#2566 Software Safety Plan Based on NASA-STD-8719.13C

#2566 Software Safety Plan Based on NASA-STD-8719.13C

#2566 Summarize NASA-STD-8719.13C

NASA-STD-8719.13C, "NASA Software Safety Standard," establishes guidelines for ensuring safety in software used in NASA projects. It covers the lifecycle requirements of software systems from design through decommissioning, with a strong emphasis on hazard analysis, risk management, and safety assurance processes.

Key aspects include:

1. Safety-Critical Software Determination: Identifying software that can impact system safety, focusing on software elements with the potential for human harm, mission failure, or significant environmental damage.

2. Risk Assessment and Hazard Analysis: Procedures for assessing risks associated with software and conducting hazard analysis to identify and mitigate potential safety risks at each development stage.

3. Safety Requirements Integration: Incorporating safety requirements throughout the software development lifecycle, aligning with NASA-specific and mission-critical criteria.

4. Verification and Validation (V&V): Requirements for thorough V&V processes to ensure software safety features are correctly implemented and function as intended.

5. Configuration Management: Ensuring that safety-related software changes are documented and controlled to maintain the integrity of the system.

6. Independent Safety Assessment: Guidance for conducting third-party assessments of safety-critical software components to ensure unbiased safety evaluations.

This standard is essential for any NASA projects involving software with safety implications, aiming to prevent risks that could lead to accidents, mission failures, or loss of life.

What does it say about a software safety plan

NASA-STD-8719.13C outlines specific requirements for a Software Safety Plan (SSP) to ensure that software safety practices are systematically applied throughout a project's lifecycle. Here are the core elements it mandates for an SSP:

1. Purpose and Scope: The SSP must define the purpose of safety activities within the project and outline its scope, especially for any software identified as safety-critical. This includes specifying the project's safety goals and boundaries for what the plan will address.

2. Responsibilities and Authority: It should assign and clarify responsibilities and authority for software safety tasks. This typically includes identifying roles like the software safety engineer and team members accountable for safety reviews, assessments, and approvals.

3. Hazard Analysis Process: The plan must describe how hazard analyses will be conducted on the software, identifying potential hazards, assessing risks, and defining mitigation strategies. The SSP should specify the methods used for hazard identification (e.g., Fault Tree Analysis, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis).

4. Software Safety Requirements: The SSP outlines how safety requirements are derived from hazard analyses and applied across the software development lifecycle. This involves mapping safety requirements to specific lifecycle stages, such as design, development, testing, and maintenance.

5. Verification and Validation (V&V) Processes: The SSP should include detailed descriptions of V&V activities that ensure safety requirements are correctly implemented and effective. This includes testing, inspections, and other assessment techniques necessary to validate the safety of software components.

6. Configuration Management and Change Control: To maintain safety integrity, the SSP defines how configuration management will control software versions, track changes, and ensure that modifications do not introduce new risks or compromise existing safety measures.

7. Independent Review and Assessment: The SSP specifies the need for independent assessments of safety-critical aspects, ideally conducted by a party not directly involved in the development process. This ensures unbiased evaluation and adherence to safety standards.

8. Safety Assurance Documentation: The SSP requires documentation of safety activities and outcomes, including tracking hazards, their mitigations, and compliance with safety requirements. This documentation is vital for audits, reviews, and post-project analysis.

9. Safety Training and Awareness: The SSP includes provisions for training team members on software safety practices to ensure that everyone understands their role in achieving software safety objectives.

The Software Safety Plan is essential for ensuring that safety is systematically addressed and that all risks associated with safety-critical software are identified, controlled, and documented to meet NASA's stringent standards for safety compliance.

Provide a table of contents for a typical Software Safety Plan based on NASA-STD-8719.13C

A typical Software Safety Plan (SSP) following NASA-STD-8719.13C guidelines would include the following Table of Contents:

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

   • 1.1 Purpose of the Software Safety Plan
   • 1.2 Scope
   • 1.3 Overview of Software Safety Objectives
   • 1.4 Document Structure
   • 1.5 Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations
   • 1.6 References

2. Software Safety Program Management

   • 2.1 Organizational Responsibilities and Authority
   • 2.2 Software Safety Roles and Responsibilities
   • 2.3 Safety Program Milestones and Schedule
   • 2.4 Safety Training Requirements
   • 2.5 Resource Allocation for Software Safety

3. Software Safety Requirements and Hazard Analysis

   • 3.1 Identification of Safety-Critical Software
   • 3.2 Hazard Analysis Approach and Methodology
     • 3.2.1 Hazard Identification Techniques
     • 3.2.2 Risk Assessment Procedures
   • 3.3 Derivation of Software Safety Requirements
   • 3.4 Mitigation Strategies for Identified Hazards
   • 3.5 Safety Requirements Traceability

4. Software Safety Lifecycle Activities

   • 4.1 Software Development Lifecycle Overview
   • 4.2 Integration of Safety into Development Phases
     • 4.2.1 Concept and Requirements Phase
     • 4.2.2 Design and Coding Phase
     • 4.2.3 Integration and Testing Phase
     • 4.2.4 Deployment and Operational Phase
     • 4.2.5 Maintenance and Retirement Phase
   • 4.3 Hazard Control and Mitigation Tracking

5. Verification and Validation (V&V) for Safety Assurance

   • 5.1 Safety-Critical Software V&V Process
   • 5.2 Safety Verification Activities
   • 5.3 Safety Validation Activities
   • 5.4 Testing for Software Safety Compliance
   • 5.5 Independent Review of Safety-Critical Software

6. Configuration Management and Change Control for Safety

   • 6.1 Configuration Identification and Control
   • 6.2 Change Control Process for Safety-Critical Software
   • 6.3 Traceability of Changes to Safety Requirements
   • 6.4 Audits and Reviews for Safety Compliance

7. Independent Safety Assessment and Audits

   • 7.1 Independent Safety Assessment Requirements
   • 7.2 Schedule and Criteria for Independent Reviews
   • 7.3 Audit Procedures and Documentation
   • 7.4 Management of Safety Findings and Action Items

8. Safety Documentation and Reporting

   • 8.1 Software Safety Documentation Requirements
   • 8.2 Hazard Tracking and Mitigation Documentation
   • 8.3 Safety Compliance Verification and Certification
   • 8.4 Reporting of Safety Status and Issues

9. Incident Reporting and Analysis

   • 9.1 Criteria for Software Safety Incidents
   • 9.2 Incident Reporting Procedures
   • 9.3 Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action
   • 9.4 Documentation of Incident Resolutions

10. Appendices

    • A. Acronyms and Abbreviations
    • B. Glossary of Terms
    • C. References and Bibliography
    • D. Safety-Related Forms and Templates
    • E. Hazard Analysis Checklist
    • F. Safety Compliance Checklist
    • G. Revision History

This Table of Contents provides a structured approach for an SSP, ensuring that all necessary aspects of software safety—such as management, lifecycle integration, hazard analysis, V&V, and documentation—are covered according to NASA-STD-8719.13C standards.

From <https://chatgpt.com/>