orbital debris. Approximately 20,000 orbital debris objects are 

large enough to be tracked and avoided by maneuvering a spacecraft. But it’s the unseen orbital debris—large enough 

to cause damage but too small to track—that poses the biggest risk to spacecraft.

OSMA organized and hosted the Second International Orbital Debris Conference to promote orbital debris research 

in the U.S., foster collaboration with the international community, and encourage adoption of orbital debris mitigation 

best practices to support space sustainability. More than 150 technical papers were presented during the conference, 

which attracted several hundred participants from the U.S. and international community.

OSMA, in partnership with NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, the International 

Space Station Program, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), identified 

a technology demonstration opportunity to deploy an innovative orbital debris

in-situ measurement sensor on the HTV-X3 uncrewed expendable cargo spacecraft in 

early 2026. Sensor development and mission preparation are underway. A successful 

demonstration will pave the way to characterize risk from small orbital debris for 

the safe operations of future missions in low-Earth orbit. The OSMA Orbital Debris 

Program Office leads the instrument development and preparation of the mission. 

OIIR and OGC supported the establishment of an agreement between the Orbital 

Debris Program Office and JAXA on instrument development for the mission.

Reducing the Risk of Orbital Debris 

The X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM, pronounced “crism”) is a powerful 

satellite that will revolutionize understanding of the hot, X-ray universe. A collaborative 

mission led by JAXA, XRISM aims to pry apart high-energy light into the equivalent of an X-ray 

rainbow and investigate cosmic questions about the universe. The successful development 

and launch of this mission would not have been possible without significant coordination and 

collaboration enabled by OLIA, OIIR, OGC, OPS, and OCFO. These Mission Support partners 

provided expertise and guidance to ensure that international and agency policies, regulations, 

and laws were followed, employees were briefed on all foreign travel safety and security 

measures, and travel needs were supported—enabling NASA scientists and engineers to 

work side-by-side with JAXA and European Space Agency (ESA) partners in Japan.

These refined forecasts enable Webb to take protective action against sporadic showers and extend the telescope’s 

lifetime, preserving its ability to explore the secrets of the universe and provide space imagery that garnered the 

highest engagement rate on NASA social media.

Rainbow of X-Rays
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

13

The talented people from the Mission Support community and Armstrong Flight Research Center, Langley Research 

Center, and Johnson Space Center were the force behind amazing science data collection through Airborne Science 

Program missions. The program’s field campaigns in 2023 led to new discoveries in lightning research, investigated 

the impact of Canadian wildfires on air quality, and much more.

The Airborne Science Program is responsible for providing aircraft systems such as NASA’s four-engine DC-8 jet—one 

of the world’s largest flying laboratories—that further science and advance the use of satellite data. The Mission 

Support community is vital to these important endeavors. Prior to any national or international deployment, advance 

materials and equipment are staged, processed, and shipped by logistical services and warehouse personnel. Travel 

and passports are coordinated. Medical clearances for flight crews are processed. Export control and other sensitive 

information is reviewed, and protocol is established to enable project success. Mission Support personnel also 

coordinate security, property protection, media opportunities, and web articles.

NASA’s newest science aircraft, a Boeing 777, was acquired to replace and extend the capabilities of the NASA DC-8, 

which is retiring in 2024. The NASA B777-200ER is a unique flying laboratory that will have global reach and enable 

data collection for NASA projects, including sensor development, satellite sensor calibration, data product validation, 

and field studies to better understand Earth system processes and improve models and decision-making. To best 

support future science missions, the Aircraft Management Advisory Board decided, with concurrence from the Mission 

Support Council, that the new science aircraft will be based near principal investigators and science researchers and 

operated from an East Coast center.

Flying Science Laboratories

Collective Commitment to Study Climate

Government officials and science experts gathered for Climate Interagency Hill Day to explore the latest scientific 

advancements and innovative solutions for studying climate. OLIA collaborated with a variety of federal agencies, 

including the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute of Standards and 

Technology, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to feature subject matter experts and visual 

aids highlighting the collective commitment to better understanding Earth’s climate and environmental health. Over 

100 congressional staff participated in the interagency event to learn more about NASA’s climate programs and 

projects.
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

14

Organizations throughout the Mission Support community 

coordinated to support the planning and successful launch of 

the exhibit in 2023, including MSHOO and its Support Services 

Division, OCHMO, OCOMM, OPS, and OCIO. OCOMM partnered 

with NASA’s Science Mission Directorate to develop the center 

and led the storytelling and design of all elements to create 

a successful visitor experience to help raise awareness of 

NASA’s Earth science. OCOMM led the effort to communicate 

that the Earth Information Center benefits humanity in 

making informed decisions relating to Earth’s environment 

and climate by providing easily accessible, readily usable, and 

scalable Earth information—enabling global understanding 

as only NASA can offer. OPS worked from inception through 

build-out to ensure the safety and security of personnel and 

equipment.

The Earth Information Center opened in 2023 at NASA Headquarters and is available to the public. This new immersive 

experience combines live data sets with cutting-edge data visualization and storytelling to allow visitors to see how 

the planet is changing. The center is part physical space and part virtual experience, which shows how NASA data can 

improve lives in the face of disasters, environmental challenges, and our changing world.

Earth Information Center

OSI’s Environmental Management Division (EMD) continued meeting and consultation with Santa Susana Field 

Laboratory (SSFL) Sacred Sites Council (SSC) Tribal leaders and representatives as part of NASA’s 2014 SSFL 

Programmatic Agreement, and in support of Executive Order 13175 and the 2021 Presidential Memorandum on Tribal 

Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships. In August 2023, NASA facilitated an SSC meeting that 

was the first one attended by senior California regulatory agencies’ leadership. Their attendance was in response to a 

direct request from Tribal leaders and provided Tribal elders an opportunity to speak directly to and make impactful 

impressions on state leadership. The meeting helped all agencies better understand the concerns of the Native 

American community connected to SSFL regarding preserving and protecting their cultural resources onsite as well 

as the impact of an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) cleanup on cultural resources and traditional landscape 

at SSFL and reinforced the value of NASA’s work with Tribal representatives whose concerns regarding the damage of 

an AOC-level cleanup to their sacred space is aligned with NASA’s position. This meeting, along with continued MSD/

EMD leadership and proactive dialogue with the SSC and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, may 

result in a more reasonable, protective cleanup at SSFL, potentially reducing cleanup duration by years and cleanup 

costs by millions of dollars.

Environmental Regulation and Preservation

EXPLORE OUR CHANGING PLANET
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

15

OSMA issued a new handbook with guidance that is instrumental 

in the continued development of NASA’s Dragonfly mission 

and future nuclear-enabled missions for science and human 

exploration. The Dragonfly mission features a revolutionary, 

car-sized nuclear-powered drone to fly over and land on 

the organic-rich sands of Saturn’s giant moon, Titan. The 

OSMA handbook, “Information and Best Practices Related to 

NASA Nuclear Flight Safety for Space Flights Involving Space 

Nuclear Systems,” facilitates a repeatable, robust process 

that promotes clear, effective interfaces between activities 

and stakeholders focused on meeting nuclear flight safety 

requirements for missions using space nuclear systems. This 

kind of resource helps ensure NASA’s innovative missions 

remain safe and effective.

The OCHMO-chaired Laser Safety Review Board reviewed over 30 outdoor laser projects and missions that originated, 

partnered, or collaborated with NASA. This work is instrumental in maintaining the safety of the NASA workplace, 

NASA employees, and members of the public from dangers posed by outdoor laser projects. By developing strategies 

to protect against potential, serious health effects of unmitigated laser exposure, OCHMO is paving the way for 

NASA to safely use lasers for missions involving aircraft, spacecraft, and enhanced communications. The projects 

reviewed in 2023 included the Tropospheric Ozone Lidar System Outdoor Laser and Stratospheric Ozone (TROPOZ) 

Outdoor Laser operations, High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) Integrated 

Development Test, and Europa Lander Intelligent Landing System.

A Daring Endeavor

Laser Focus on Safety

OCIO and OCOMM worked hand-in-hand with NASA’s 

Science Mission Directorate to advance communications 

through the agency’s web modernization project. The 

project included redesign and redevelopment of NASA’s 

unified public web experience—nasa.gov, science.nasa.

gov, web pages featuring Spanish language content, and 

NASA+, the new streaming service that transitions the 

agency from traditional, linear 24/7 NASA TV “channels” 

to a robust, on-demand streaming service. The activity is 

part of NASA’s efforts to comply with website and digital 

service modernization provisions in the 21st Century 

Integrated Digital Experience Act.

