NASA Investigation Uncovers Cause of Two Science Mission Launch Failures

Author:  Gina Anderson | NASA | Business Affiliation
Source:  The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 33, Issue 4, Fall 2019
Doc ID:  2019044
Year of Publication:  2019
Abstract:  
April 30, 2019 - NASA Launch Services Program (LSP) investigators have determined the technical root cause for the Taurus XL launch failures of NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) and Glory missions in 2009 and 2011, respectively: faulty materials provided by aluminum manufacturer, Sapa Profiles, Inc. (SPI). LSP’s technical investigation led to the involvement of NASA’s Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). DOJ’s efforts, recently made public, resulted in the resolution of criminal charges and alleged civil claims against SPI, and its agreement to pay $46 million to the U.S. government and other commercial customers. This relates to a 19-year scheme that included falsifying thousands of certifications for aluminum extrusions to hundreds of customers.