Michael Braukus                              January 28, 1998
Headquarters, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202/358-1979)

RELEASE:  98-16

SHUTTLE PROGRAM SAYS USA PROCESS WON'T AFFECT SAFETY

     NASA's Space Shuttle managers have reviewed the process that 
space flight operations contractor United Space Alliance (USA) 
will use to lower operating costs and have determined that safety 
will not be compromised.

     NASA's Safety and Mission Assurance Risk Assessment team 
concurs with the process USA used to determine reductions in their 
work force.  NASA asked USA to ensure that the flight rate for 
1999 and beyond can be safely supported after the efficiencies are 
carried out.  

     Both NASA and USA understood that work force reductions would 
be part of the space flight operations contract to reduce costs.  
The space flight operations contract was awarded to USA at the 
beginning of the 1996 fiscal year.  

                       - end -

NOTE:  Copies of NASA's safety analysis on the USA work force 
reduction process is available for review in NASA newsrooms at HQ, 
JSC and KSC.