Modernizing NASA’s Digital Presence

With the new web experience launched in September 2023, the nasa.gov and science.nasa.gov websites share the 

same user interface and site search. This provides a consistent experience to visitors while still ensuring all agency 

content, particularly the agency’s critical science content, is authoritative and up to date. The new nasa.gov and 

science.nasa.gov are visually stunning, on par with industry standards, and feature upgrades that improve user 

experience. The project also included an upgrade of the NASA app, which has been downloaded over 30 million times.
Extend Human Presence to the Moon and 

on toward Mars for Sustainable Long-term 

Exploration, Development, and Utilization 

Ex plore
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

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EXPLORE

NASA continued preparations in 2023 to send the first Artemis 

astronauts to the Moon. The Mission Support community provided 

a wide variety of vital assistance that spanned the globe. While 

NASA is leading Artemis, international partnerships are a key part 

of advancing Moon to Mars exploration. OIIR and OGC worked 

with the U.S. Department of State to promote the Artemis Accords

and secure new signatories, including geopolitically important 

signatories such as Germany, India, and Argentina. In 2023, nine 

additional countries signed the Artemis Accords, which lay out a 

common set of principles governing the civil exploration and use 

of outer space. These outcomes were the result of several dozen 

Artemis Accords briefings provided by OIIR and the U.S. Department 

of State. So far, more than 30 countries have signed the accords.

OGC also supported negotiations with ESA for European Service 

Modules 6 through 9, which are critical to the Artemis program 

and include the first module with a new main engine.

OCOMM’s live broadcast allowed the agency to directly reach over 8 

million people, demonstrating through coverage of the successful 

launch that NASA explores for the benefit of all humanity. Nearly 

one million people watched the successful launch of Artemis I 

across NASA flagship channels. This was the first time a launch 

was streamed in high definition (HD) on YouTube, and had over 

720,000 concurrent live viewers and 8 million total views.

After the successful Artemis I mission in late 2022, Mission Support 

had more work to do. For example, the OSMA Nondestructive 

Evaluation program had worked with other NASA and industry 

partners to deploy the 3D Backscatter X-ray system on the flown 

Orion heatshield, which was subjected to temperatures of nearly 

5,000 degrees Fahrenheit during reentry. The data collected was 

processed with automated analysis techniques to determine 

the remaining amount of uncharred ablative material, called 

Avcoat, that existed in the scans. The volumetric analysis of the 

Avcoat thermal protection system’s condition following the Orion 

capsule’s reentry into Earth’s atmosphere provides confidence in 

the thermal protection system for Artemis II.

NASA explores the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all. The agency’s strategic goal No. 2—explore—is to 

extend human presence to the Moon and on toward Mars for sustainable long-term exploration, development, and 

utilization. The Mission Support community actively contributes to meeting NASA’s objectives to explore the surface 

of the Moon and deep space; develop a human spaceflight economy enabled by a commercial market; develop 

capabilities and perform research to safeguard explorers; and enhance space access and services.

In 2023 Mission Support efforts included legal, procurement, international relations, and safety activities that enhanced 

the Artemis Accords, fostered a new paradigm for commercial space operations, equipped the modernization of a 

legacy test stand, and ensured safety and data sharing around the historic return of an asteroid sample. Here are a 

few of the success stories.

Artemis Progress

BULGARIA

INDIA

GERMANY

SO FAR,

MORE THAN 

30

COUNTRIES 

HAVE

SIGNED

THE

ACCORDS

NETHERLANDS
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

18

Another way the Mission Support community contributed to Orion Landing 

and Recovery Operations was on-time processing of post-flight hardware. OSI’s 

LMD reviewed and expedited approval of 93 government property transfer 

documents, which included 261 line items valued at $1,005,869,372—all within 

two business days. This effort ensured critical hardware was transferred in 

accordance with federal transportation and accounting regulations and that 

items were not mislabeled, lost, or mishandled. In May 2023 NASA announced 

the selection of Blue Origin to develop its Blue Moon lander for the Artemis 

V mission. Marshall Space Flight Center’s OP led the contract effort and OGC 

provided critical legal support for the award of the $3.4 billion Next Space 

Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-2 (NextSTEP-2) Sustaining Lunar 

Development (SLD) contract. The SLD contract for the development of a second 

human landing system, which will deliver astronauts to the lunar surface in 

support of the Artemis program, was awarded ahead of schedule and without 

protest. Under the Appendix P contract award, Blue Origin will develop its 

human landing system to meet NASA’s requirements for sustainable lunar 

exploration. In addition to design and development work, the contract includes 

one uncrewed demonstration mission to the lunar surface before a crewed 

demo on the Artemis V mission in 2029.

The 10 booster motor segments for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that 

will help propel the Artemis II astronauts on a trip around the Moon arrived at 

Kennedy Space Center in Florida in September. They will form the SLS rocket’s 

twin, five-segment solid rocket boosters, which produce more than 75% of 

the total thrust at liftoff. Due to their weight, the 10 booster motor segments 

traveled by rail from the manufacturer in Utah across eight states in specialized 

transporters to the spaceport. Safety and Mission Assurance at Marshall Space 

Flight Center assisted in the hardware acceptance review for manufacture and 

delivery of the Artemis II booster flight segments and shipment as a participant 

in the Booster Element Team.

At Ames Research Center, Mission Assurance also supported progress towards 

Artemis II, with the Human Computer Interaction group advancing multimission “operational views” that let mission operators more easily navigate 

and transition between mission contexts during Artemis II simulations and 

real-time operations. The group also established a digital environment for 

the Moon to Mars Systems Engineering and Integration team to establish 

structured data capture of the new Moon to Mars requirements.

NASA is planning to shift procurement of SLS launches to a services contract 

for missions starting with Artemis V. Under the Exploration Production and 

Operations Contract (EPOC), NASA would procure launch services, rather 

than the vehicles themselves. The Office of Procurement at Marshall has 

been instrumental in working with the Exploration Systems Development 

Mission Directorate, HQ OP, OGC, and the SLS program team to develop the 

procurement strategy. EPOC will reduce the number of SLS contracts, move 

accountability to industry, and provide cost certainty for NASA in the years to 

come.

Artemis Progress (continued)
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

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A robust human spaceflight economy ensures national interests for research and development in space are fulfilled 

while allowing NASA to focus government resources on the challenges of deep space exploration through Artemis. 

The Mission Support community helps pave the way for vibrant commercial space operations.

In 2023 OGC fostered a new paradigm of commercial space operations through agreements to develop new low Earth 

orbit platforms. This involved analyzing new insurance approaches to make commercial space businesses viable, 

advocating for new authority to license commercial on-orbit activities, and streamlining interagency coordination to 

enable a robust commercial space economy in low-Earth orbit.

OIIR, in collaboration with offices across NASA such as OLIA, OTPS, OGC, mission directorates, and other Mission 

Support offices, also implemented a National Space Council priority to create legislation, formalize interagency 

coordination, and obtain public feedback for licensing on-orbit commercial activities by collaborating with the Federal 

Aviation Administration, Federal Communications Commission, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

Department of State, and Department of Defense. This ongoing effort will meet international obligations, provide a 

framework for industry, and facilitate future science, lunar, and low-Earth orbit commercialization projects.

New Paradigm and Priority for Commercial Space Operations

As part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, SpaceX Crew6—the seventh SpaceX Dragon spacecraft flight with people—

launched in March 2023 and landed in September 2023. The 

Mission Support community ensured security of the Crew-6 

astronauts and their immediate families from the time they 

arrived at Kennedy Space Center through successful launch. 

OPS coordinated with the Department of Defense for air 

support under Noble Eagle and coordinated with U.S. Coast 

Guard Sector Jacksonville for enforcement of safety and security 

zones in the Atlantic Ocean.

Protecting Astronauts and Their Families

Be Our Guest

A total of 536,000 people around the world 

registered in 2023 for NASA’s Virtual Guest 

Program, an OCOMM-managed activity that allows 

the public to virtually participate in launches and 

milestone events. Registrants represent all 50 

U.S. states and 173 countries. More than 340,000 

individuals registered for the Artemis I virtual guest 

experience to communicate that NASA explores for 

the benefit of humanity to the broadest practicable 

audiences.

