Hey, Which Astronaut Threw My Laptop Overboard?
Explanations Provided for Equipment Loss in Which No One Was Held Accountable
Equipment description – Equipment value (dollars) – Explanation provided
Desktop computer and laser printer – 4,855 – My wife needed a computer at home to perform her work as a real estate broker so I checked one out from the surplus stock available. I turned the computer back in when she was done using it but never received a receipt.
Laptop computer – 4,265 – This computer, although assigned to me, was being used on board the International Space Station. I was informed that it was tossed overboard to be burned up in the atmosphere when it failed.
Various missing property, 65 items – 850,321- A thorough and reasonable search was conducted but we were unable to locate the missing property. In general, the missing items consist of older equipment that has been replaced or is no longer necessary for standard operations.
Source: GAO analysis of NASA’s fiscal year 2006 equipment loss reports.
Reader note: The GAO report says that out of “$35 billion of property, plant, and equipment (PP&E) and materials” that NASA reports on, $94 million was lost. That’s a quarter of one percent. (In retail, 1.5% “shrinkage” is considered “industry average”). And they say “In general, the missing items consist of older equipment that has been replaced or is no longer necessary for standard operations.”
I don’t think that we need “ten actions aimed at strengthening users’ accountability for old and unnecessary equipment,” I think we need to stop having GAO waste our time on trivia. -signed, [email protected]
