Powering Science

Powering Science
Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 127
Release: 2018-01-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309463831

NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) currently operates over five dozen missions, with approximately two dozen additional missions in development. These missions span the scientific fields associated with SMD's four divisionsâ€"Astrophysics, Earth Science, Heliophysics, and Planetary Sciences. Because a single mission can consist of multiple spacecraft, NASA-SMD is responsible for nearly 100 operational spacecraft. The most high profile of these are the large strategic missions, often referred to as "flagships." Large strategic missions are essential to maintaining the global leadership of the United States in space exploration and in science because only the United States has the budget, technology, and trained personnel in multiple scientific fields to conduct missions that attract a range of international partners. This report examines the role of large, strategic missions within a balanced program across NASA-SMD space and Earth sciences programs. It considers the role and scientific productivity of such missions in advancing science, technology and the long-term health of the field, and provides guidance that NASA can use to help set the priority of larger missions within a properly balanced program containing a range of mission classes.

Reducing Space Mission Cost

Reducing Space Mission Cost
Author: James R. Wertz
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 617
Release: 1996-07-31
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9780792340218

Reducing Space Mission Cost is the first complete treatment of the technology, process, and problems in the most critical areas of modern spaceflight. The demand to reduce cost is unrelenting. This pioneering book addresses all aspects of this problem, including: Technology and processes for reducing cost Cost reduction in mission engineering, spacecraft design, manufacture, launch, and operations Implementation methods and problems The price of reducing cost 10 detailed case studies of what works in practice in: Science missions Interplanetary probes Communications spacecraft Test and Applications missions Beginning on the inside front cover, this book provides real cost data on a variety of missions, systems, and subsystems. According to the authors: `Reducing mission cost is hard enough if you know what the real costs are, and virtually impossible if you don't.' This book challenges traditional methods, yet recognizes that all space programs are run to minimize cost within the rules under which they are built and flown. It provides practical recipes for reducing cost in both new and ongoing missions and discusses what works, what government can do to help, and what methods intended to reduce cost may be counterproductive and unintentionally increase cost. As shown on the inside rear cover, the case studies described in the book have reduced total mission cost by 80% to more than 90% with respect to projections by traditional cost methods. This book is a follow-on to the now standard text and reference, Space Mission Analysis and Design, also edited by Drs. Wertz and Larson. It is required reading for professionals, students, and managers in astronautics or space sciences and managers or scientists involved in space experiments. This book shows that reducing space mission cost, without reducing reliability, is as possible as it is important for the future of space exploration.

NASA

NASA
Author: United States. General Accounting Office
Publisher:
Total Pages: 84
Release: 2004
Genre: Astronautics
ISBN:

NASA

NASA
Author: Gene L. Dodaro
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 89
Release: 2010-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1437928749

NASA plans to invest billions in the coming years in science and exploration space flight initiatives. In the past, NASA has had difficulty meeting cost, schedule, and performance objectives for many of its projects. The need to effectively manage projects will gain even more importance as NASA seeks to manage its wide-ranging portfolio in an increasingly constrained fiscal environment. This report provides an independent assessment of selected NASA projects. This report compared projects against best practice criteria for system development including attainment of knowledge on technologies and design. The projects assessed are considered major acquisitions by NASA -- each with a life-cycle cost of over $250 million. Charts and tables.

National Aeronautics and Space Admin. : Long-Standing Financial Management Challenges Threaten the Agency's Ability to Manage Its Programs

National Aeronautics and Space Admin. : Long-Standing Financial Management Challenges Threaten the Agency's Ability to Manage Its Programs
Author: Gregory D. Kutz
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 23
Release: 2009
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1437904432

In 2005, there was testimony on the status of NASA¿s financial mgmt. reform efforts. NASA faces major financial mgmt. challenges that, if not addressed, will weaken its ability to manage its highly complex programs. NASA has been a high-risk agency since 1990 because of its failure to effectively oversee its contracts, due in part to the agency¿s lack of accurate and reliable info. on contract spending. This statement focuses on: NASA¿s key financial mgmt. challenges; how NASA¿s financial mgmt. challenges compare with other fed. agencies; an assessment of NASA¿s progress toward implementing recommendations aimed at improving its financial mgmt. system; and the steps NASA must take to reform its financial mgmt. organization. Charts.