COMMERCIAL
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

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The OP at Marshall Space Flight Center manages the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) Mars Ascent 

Vehicle Integrated System (MAVIS) contract to build the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), a small, lightweight rocket to 

launch rock, sediment, and atmospheric samples from the surface of the Red Planet. MAV would be the first launch 

of a rocket from the surface of another planet, and MAVIS would be the first robotic round-trip mission to retrieve a 

sample from another planet. The sample container would be captured by the Earth Return Orbiter, led by ESA, when 

it reaches Mars orbit. Subsequently, the spacecraft would bring the samples to Earth safely and securely in the 2030s 

as part of the Mars Sample Return international partnership. Marshall’s OP is working with OSI, NASA HQ OP, OGC, 

and STMD to facilitate a clean room at the contractor’s facility. The intended use of the clean room is to assemble and 

test the MAV prior to launch. Lockheed Martin is responsible for providing an ISO-8 planetary protection cleanroom 

facility for MAV assembly and testing, and capable of handling live solid rocket motors. In ISO-8, an air exchange with 

conditioned, filtered air takes place up to 40 times per hour.

Returning Samples from Mars

The Office of Planetary Protection in OSMA continued to provide technical guidance and oversight in the development 

and evaluation of innovative approaches to enable the Mars Sample Return campaign to ensure back planetary 

protection success and public safety for Mars Sample Return. Back planetary protection deals with the possibility that 

Mars material may pose a biological threat to Earth’s biosphere and leads to a constraint that the returned samples 

must be contained with extraordinary robustness until they can be tested and proven harmless or acceptably sterilized. 

The office reviewed initial versions of the sample return safety assurance case in 2023 and sponsored the assessment 

of an alternative sterilization method to reduce potential for biological contamination by Martian particles.

Planetary Protection

MARS

Actions to Uphold a Timeless NASA Core Value: SAFETY

The Mission Support community is one of many forces behind safety at NASA. In 2023, the community emphasized 

this priority through NASA’s safety culture and by decreasing the community’s No. 1 risk of arc flash events. OSI and 

OSMA collaborate closely to reduce this risk. The offices performed ongoing activities to help eliminate the critical 

safety risks due to aged and non-compliant electrical infrastructure. This included arc-flash analysis projects at three 

centers spanning four sites. The analysis enables identification and labeling of proper worker personnel protective 

equipment. Soon, arc flash may no longer be the Mission Support community’s top risk because a large portion of the 

work required to reduce the risk is complete.

Arc Flash

The Mission Support community played a vital role in more 

U.S. launches than ever in 2023. OPS partnered with SpaceX, 

Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab, and the Commercial Crew 

Program for pad rescue training and launch day services in 

support of International Space Station missions and satellite 

launches, ensuring safety during pre-launch anomalies.

Launch Safety
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

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The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) within OCE invested significant 

time and resources to understand the complex behavior of composite overwrapped 

pressure vessels (COPV), such as helium, nitrogen, hydrogen, or oxygen tanks. COPVs 

are inherently high-risk spaceflight components that are used extensively in spacecraft 

and launch vehicles for storage of propulsion commodities and elements required for 

life support. Most recently, an NESC team found there was a lack of conservatism in 

the damage tolerance analyses conducted on COPV liners using industry standard 

methods, which include both modeling and testing. In some cases, crack growth 

behavior that results from COPV manufacturing processes was not accounted for in 

modeling and lifetime predictions. The NESC work resulted in corrections to models 

and a recommendation to update industry standards. NESC continues to thoroughly analyze the risk because the 

consequences of COPV failure could be catastrophic to crew or spacecraft on missions ranging from the International 

Space Station and Commercial Crew to Artemis.

Improving Spacecraft Safety and Reliability

In 2023 the NESC had about 160 open activities at any given time and 

accepted over 80 new requests for technical assistance throughout the 

year. Over half of the NESC’s active work portfolio in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 

directly supported human spaceflight, while the balance supported science 

missions, space technology, or issues that impact multiple NASA mission 

directorates. Approximately one quarter of the portfolio was devoted to 

safely transporting crew to and from the International Space Station as 

well as sustaining the space station, while another one quarter directly 

supported the Artemis exploration missions. Almost two-thirds of the 80 new 

NESC activities completed in FY 2023 directly supported human spaceflight 

missions.

Devoted to Human Spaceflight Safety

In honor of space shuttle Columbia’s 20-year anniversary, OSMA organized full-day workshops to focus on lessons 

learned and their applicability to programs and projects at NASA centers today. Working with OSMA, OCE’s APPEL 

Knowledge Services ensured the longevity of lessons learned during the 20th anniversary of the Columbia accident. 

The offices developed messages and provided key references on managing schedule pressure, margins, and unsafe 

environments. They also designed a workshop and adapted remarks from the 2023 NASA Day of Remembrance Town 

Hall for a special podcast episode.

Columbia Anniversary 

NASA Engineering and

Safety

Center

Technical Assistance

160 open

activities

80 New

Requests
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

22

The Material Analysis Lab at Kennedy Space Center houses a computed tomography system as a means of providing 

nearly unmatched non-destructive evaluation to troubleshoot problems in spaceflight hardware. Mission Support 

at Kennedy invested in additional hardware that offers increased resolution, inspection size, and use, significantly 

improving the lab’s effectiveness and range while also providing a new capability of parallel inspections. For example, 

the system prevented an Artemis delay by helping diagnose the cause of a 13,000-volt arc flash at the Vehicle 

Assembly Building and averted a SpaceX scrub with real-time analysis of a launch constraint at T-minus 18 hours. 

The system continued to reduce the risk of downtime for missions in 2023.

New Failure Analysis Capabilities

OCHMO held an inaugural Spaceflight Forensics Summit in April 2023 with industry experts with the intent to establish 

a community of practice to develop approaches to human spaceflight mortality response. Novel frameworks to on 

orbit spaceflight mishap fatalities are required as NASA prepares to undertake more long duration and commercial 

missions. Through these discussions and the fruit they bear, OCHMO and NASA are helping to address the challenges 

that come with a new generation of space exploration, not just for the agency but for the whole space industry.

Spaceflight Forensics

Verifying Software for High-Profile Missions

The Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Program, which operates under functional 

guidance from OSMA, completed all planned software validation and verification activities for 

13 of NASA’s highest profile science and human-rated missions, resulting in the identification of 

over 1,600 high-severity software defects, which have either already been remediated or are in 

the process of being remediated by the software development teams. Through its services IV&V 

assures the robustness of a mission’s software and the capability of the software to properly 

respond to the selected abort conditions.

The Mission Support community has a key role in stimulating international cooperation in space exploration. In 

its support to NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, OIIR developed agreements and 

supported technical discussions on potential cooperative activities with international partners that are envisioned 

to yield major contributions to NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration efforts. Study efforts underway with ESA and 

the Canadian Space Agency led to commitments of billions of dollars in new resources for future partnership with 

NASA. Discussions with JAXA have passed key internal acquisition decisions to proceed with formal negotiations for 

a major partnership on the Moon, potentially offsetting billions of dollars in NASA spending.

International Partnerships for Moon to Mars Exploration 

International Cooperation for Space Missions
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

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Working with OIIR and the State Department, OGC 

concluded a Framework Agreement with Japan—over 

10 years in the making—that enables more rapid 

collaboration between both countries’ civil space 

programs. The Framework Agreement Between 

the Government of the United States of America 

and the Government of Japan for Cooperation in 

the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including 

the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, for Peaceful 

Purposes was signed in January 2023. The agreement 

covers joint activities, including space science, 

Earth science, space operations and exploration, 

aeronautical science and technology, space 

technology, space transportation, and safety and 

mission assurance.

Peaceful International Cooperation in Space

The Mission Support community made significant upgrades to the Wallops Flight Facility Range Mission Network 

in 2023, achieving successful implementation even during a heavy launch schedule. The Facility Unique Specialized 

Engineering team at Goddard Space Flight Center completed multiple phases of cabling and network upgrades 

that provide improved network performance, security, and reliability; incorporate simplified, centralized tools 

for managing the network; and offer potential long-term cost savings. The team completed the radar and mobile 

implementation, adding all ethernet Launch Trajectory Acquisition System and Ethernet minimum delay data format 

traffic to the new network. The Advanced Enterprise Global Information Technology Solutions team completed all 

cabling installations for the Range Control Center, including the installation, wiring, and testing of console video 

switchers and encoders and installation of video equipment on the test director and safety room video wall as well 

as expanding fiber connectivity.

