Path to Approval

RFCs are evaluated in two phases. Successful outcome from both phases results in advancement from "Proposed Standard" to "Recommended Standard".

Initial Screening

• The SPG first determines applicability to ESDS science data systems goals and that materials necessary for review of the proposal and of reference implementations are available. The SPG forms a "Technical Working Group" (TWG), sets a schedule for review and releases the RFC as a "Proposed Standard". The SPG may otherwise reject the submission, or publish it as a "Technical Note."

Community Review

• Three types of reviews are potentially needed to evaluate a proposed standard.
  • Technical specification review determines the quality, accuracy and clarity of the proposed specification. The detailed technical review ensures that implementers can use the proposed standard as an implementation specification for any future implementations.
  • A usefulness review determines if the proposed standard is useful or helpful or necessary to the user to carry out his/her work.
  • An operational suitability review determines if the proposed standard can work in an operational setting in a NASA environment and with NASA data.

Stakeholders, broadly defined, may comment on the RFC. The TWG evaluates for technical soundness. After integrating community comments the TWG reports to the SPG. The SPG may recommend the RFC be promoted to "Recommended Standard." Alternately, it may reject the RFC or publish it as a Technical Note. ESDS management concurrence is required for promotion.