Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.). Office of Engineering and Review.

The Space-Flight Significant Events File (SSEF) was established by the Laboratory to provide a formal record of significant events that led to a lesson learned. It was intended that the SSEF have a wide circulation within the Laboratory. The SSEF was to serve future efforts through the organized exposure of the Laboratory's engineering and scientific personnel to the significant events that had occurred and from which important "lessons" could have been drawn.

The SSEF was limited to documenting events arising out of the implementation and operation of flight and related support equipment. The SSEF was designed to use the Laboratory's various problem / failure and discrepancy reporting systems to identify and document any problem, failure, incident, surprise, or anomaly to the extent that 1) the event was significant in terms of actual or potential impact to the activity in which it occurred; and 2) it carried an important message in "lessons learned" for future Laboratory activities. Significant events of other origin with "lessons learned" relative to Laboratory activities would have also been included.

Some of the events specified were Voyager Spacecraft sensitivity to Electrostatic Discharge Environment, Mariner 9 experiences with the Rough Gravity Field of Mars, Voyager Sequence Timeline Generation and Integration for multiple Spacecraft, Incorrect connection of Test Cable, Voyager Software Problems, Surveyor Rocket Motor, almost fired, Telemetry Software System Design Limitations and Antenna Release Mechanism, which did not Operate.

The SSEF was supported by a steering group consisting of a representative from each Technical Division, the Office of Flight Projects, the Office of Space Science and Instruments, the Systems Assurance Division and the Office of Engineering and Review. This steering group, chaired by the Office of Engineering and Review, took under consideration candidate significant events and assured that the "lessons learned" and appropriate "recommendations" were documented and distributed.