OIIR worked with multiple NASA centers and U.S. government agencies to ensure timely approval of NASA license 

applications and export authorizations to support the success of high-visibility NASA missions. A few of the specific 

missions are Artemis, including continued development of Gateway and training and launch of a Canadian astronaut 

on Artemis II; International Space Station for eventual integrated crew launch of Russians on Starliner; and the Mars 

Sample Return flagship mission. Gateway is an international collaboration to establish humanity’s first 

space station around the Moon as a vital component of the Artemis 

missions. Gateway will play a key role in helping NASA and its partners 

test technologies and capabilities required for a sustained human 

presence in deep space and chart a path to Mars. NASA is working with 

international partners to develop Gateway. ESA and JAXA are building the 

International Habitation Module. Japan will provide cargo resupply with 

an upgrade of its H-II Transfer Vehicle. ESA is providing the European 

System Providing Refueling, Infrastructure and Telecommunications 

module, and the Canadian Space Agency is developing Canadarm3, 

a robotic arm to perform science utilization and maintenance. The 

Mission Support community encourages and embraces international 

participation to help make ambitious missions possible.

Licenses and Authorizations for High-Visibility Missions

Network Upgrades at Wallops
Catalyze Economic Growth and Drive Innovation 

to Address National Challenges 

in no vate
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

25

In support of the U.S. economy, the agency aims to procure American-made products, goods, and materials under 

contracts and grants. Toward this end, OP and OCFO coordinated closely with the Office of Management and Budget’s 

Made in America Office. In 2023, more than 500 NASA acquisition professionals were trained on network supplier 

scouting to identify American companies, including small- and medium-sized companies. Also in 2023, OP, OCFO, 

and OCOMM launched a webpage to communicate NASA’s efforts and commitment to the procurement of American 

goods and services.

In addition to American companies, NASA prioritized business with small companies, which are the backbone of the 

American economy and play a very critical role in propelling our nation forward into a new space age. Thanks to 

OSBP’s efforts, NASA garnered the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Procurement Scorecard Grade 

of “A” for the sixth consecutive fiscal year in 2023. The high grade is due in part to NASA’s efforts to award more 

than $3.6 billion dollars directly to various socioeconomic small businesses, which are made up of businesses owned 

by under-represented groups, along with $3.5 billion subcontracted to small businesses from the agency’s large 

contractors. The $7.1 billion dollars obligated through its prime and subcontracts to small business equates to 36% 

of NASA’s total obligated dollars in FY 2022.

In NASA’s quest to explore the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all, the agency forms partnerships—nonprocurement business relationships—with commercial industries, academic institutions, U.S. government agencies 

and state and local governments, professional associations, non-profits, and international entities.

Partnerships help the Agency accomplish its objectives through collaboration and by providing needed technical 

capabilities. They also support U.S. economic innovation and industrial competitiveness, serve as a tool for meeting 

NASA’s mandate under the Space Act of encouraging the “fullest commercial use of space,” helping to maintain 

essential NASA expertise and facilities, and advance NASA’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) 

education and outreach goals. The Mission Support community helps to make these NASA partnerships possible.

For example, OGC, the NASA Partnerships Office, and NASA program offices significantly advanced technology 

development and commercialization through new data rights provisions in funded Space Act Agreements with dozens 

of U.S. companies, which will demonstrate lunar, on-orbit, and sustainable aviation technologies and maximize 

industry participation in NASA programs. Through funded Space Act Agreements, NASA provided funding to domestic 

commercial partners to accomplish agency objectives where direct benefit to NASA was not the principal purpose of 

the activity.

Procurement Success 

INNOVATE

The Mission Support community is always inspired by NASA’s third strategic goal: Innovate. This goal aims 

to catalyze economic growth and drive innovation to address national challenges, with priorities of innovating 

and advancing transformational space technologies and driving efficient and sustainable aviation. In support 

of and alongside these priorities, the Mission Support community strives for innovative approaches—whether in 

procurement, partnerships, infrastructure, leasing agreements, environmental remediation, sustainability, human 

health, aircraft asset management, or risk management.

Partnerships Promote Progress
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

26

To help build resilience against the risks of climate change—for the nation and the world—Ames Research Center 

brought together experts from across NASA, government agencies, academia, and industry to address the increasing 

threat of wildfire in new ways. In April 2023 at Ames, NASA leadership joined elected officials and diverse partners, 

including philanthropic and venture capital organizations, for a roundtable discussion on innovative contributions to 

wildfire resilience. The media tour following showcased climate science expertise and innovative solutions to better 

fight large wildfires by increasing the role of aircraft—a goal of NASA’s Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response 

Operations project. Coordinated with OLIA and OCOMM, these efforts directly supported the agency’s Wildland Fire 

Management Initiative and highlighted the need for strong collaborations to tackle these challenges.

Further, NASA Partnerships enabled several exciting and critical accomplishments in 2023 that help set the stage 

for the next generation of science, technology, and exploration, including:

To speed the processing time of the agency’s partnership agreements, the NASA Partnerships Office, together with 

OGC and OIIR, led the agency partnerships community in developing 72 process-streamlining initiatives, of which 57 

have been implemented and 15 were in-process as of October 2023. Since the effort began, the average formulation 

time (78 days) sits well below the project goal (87 days), which means collaborations can start sooner. The NASA 

Partnerships Office also helped develop policies and procedures to begin the transition of interagency reimbursable 

agreements to Treasury’s federal-wide “G-Invoicing” system to ensure the agreements with federal partners are 

implemented in an efficient manner.

Selection of 23 U.S. companies to advance key technologies for exploration 

on the Moon and in space through the Tipping Point and Announcement 

for Collaborative Opportunities partnership competitions.

Partnerships Promote Progress (continued)

Issuing an award for NASA’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator to help lead 

to greener, more fuel-efficient airliners, and achieving X-plane status for the 

effort, which the Air Force confers for development programs that set out to 

create revolutionary experimental aircraft configurations.

Moving toward a robust low-Earth orbit economy with selection of seven U.S. 

companies for the Commercial Space Capabilities-2 initiative.

Signing a new memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture that strengthens collaboration on improving agricultural and Earth 

science research, technology, agricultural management, and the application 

of science data and models to agricultural decision making. NASA and the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture intend to explore opportunities to improve 

crop performance to meet Earth- and space-based goals, including activities 

in support of NASA’s Artemis program.
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

27

Across the agency, the Mission Support workforce drove multiple successes in 2023 to revitalize and repurpose 

infrastructure to make the best use of space. Some examples include the following:

Stennis partnered with NSSC to complete the consolidation of its headquarters facility, resulting in a cost 

avoidance of more than $160 million and generating projected annual savings of $7-10 million. Mission 

Support organizations, including OSI and OCIO, played an important role in the effort.

At NASA Headquarters, MSHOO conceptualized and began developing a comprehensive, flexible plan for 

revitalizing and reimagining the existing NASA Headquarters to better enable hybrid work, rebuild a sense of 

onsite community, and learn and adapt over time to best support NASA’s evolving missions. 

Langley Research Center’s near-term Workplace Revitalization Planning Team worked with Human Resources 

Office at Langley to relocate workforce to shared spaces in Langley’s newest core buildings and other 

strategically identified buildings. The project provided overall cost savings and minimized disruptions and 

negative impacts to employee morale.

NASA’s Aircraft Management Advisory Board decided to vacate a leased hangar facility. The change will 

eventually free up resources that can be reprogrammed into executing science missions.

The agency also consolidated communications laboratory 

facilities and hardware from many different buildings at Glenn 

Research Center into the new Aerospace Communications 

Facility. Over 70,000 square feet of older buildings can now be 

demolished, reducing Glenn’s overall footprint and providing 

savings in energy use and maintenance costs.

In a workshop conducted with OSI, the Facility Health Assessment effort at Ames Research Center evaluated more 

than 1 million square feet of facilities at the center. This allowed rapid development of a recommendation to 

divest of 13 buildings, reducing the center’s footprint by more than 400,000 square feet, deferred maintenance 

by over $24 million, and average annual maintenance costs by at least $1 million. Based on the success of this 

pilot at the center, which will allow limited resources to be redeployed into higher priority facilities, it is now 

planned for implementation at other NASA centers.

NASA’s infrastructure provides foundational capabilities for the nation’s space programs. The agency’s unique testing 

and engineering capabilities require highly technical facilities, laboratories, and equipment. In some cases, these 

assets are found nowhere else on Earth. Making NASA’s infrastructure more mission-driven will accelerate 21st 

century advancements.

NASA’s Mission Support Council approved the Agency Master Plan in October 2023. The plan serves as a collaboratively 

developed strategic roadmap designed to provide a guide for addressing the deteriorating condition of real property 

assets over a 20-year horizon in a cost-effective manner that prioritizes mission requirements. OSI worked closely 

with the centers and mission partners to successfully develop an integrated Agency Master Plan, which is currently in 

the implementation phase.

