With an organizational history rich in stories of its missions and programs, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recognizes the importance of learning from both its successes and failures. In 2006, NASA faced the challenge of developing the Constellation Program, the first large-scale space transportation system since the start of the space shuttle program in the 1970s. NASA’s Academy of Program/Project & Engineering Leadership (APPEL) identified a need to provide training to support the engineering and management workforce in undertaking this new development. Instead of focusing training on a specific tool or methodology for engineering design, APPEL opted to take a broader, more conceptual approach. Proximate causes of engineering design failures are often due to technical flaws, but their root causes are often found in human fallibility. APPEL wanted to engage NASA’s highly skilled technical workforce in learning about good design at the human level, using specific case studies to illustrate the basic rules—or axioms—of good engineering. The result was Seven Axioms of Good Engineering (SAGE), a course founded upon the case-study learning approach, which maximizes student exploration and information retention. Covering landmark cases internal to NASA such as the Columbia accident and external cases such as the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and Three-Mile Island, SAGE leverages lessons from these examples to illuminate seven core principles that are broadly applicable to all engineers, regardless of technical discipline. It has been well received by more than 500 course participants, and serves as a model for future engineering training and education programs.
Dr. Anthony Luscher has taught engineering design for 23 years at the freshman, sophomore and senior levels. He leads the capstone design effort at Ohio State and is interested in innovative methods of teaching design.
At Ohio State he conducts research in innovative fastening strategies and methods, assembly ergonomics and structural optimization.
Roger Forsgren is the director of NASA’s Academy of Program/Project and Engineering Leadership (APPEL). The Academy’s training curriculum enables NASA’s technical workforce to develop NASA-specific expertise and capability in program/project management, engineering, and systems engineering. It is intended to supplement an individual’s academic and professional work experience. Mr. Forsgren holds two Bachelors degrees, one in history from Georgetown University and one in engineering from Cleveland State University. He also obtained a Masters Degree in Engineering from Cleveland State University. He lives in Virginia with his wife Florence; they have four sons.
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