Ongoing Examination Ventures Led by NASA's Office of Inspector General, Updated in April 2024
NASA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) is playing a crucial role in ensuring the agency's space exploration programs, including the Artemis and Mars Sample Return missions, are managed effectively and efficiently.
As of April 2024, one of the active audit projects by the NASA OIG is "Assessing NASA's Strategy to Protect Earth from Hazardous Asteroids and Comets." This audit focuses on evaluating the Planetary Defense Coordination Office’s (PDCO) efforts, which coordinates NASA's strategy for detecting and responding to Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). The audit highlights ongoing challenges such as limited staffing and resources within the PDCO, despite expanded roles since its establishment in 2016.
The NASA OIG has a total of 17 active audit projects as of April 2024, with five of these focused on NASA's space technology and exploration programs. The OIG is also conducting two audits related to NASA's financial management in fiscal year 2024.
In addition, the OIG has six active audits focused on NASA's science and aeronautics programs, and four audits related to NASA's mission support activities. These audits are essential in promoting accountability and driving continuous improvement across NASA.
The results of these audits will be published as public reports on the OIG's website, detailing findings, recommendations, and NASA's responses and planned corrective actions. By shining a light on areas for improvement and holding NASA accountable to the highest standards, the OIG helps ensure that the agency can continue to inspire and innovate for generations to come.
Looking ahead, the OIG will continue to adapt its oversight approach to keep pace with NASA's evolving mission, including commercial spaceflight and space resource utilization. The OIG's active audit projects cover a wide range of NASA's responsibilities, ensuring that the agency manages its programs effectively, spends taxpayer dollars wisely, and achieves its goals in space exploration and scientific discovery.
- The NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG) is working on an audit project titled "Assessing NASA's Strategy to Protect Earth from Hazardous Asteroids and Comets," focusing on the Planetary Defense Coordination Office’s (PDCO) efforts for Earth observation and NEO detection and response.
- The NASA OIG is conducting two audits related to commercial spaceflight and space economy, as part of their ongoing efforts to assess NASA's space exploration programs, such as the Artemis and Mars Sample Return missions.
- The OIG's audit of NASA's science and aeronautics programs will evaluate the effectiveness of space technology, including satellite deployments, in areas like new space, space exploration, and cybersecurity.
- The OIG will also continue to review NASA's mission support activities, ensuring they are properly managed, with a focus on areas like financial management, to promote continuous improvement and accountability.
- As the space industry expands, the NASA OIG will update its oversight approach to include aspects like space resource utilization, as well as remain vigilant in managing NASA's programs effectively, spending taxpayer dollars wisely, and achieving its goals in space exploration and scientific discovery.