Mission-Driven, Sustainable Infrastructure
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

28

NASA’s Enhanced Use Leasing (EUL) authority allows NASA to enter into leases with private sector entities, state and 

local governments, and academic institutions as well as other federal agencies in areas of programmatic interest for 

lease of non-excess but underutilized agency properties at all centers. In order to facilitate a more expedient and 

robust EUL program to repurpose underutilized NASA facilities, OSI collaborated with OGC and OCFO to employ 

innovative EUL agreement processes and procedures.

The first EUL implemented at Marshall Space Flight Center in 2023 provided an opportunity for facility revitalization 

projects through net proceeds. Under EUL authority, NASA centers are allowed to make “proceeds” from the leasing 

of underutilized property and use them only for Headquarters-approved purposes, which include facility revitalization 

efforts. Additionally, Marshall and OSI established an EUL team, formulating and implementing a process that other 

centers are using as a benchmark.

Stennis Space Center executed two new EULs in 2023 in 

support of commercial space propulsion testing. The historic 

A-2 Test Stand was the subject of an EUL with Relativity Space 

to support advanced vertical first stage testing for their 

medium-to-heavy-lift reusable 3D printed rocket, Terran R. 

Additionally, Stennis executed an EUL with Rocket Lab USA 

Inc. for the mothballed A-3 Test Stand for the development of 

a test facility to test the Neutron rocket. Another example of 

a mutually beneficial agreement is at Ames Research Center. 

The center entered into an EUL in 2020 with the University 

of California, Berkeley. In 2023, the university announced 

plans with its development partner, SKS Partners, to invest 

$2 billion to transform 36 acres of the NASA Research Park at 

Ames into a new innovation hub. The hub will bring together

government, academia, and industry into 1.4 million square feet of office and research and development space, 

including laboratories, conference space, academic facilities, and retail amenities. The collaborations likely to form 

at the hub will pursue research in aeronautics, quantum computing, climate studies, space science, and technology 

development. In turn, this work is expected to fuel an increase in NASA’s external partnerships, accelerate the transfer 

of technology and knowledge, and amplify the agency’s economic impact. In addition, the relationship with Berkeley 

Space Center will increase the pipeline of diverse talent, provide more ways for employees to stay current in the state 

of the art, and increase NASA’s ability to inspire future generations.

New Training Proactively Maintains Critical Assets

OSI’s Space Environments Test Management Office provided training in reliability-centered 

maintenance and condition-based maintenance for managers, engineers, and technicians 

who support the Space Environments Testing infrastructure. These efforts led to the 

formulation of strategic maintenance plans for critical assets to ensure the assets function 

properly when they are required.

Mutually Beneficial Leasing Agreements 
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

29

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is an umbrella term for thousands of 

synthetic fluorinated chemicals that have been widely used for their chemical 

stability and because they repel water, stains, and oil. The characteristics that 

make PFAS effective for so many uses also prevent them from breaking down 

in the environment. As a result, the substances may remain in air, soil, surface 

water, and groundwater. NASA is committed to understanding and addressing 

PFAS at its centers and facilities and to protecting human health and the 

environment in all its activities.

Knowledge about the health effects of PFAS exposure is evolving but scientific 

studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS may be linked to harmful 

health effects in humans and animals. NASA began site inspections in 2019 

and has completed them at all centers, component facilities, and work 

areas. These inspections confirmed whether PFAS were released into the 

environment, whether specific PFAS are present, and their concentrations.

To ensure safe drinking water from water sources on NASA property at 

Wallops Flight Facility, Goddard Space Flight Center installed a cutting-edge 

PFAS treatment system and a new drinking water supply well in 2023. It also 

conducted robust public communication campaigns and employee sessions 

to provide information to stakeholders, media, and local communities.

Cutting-Edge PFAS Treatment System

Now and in the future, the Mission Support community will strive to meet or exceed NASA’s goals for sustainability in all 

of the agency’s affairs. In 2023, the Mission Support community achieved remarkable results though its conscientious 

operations and innovative approaches.

Across the agency, working with many NASA partners, OSI reported substantial sustainability gains in 2023. These 

include reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 47% from the FY 2008 baseline, maintained carbon pollution-free 

electricity acquisitions at 41% of the agency total, reduced facility energy use intensity by 40% from the FY 2003 

baseline, and reduced water use intensity by 33% from the FY 2007 baseline. Total sustainable building gross 

square footage has increased to 32% and renewable electricity use has increased to 10% of total electricity.

OSI’s Facilities and Real Estate Division (FRED) developed and submitted the agency’s FY 2024 Carbon Pollution Free 

Energy Strategic Plan to the White House Council on Environmental Quality in September 2023. The plan received 

positive feedback and was integrated with the agency’s Sustainability Strategic Plan for FY 2024.

OSI’s LMD coordinated policy focusing on NASA center plans for workplace charging of privately owned zero emission 

vehicles (ZEVs). Alongside the review and validation of center charging practices and mechanisms for collecting fees, 

125 charging ports were installed. The office also developed plans for the NASA ZEV Infrastructure Installation Support 

and ZEV outyear strategy formulation and budgeting.

To provide advanced analytics and visualization in real time to support energy saving goals, Langley Research Center 

coordinated with Mission Support organizations to continue development of the Intelligence Operations Portal. This 

campus-wide dashboard will integrate utility and energy data to provide views in real time. The benefits of real 

time information include improved utility monitoring for efficiency insights and load management, and enhanced 

integration enabling rapid maintenance response to problems. The first phase, completed in August 2023, included 

data on energy and water. Future phases will include the integration of natural gas, sewer, steam, and stormwater 

data.

On the Road to Sustainability Gains
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

30

NASA’s Mission Support community includes an office that ensures NASA has the right aircraft capabilities it needs 

to meet NASA’s mission requirements efficiently and effectively: ACMO. The community also includes OSMA, NASA’s 

technical authority that assures the safety of and enhances the success of all NASA activities. In 2023, ACMO and 

OSMA rewrote NASA’s policy on Aircraft Operations Management to reduce potential safety conflicts of interest and 

enhance operational safety. The new policy defines and separates operational safety considerations from mission 

requirements and resourcing considerations. This change is sure to keep safety at the forefront of decisions involving 

NASA aircraft.

Ensuring Safe Decisions 

MSD’s MSIO collects and reviews information about risks to 

assess institutional impacts to the missions, prioritize risks, 

and enable decisions about approaching risks. In 2023, MSIO 

adjusted its strategy for reporting, managing, and mitigating risks 

to the MSEOs, TAs, and NASA centers by using a continuous risk 

management cyclical process to better inform decisions.

As an example, MSIO began a quarterly risk review to monitor 

risk strategies to identify positive impacts that mitigation efforts 

were having and adjust those that were not. Such a continuous 

risk management process enabled risk owners and managers to 

inform and influence decision making. Changes like this ensured 

institutional risk to NASA’s missions were addressed properly.

Risk Management, Refined 

In 2023, OCHMO contributed to creating three task forces, 

publishing campaigns encouraging people to get screened 

for cancer, enabling visits by astronauts to pediatric cancer 

hospitals, and coordinating across NASA to help identify 

pollutants and clusters of cancer using data from a NASA 

instrument that measures pollution called Tropospheric 

Emissions: Monitoring Pollution (TEMPO). This space-based 

instrument collects high-resolution measurements of 

ozone, nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants, data which 

will revolutionize air quality forecasts.

The White House Cancer Moonshot initiative is mobilizing 

efforts toward achieving two goals from President Biden 

and First Lady Jill Biden: to prevent more than 4 million 

cancer deaths by 2047 and to improve the experience of 

people who are touched by cancer. A NASA executive from 

the Mission Support community’s OCHMO is supporting 

the initiative.

White House Cancer Moonshot Initiative 

View message
Enhance Capabilities and Operations to Catalyze 

Current and Future Mission Success 

ad vance
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

32

The NASA workforce of more than 18,000 professionals is a diverse team united by a shared purpose of discovery 

and exploration to benefit humanity. To expand NASA’s ability to find top diverse talent, OCHCO, ODEO, the Office 

of STEM Engagement (OSTEM), and other NASA organizations collaborate to provide modern, relevant recruiting 

content and processes. In 2023, OCHCO used feedback and surveys from the workforce, ensuring input from a wide 

range of centers, roles, and levels, to refresh NASA’s Employer Value Proposition—its unique selling point to potential 

employees—with a focus on the employee as a whole human. This updated concept is reflected in recruitment 

materials and campaigns and on the new careers-focused web pages launched in 2023.

