Implications of Ultra-Low-Cost Access to Space

Implications of Ultra-Low-Cost Access to Space
Author: Todd Harrison
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 75
Release: 2017-04-03
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1442280042

Since the advent of the space age, a primary constraint on military, commercial, and civil space missions has been the cost of launch. Launching objects into space requires substantial investments in launch systems and infrastructure, which has restricted the market to only a handful of national governments and several large private companies. This study explores the possibility of a space industry significantly less constrained by the cost of access to space.

Guidelines and Metrics for Assessing Space System Cost Estimates

Guidelines and Metrics for Assessing Space System Cost Estimates
Author: Bernard Fox
Publisher: RAND Corporation
Total Pages: 268
Release: 2008
Genre: History
ISBN:

1. Introduction / 2. Space system fundamentals / 3. Reviewing a cost estimate / 4. Space vehicle cost crosschecks / 5. Common issues in estimating space programs / 6. Resources for space system cost estimation / 7. Recommendations.

Defense Horizons

Defense Horizons
Author:
Publisher: Government Printing Office
Total Pages: 16
Release:
Genre:
ISBN: 9780160944994

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.