Does NASA use waterfall or Agile?

NASA uses both waterfall and agile methodologies for software development, depending on the project requirements and constraints:

Waterfall Methodology:

1. Traditional approach: NASA historically employed the waterfall model for large-scale projects with well-defined requirements.
2. Sequential process: Each phase of development (requirements, design, implementation, testing, deployment) is completed sequentially.
3. Structured and formal: Waterfall is suited for projects with stable requirements and a clear understanding of the end product.
4. Documentation-heavy: Emphasis on documentation at each stage to ensure clarity and traceability of requirements and design decisions.
5. Rigorous testing: Testing is typically conducted towards the end of the development cycle, after the completion of implementation.

Agile Methodology:

1. Iterative and incremental: Agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban, are increasingly used by NASA for projects requiring flexibility and rapid iteration.
2. Adaptive approach: Agile allows for continuous feedback and adaptation to changing requirements throughout the development process.
3. Cross-functional teams: Agile encourages collaboration among multidisciplinary teams to promote transparency and accountability.
4. Prioritization of features: Features are prioritized based on stakeholder feedback and delivered in short, iterative cycles known as sprints or iterations.
5. Emphasis on working software: Agile prioritizes delivering working software at regular intervals, enabling early validation and course correction.

In summary, NASA employs a pragmatic approach to software development, selecting the most suitable methodology based on the specific needs of each project. This may involve a combination of waterfall and agile practices, tailored to the unique requirements and constraints of space exploration missions and other projects undertaken by the agency.