OCHCO also developed NASA’s agencywide Recruitment Ambassadors Initiative in 2023 to ensure the value of NASA 

as an employer is promoted consistently. The initiative provides guidance for in-person events, digital recruiting best 

practices, and external recruitment resources for hiring managers across directorates, teams, centers, and other 

locations. Ambassadors connect, learn, and support collaboration for recruitment activities in an agencywide online 

community.

To expand its reach for talent even more, OCHCO worked with ODEO’s new Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) 

Coordinator to provide recruitment services to ERGs, including funding for conferences and targeted diversity, equity, 

inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) content development. NASA’s ERGs are grassroots groups formed by employees 

around a characteristic or area of interest, and are vital to ensuring NASA’s culture is equitable, inclusive, and 

accessible.

In a specific case at Goddard Space Flight Center, OCHCO used broader external advertisements and refined interview 

questions. As a result, there was a 20% increase in external hires, which diversifies the center. In addition, because 

project manager positions are open to a wider candidate pool, the number of female project managers increased by 

3.5%. Diversity of experience and staff means Goddard is creating a work environment that prioritizes diverse ideas 

and contributions for effective decisions and solutions.

New Recruiting Strategies

ADVANCE

The Mission Support community had a stellar year leading NASA’s fourth strategic goal: Advance. This goal aims 

to enhance capabilities and operations to catalyze current and future mission success. It includes attracting and 

developing a talented and diverse workforce, transforming mission support capabilities for the next era of aerospace, 

and building the next generation of explorers. The Mission Support community worked on this goal through new 

recruiting strategies, unique training and development opportunities, outreach to diverse communities, increased 

cybersecurity, and more.

Top 20 Government Employer according to STEM Workforce Diversity 

Magazine, Woman Engineer Magazine, and Equal Opportunity Magazine

The agency’s commitment to DEIA in recruitment positioned NASA as 

an employer of choice and led to multiple awards in FY 2023:

America’s Best Employers for Women

(only federal agency included)

America’s Best Employers for Diversity

(highest ranked in category of Aerospace and Defense)

America’s Best Large Employers

(highest ranked government agency) by Forbes

Best U.S. Employers for 

New Graduates (No. 2)

FY 2023

Awards
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

33

Diversity and inclusion are integral to mission success at NASA. The principles drive the utilization of the talents, 

backgrounds, and capabilities of individuals and teams, which enables a work environment where diverse ideas are 

highly valued and critical to effective technical solutions. In turn, individuals can reach their potential and maximize 

their contributions.

To advance gender equity and equality at NASA in 2023, ODEO led the development, timely submission, and 

implementation of NASA’s Gender Equity Plan. After receiving positive feedback from the White House on the plan’s 

overarching quality and impact, NASA’s program activities were selected by the White House Gender Policy Council 

for inclusion in the progress report to the President on the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality.

ODEO also managed the successful development and completion of a plan to ensure equal access to all employment 

opportunities for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander employees within the agency. NASA’s 

White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Equity Action Plan captures 

activities aimed at outreach, capacity building, and language access.

Along with making plans, ODEO took action across NASA centers to honor employees’ diverse needs. These upgrades 

include gender neutral restrooms, an IT capability for pronouns and names displays, and reflection and contemplation 

rooms. With support from ODEO, PMSO released a video to raise awareness about accessibility and inclusion called 

Explorers, Adventurers, and Innovators with a Disability at NASA.

To evaluate NASA’s efforts across equity, inclusion, anti-harassment climate, accessibility, absence of discrimination, 

psychological safety, and comfort, ODEO launched the DEIA Organizational Climate Survey in 2023. The results will 

reveal whether NASA employees are feeling honor and respect from their employer and will guide NASA in expanding 

inclusion and belonging for everyone.

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion

23 in ‘23: Attracting the Best Talent

To widen recruiting scope, OCHCO and OSTEM at Langley Research Center collaborated 

with Virginia Space Grant Consortium and Virginia Community College System to use 

non-traditional recruiting approaches. In 2023, Langley initiated an outreach campaign 

to engage all 23 Virginia Community Colleges. Called “23 in ‘23,” this campaign engaged 

with community college students, faculty, and administrators to share information 

regarding apprenticeships, internships, and employment opportunities at Langley and 

other NASA centers. As of September 2023, the team has successfully engaged with 

more than 600 students.
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

34

NASA is devoted to the people who make missions possible, and the Mission 

Support community makes sure to show that dedication through action. The 

community supported training and development for employees in a multitude 

of ways.

One of the Mission Support community’s technical authorities, OCHMO, hosted 

and promoted more than 1,600 outreach events for the employee assistance 

program in 2023. New educational series included caregiver education, brain 

health, suicide awareness and prevention, and understanding Alzheimer’s 

disease. The topic with the most employee engagement was Alzheimer’s disease, 

which garnered significant praise and participation of more than 300 people. 

Such efforts aim to enhance employees’ wellbeing and show care for them as 

individuals.

OCHCO launched the Women’s Executive Leadership Lab in February 2023 as part 

of NASA’s DEIA efforts. The in-person cohort-learning opportunity is for women 

executives and aspiring executives and is designed to equip women leaders with 

skills to reach a greater level of influence. This is in addition to conducting a pilot 

program of NASA Next, a mid-level leadership program that focuses on executive 

core qualifications, as well as launching a 12-month Aspiring Executive Program 

(ASPIRE), which provides extensive leadership development. Together these 

OCHCO initiatives strengthen the focus on developing NASA leaders.

OCFO also provided specialized training to a specific group in FY 2023—

employees in the NASA CFO enterprise and partnering mission support offices. 

Through CFO University, OCFO trained 2,500 employees, bringing the threeyear average to 2,800 employees per year. CFO University offers NASA-focused 

financial, management, program planning and control, and management and 

leadership training. To provide mentoring for the same employee group, OCFO 

launched OCFO-Connect, which matched 50 mentors with 50 mentees in 2023. 

The mentoring initiative included webinars, speed mentoring, one-on-one 

sessions, and a review and closeout at the end of the program.

To encourage career growth for interested employees at Langley Research 

Center, Mission Support offices collaborated to hold a Career Exploration Fair that 

incorporated speed-mentoring, mock interviews, panel discussions, exhibitor 

booths, and interactions with senior leaders from across the center. Ultimately, 

the fair offered employees an opportunity to explore potential career paths, 

learn about available resources, and gain career advice from senior employees.

Perhaps because of the care shown to NASA civil servant employees, when 

the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) was administered, it got 

a 77.5% response rate—the highest NASA response rate ever! Some new FEVS 

implementation initiatives organized by OCHCO included an agencywide FEVS 

video; initial results available to leaders in three weeks; and new self-service tools 

for results, including a PowerPoint export feature. In 2023, The Partnership for 

Public Service named NASA the Best Place to Work in the federal government 

among large agencies for the eleventh year in a row.

Employee Training and Development 
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

35

NASA requires a talented and diverse workforce now—and in the future—to meet its goals. Across the agency, the 

Mission Support community develops and nurtures opportunities to guarantee NASA inspires and engages the people 

it will need.

Eager to reach broad and diverse audiences, OCOMM worked on partner collaborations including LEGO, Peanuts, 

Google, Girl Scouts, Crayola, Sesame Street, USPS, Minecraft, Third Rock Radio, and others. Partnerships with visible 

brands help NASA’s reach and engage untapped audiences.

Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff joined Ames Research Center 

leadership to deliver hands-on science, technology, engineering, 

and math kits, called Learning Lunchboxes, in Oakland, California. 

The kits are designed to inspire the Artemis generation to learn 

about NASA’s Artemis program, which will land the first woman and 

person of color on the Moon. Representatives from the National 

Space Council and local STEM organizations also attended, and 

approximately 500 Learning Lunchboxes were handed out. 

Continuing to expand NASA’s connections with diverse groups, 

OSBP partnered with the Office of STEM Engagement to conduct 

the Technology Infusion Road Tour Initiative for historically black 

colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other minority serving 

institutions (MSIs). The gatherings inform presidents, chancellors, 

administrators, staff, and students from HBCUs and other MSIs 

about opportunities within NASA, with NASA partners, and other 

external government agencies.

Also in 2023, twenty-four middle and high school 

students from two schools got to participate in a day 

of robotics and a day of model rocketry, thanks to 

the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and 

Validation (IV&V) Facility’s Education Resource Center 

(ERC), part of OSMA. Following the week-long summer 

camp at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the 

Blind, teachers and staff continue to support robotics 

and rocketry throughout the year with equipment and 

training from the NASA IV&V ERC. The goal is to inspire 

and engage America’s youth and increase the pool of 

diverse future employees.

As part of the 2023 NASA Equity Action Plan to expand access to NASA information for limited-English proficient 

populations, OCOMM translated public-facing products that develop and sustain interest in STEM careers. In fact, 

NASA’s Spanish-language social media accounts reached 3.4 million followers, an increase of 30% compared to FY 

2022.

Within the same Equity Action Plan, OP set targets for contracting including a 50% increase in outreach events by 

FY 2029, and annual growth of 5%-10% in participation from underserved communities. Amazingly, with over 20 

outreach efforts targeting diverse businesses, this goal was met in 2023—six years early! The office also participated 

in 13 events with organizations like the U.S. Black Chambers Inc. and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

To emphasize and strengthen efforts to reach limited-English proficient populations, ODEO led the development of 

and updates to NASA’s agency-level Language Access Plan at NASA centers. The office aims to create a more equitable 

communication strategy for these populations.

Outreach Prioritizes Diverse Communities
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

36

Connections with Congress 

Mission Support organizations engage with Congress through a host of activities so Congress may understand, 

support, and actively promote NASA, NASA’s goals and objectives, and U.S. leadership in space exploration and 

scientific discovery.

In coordination with organizations across the Mission Support 

community such as OCOMM, OLIA initiated a downlink—an event 

where people on Earth can see and speak with astronauts aboard 

the International Space Station—between Astronaut Frank Rubio 

and approximately 20 members of the Congressional Hispanic 

Caucus. Frank Rubio made history in 2023 after spending 371 days 

in space aboard the International Space Station, the longest single 

spaceflight ever made by a U.S. astronaut. 

In 2023, OLIA also prepared witnesses, including at least one prep 

session, and drafted and cleared testimony for hearings including 

“Advanced Air Mobility: The Future of Unmanned Aircraft Systems 

and Beyond,” “The Future of Flight: Next Generation Aviation 

Technologies,” “Examining NASA’s FY24 Budget and Priorities,” and 

“Oversight of Federal Agencies’ Post-Pandemic Telework Policies.”

OLIA also coordinated with a host of Mission Support organizations to present a package of 19 NASA legislative 

proposals to Congress, several of which have been introduced as legislation and as amendments to major legislation.

Another initiative encouraged students to pursue degrees and careers in STEM through OSTEM’s Artemis Student 

Challenges led by Marshall Space Flight Center. The Human Exploration Rover Challenge hosted more than 500 

students with 65% identifying as underrepresented learners. Out of 48 teams, six were from MSIs while the Student 

Launch Competition had 69 teams including 15 from MSIs.

To promote NASA grant opportunities, NSSC hosted 400 attendees from U.S. universities and institutions in a twopart “Ask NASA” event series with Grants Policy and Compliance, OSTEM, the Science Mission Directorate, and ODEO. 

The first event focused on how to apply and obtain NASA grants. The second event covered NASA grant policies, 

programs, and processes; provided post-award insights to NASA grant recipients on best practices; and shared NASA’s 

progress on DEIA policies and practices. Participants reported they are now better poised to apply for NASA grants.

Outreach Prioritizes Diverse Communities (continued)
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

37

Always eager to work better together, organizations in the Mission Support community improved a multitude of 

processes and procedures within NASA. These achievements translate to increased efficiencies, cost savings, 

accessible information, and stellar financial reporting.

To improve efficiencies and reduce costs related to legal affairs, OGC streamlined intellectual property practices 

including rapid automated review for patent fees, simplified the process for royalty payments to inventor 

beneficiaries, implemented workflow improvements with the Technology Transfer Office, enabled software releases 

using commercial licenses, and improved the automated system for review of scientific and technical publications. 

Working Together on Processes and Procedures 

NSSC’s Intelligent Automation Services (IAS) continues to automate low value work using Robotic Process Automation 

(RPA) and scripting. As an example, in collaboration with the OCFO Travel Functional Champion and the Individually 

Billed Account Automation Teams, NSSC is keeping travel cardholders on track through automation of notifications 

and alerts to cardholders through email. IAS’s 10 new automations deployed in FY 2023 translate to 9,697 projected 

workforce hours avoided, which yields 126,369 cumulative hours saved since inception.

Through deployment of the Cognizant Federal Agency (CFA), OP’s Enterprise Pricing Office has enabled a remarkable 

impact on NASA’s procurement efficiency. In this role, OP is providing a platform that caters to the agency’s needs 

by providing its own audit and contract administration services that contribute to timely and quality audits, which 

yields cost savings and timely contract closeout. In FY 2023, this initiative saved NASA $4.2 million, and maintains the 

contract closeout backlog below 50%. NASA now serves as CFA for 153 companies, partnering with various entities to 

provide timely and high-quality audit services.

OP designed and developed interactive dashboards to enable near real-time access to authoritative data sources. 

These dashboards support concise and consistent information delivery for internal and external requests, thorough 

data analysis, and cohesive messaging for the NASA enterprise. They also provide insight on agency contractual 

performance, historical performance, and center- and agency-level vendor timeliness.

For the twelfth year in a row, NASA’s Annual Financial 

Report issued by OCFO earned an unmodified audit opinion 

with no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. 

Also in 2023, OCFO received a Certificate of Excellence in 

Accountability Reporting, including a “Best in Class” award, 

from the Association of Government Accountants. These 

awards recognize NASA’s financial reporting, including the 

balanced and informative presentation of the agency’s 

mission performance results. 

Sterling Reputation in Financial Reporting

12 

Years

Best in 

class
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

38

Key Steps Strengthen Cybersecurity

NASA has been undertaking steps to ensure its systems and hardware are more secure and resilient 

against cyber threats. In 2023, OCIO made several strides to improve cybersecurity.

Zero Trust is a leading cybersecurity approach in government and the private 

sector in which each access request must be authorized. Achieving this while 

permitting easy access to appropriate systems and data requires a robust, 

coordinated set of initiatives. Efforts completed this year for Zero Trust include 

enhancements to credentialing, data stewardship, cloud capabilities, and 

collaboration tools. This translates to better security without compromising 

NASA’s innovative culture.

An EDP facilitates a culture of data transparency, fair and equal access, and 

collaboration across organizations. NASA EDP 1.0 production capability 

was delivered early in 2023. As the platform is expanded, users will gain an 

enterprise ability to store, manage, analyze, and visualize data for improved 

visualization and decision making.

NASA information system owners, information system security officers, 

authorizing officials, and leadership now have visibility into a single, user 

friendly, and automated cybersecurity scorecard designed and developed 

by OCIO in 2022 and fully implemented throughout the agency in 2023. All 

organizations now use the scorecard. This allows NASA leaders to understand 

and manage IT risks effectively.

In the event of a catastrophic information technology failure due to a 

cyberattack or other means, the Agency Emergency Management Team, 

a part of OPS, worked with OCIO on a new method to ensure critical mass 

communications capabilities. In the case of a launchpad issue or complete loss 

of email, a partitioned component will send SMS text messages across NASA to 

relay the failure, workaround, or other updates.

Zero 

Trust

Enterprise 

Data 

Platform 

(EDP) 

Emergency 

Communications

Cybersecurity 

Scorecard
2023 MISSION SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT

39

Digital Engineering Garners New Insights

Digital engineering (DE) seeks to improve how the field of engineering 

operates—effectively managing complexity, reducing cost and schedule, 

and improving product integrity via the integration of processes, digital 

tools, and techniques along with seamless flow of information throughout 

the engineering system development and operations lifecycle. NASA’s 

DE team in OCE is leading the way with award-winning work. A NASA DE 

paper on the NASA Orion Digital Twin submitted to the 2023 International 

Council on Systems Engineering International Symposium was voted Best 

Paper in the Models and Simulations category.

NASA is also engaged with other federal agencies on common DE 

solutions and lessons learned. The NASA-initiated cross-agency DE 

Technical Working Group, spanning Department of Defense, Department 

of Energy, Federal Aviation Administration, and intelligence agencies, has 

identified top desired DE capabilities and current pain points. In October 

2023, there was a follow-on gathering of the agencies hosted by the 

Undersecretary of Defense to continue collaboration. NASA DE worked 

with the Department of Defense to resolve a long-standing access barrier 

to sharing information between military and non-military DE teams. The 

Undersecretary of Defense brought online a common protected area for 

all the agencies to share unclassified information, which bolsters effective 

DE collaboration.

A partnership between the DE team and OCIO led in 2023 to the 

development of a software management capability that had been called 

“impossible” for more than a decade. Dialogue led to innovation that 

leveraged and integrated existing data across different organizations 

to garner new insight into all the software installed on the workforce’s 

computers for any given organization in engineering. The resulting visibility 

dramatically increased the ability to manage software titles and improved 

IT security. OCE and OCIO are now exploring how this type of approach 

could help to streamline the agency’s most intensive time-consuming 

federal IT reporting and planning processes.

In 2023, the OCIO team at Marshall Space Flight Center designed and implemented a 

technique that enhanced Marshall’s ability to implement cybersecurity fixes on more 

than 7,000 Marshall end-user devices. The implementation required extensive testing 

and coordination with all center directorates to ensure continued operations. This effort 

improves Marshall’s cybersecurity posture and can be leveraged across all NASA centers, 

resulting in more secure data and devices.

Steps Behind the Scenes Improve Cybersecurity
OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT

OFFICE OF PROTECTIVE SERVICES

MISSION SUPPORT COMMUNITY

BY THE NUMBERS

OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE

NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER

Reduced the average

procurement administrative lead 

time across the enterprise

Responded to over 

across the agency

Launched Environmental Management

Division University, an agency wide voluntary 

professional development resource for learning more 

about environmental compliance,

conservation, sustainability, and restoration 

Disposal items removed 

from NASA centers

 manual

 transactions

using the first Robotic Process

Automation within the Federal

Personnel and Payroll System

environment

AIRCRAFT CAPABILITY 

MANAGEMENT OFFICE

Safe execution of

 

flight hours 

6,561

OFFICE OF CHIEF HUMAN CAPITAL OFFICER

Internal and external

hiring actions completed

1,957

Executive

positions filled

78

Number of job

applicants

180,285

Time to hire

75 days

99.

day average

6,000

Eliminated

15,000 emergency 

calls

MISSION SUPPORT RESOURCES 

MANAGEMENT OFFICE

$3 Budget managed .5

for the Mission Support Community

MISSION SUPPORT INTEGRATION 

OFFICE

 executive leaders

from across NASA

met to solve

problems together

35

Held two forums in which more than

300

over

participants

92,282

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT OFFICE

4

5

684

923 New video on

accessibility and 

inclusion

NASA employees shared 

their perspectives

Disability resources shared

Devices viewed 

the video

Views

(Oct. - Dec 2023)

Direct Reports

MSD Front Office
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF

INFORMATION OFFICER 

OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

PARTNERSHIPS OFFICE

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AND 

INTERAGENCY RELATIONS

Partner Offices

NASA social media 

followers – up 19% 

from 2022 

in processing time for more than

800 agreements, valued at $2.6B

in reimbursable work

Individual responses to letters, email 

and other congressional inquiries

Outreach visits to congressional 

offices

State capitol days

Active partnership

agreements agency wide:

• 1,419 with the U.S. commercial sector, state 

and local governments, academic institutions, 

and non-profits 

• 539 with other federal agencies

• 673 with international entities

consecutive

unmodified

audit opinion 

Individual meetings with

representatives/senators

Provided lead attorney for newly 

formed OGC Software Management 

and Audit Resolution Team resulting 

in significant reduction and avoidance 

of claims arising from ill-advised

software license terms and conditions

Cloud storage 

increased

to securely move 

missions

forward 

NASA Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) 

across 11 affinity types that are in

the new 2023 NASA-wide ERG

program plan

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE AND 

INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

387.1

75M

247

130

133

6

2,631

signed in FY23 agency wide

721

51 Day reduction

$100M

12th

OSBP followers on “X”, 

formerly known

as Twitter

24,871

OSBP Facebook

followers

251,833

OSBP NASA Vendor

Database active users

738

OSBP Mobile App

iOS and Android users

3,339 873

Processed

NASA’s flagship YouTube

reached a milestone of 10 

million subscribers in FY23 

and now exceeds 11.6 million 

subscribers

11.5

subscribers

(As of Oct. 2023)

New domestic and international

partnership agreements

More than

in cost avoidance

gigabytes

R e c e i v e d N A S A’s 

 foreign travel requests for NASA 

Headquarters employees and NASA astronauts

97
OFFICE OF SAFETY AND MISSION ASSURANCE

Centers

30 robotics events in West Virginia engaging 6,000+ students

Hosted the 10th Annual 

NASA Moves!

Technical Authorities

3,500

700

employees

million steps

GLENN RESEARCH CENTER

 Square feet 

 reduction

of footprint modernization 

efforts

89.6

LANGLEY 

RESEARCH 

CENTER

(Design, engineering,

construction, LEED Gold)

8

Awards

STENNIS SPACE CENTER

(300 domestic, and 31 international sites) 

operating student AstroCamp activities as part of SMD’s 

Science Activation, NASA ASTRO CAMP® Community 

Partners program

331 Community sites

NASA IV&V hosted and supported over 

high-severity 1,600 software defects

The NASA IV&V Program identified over

on NASA’s highest profile missions

(resulting in improved quality, safety, security, and 

reliability of the mission system software)

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF HEALTH AND MEDICAL OFFICER

To aid with the 

development of 

hardware, systems, 

and vehicles, as well 

as human needs and 

limitations

42

technical briefs

AMES RESEARCH CENTER

of NASA and the University of

California, Berkeley, on Oct. 16-17, 2023

126 Total media

mentions

Johnson’s Business Development enabled the

execution of

more than 

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

international and domestic

loan agreements for material

from asteroid Bennu

60

together with OGC, Technology Integration Office, the 

Johnson Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office, 

and OIIR

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER

72Launches

GODDARD SPACE 

FLIGHT CENTER

Increase in 20% external hires,

improving the pipeline and 

diversifying the center

MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

15%

Workforce with disabilities,

exceeding the federal goal

by 3.25%

NASA Engineering and

Safety Center conducted

more

than

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER

80 independent 

assessments

of work related to NASA’s highest risk 

and highest priority missions

Over
ACRONYM ACRONYM DEFINITION

3D Three-dimensional

ACMO Aircraft Capability Management Office

AOC Administrative Order on Consent

ASPIRE Aspiring Executive Program

B777-200ER Boeing 777 – 200 Extended Range

CFA Cognizant Federal Agency

CFO Chief Financial Officer

COPV Composite overwrapped pressure vessels

DE Digital Engineering

DEIA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

EDP Enterprise Data Platform

EMD OSI’s Environmental Management Division

EPOC Exploration Production and Operations Contract

ERC Education Resource Center

ERG Employee Resource Group

ESA European Space Agency

EUL Enhanced Use Leasing

FEVS Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey

FRED OSI’s Facilities and Real Estate Division

FY Fiscal year

HBCUs Historically black colleges and universities (singular form is 

HBCU, historically black college or university)

HD High definition

HELIOS High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance

HQ Headquarters

IAS Intelligent Automation Services

IT Information Technology

IV&V Independent Verification and Validation

JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

LMD OSI’s Logistics Management Division

MAV Mars Ascent Vehicle

MAVIS Mars Ascent Vehicle Integrated System

MSRMO Mission Support Resources Management Office

MSD Mission Support Directorate

MSEO Missions Support Enterprise Organization

MSHOO Mission Support and Headquarters Operations Office

MSIs Minority serving institutions (singular form is MSI)

MSIO Mission Support Integration Office

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NESC NASA Engineering and Safety Center

NextSTEP-2 Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-2

NSSC NASA Shared Services Center

Continued on next page

APPENDIX
ACRONYM ACRONYM DEFINITION

OCE Office of the Chief Engineer

OCFO Office of the Chief Financial Officer

OCHCO Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer

OCHMO Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer

OCIO Office of the Chief Information Officer

OCOMM Office of Communications

ODEO Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity

OGC Office of the General Counsel

OIIR Office of International and Interagency Relations

OLIA Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

OP Office of Procurement

OPS Office of Protective Services

OSBP Office of Small Business Programs

OSI Office of Strategic Infrastructure

OSIRIS-REx Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and 

Security-Regolith Explorer

OSMA Office of Safety and Mission Assurance

OSTEM Office of STEM Engagement

PFAS Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances

PMSO Program Management and Support Office

RPA Robotic Process Automation

SLD Sustaining Lunar Development

SLS Space Launch System

SMS Short Message/Messaging Service

SSC Sacred Sites Council

SSFL Santa Susana Field Laboratory

STEM Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

STMD Space Technology Mission Directorate

STEM Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

STMD Space Technology Mission Directorate

TA Technical Authority

TEMPO Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring Pollution

TROPOZ Tropospheric Ozone Lidar System Outdoor Laser and 

Stratospheric Ozone

U.S. United States

USPS U.S. Postal Service

XRISM X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission

ZEV Zero emission vehicle

APPENDIX