Reducing Space Mission Cost

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.

Cost and schedule growth is a problem experienced by many types of projects in many fields of endeavor. Based on prior studies of cost growth in NASA and Department of Defense projects, this book identifies specific causes of cost growth associated with NASA Earth and space science missions and provides guidance on how NASA can overcome these specific problems. The recommendations in this book focus on changes in NASA policies that would directly reduce or eliminate the cost growth of Earth and space science missions. Large cost growth is a concern for Earth and space science missions, and it can be a concern for other missions as well. If the cost growth is large enough, it can create liquidity problems for NASA's Science Mission Directorate that in turn cause cost profile changes and development delays that amplify the overall cost growth for other concurrent and/or pending missions. Addressing cost growth through the allocation of artificially high reserves is an inefficient use of resources because it unnecessarily diminishes the portfolio of planned flights. The most efficient use of resources is to establish realistic budgets and reserves and effective management processes that maximize the likelihood that mission costs will not exceed reserves. NASA is already taking action to reduce cost growth; additional steps, as recommended herein, will help improve NASA's mission planning process and achieve the goal of ensuring frequent mission opportunities for NASA Earth and space science.

Reducing the cost of space program interests people more and more nowadays due to the concerns of budget limitation and commercialization of space technology. The Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Reducing the Cost of Spacecraft Ground Systems and Operations bring together papers contributed by the authors representing the research organizations, academic institutions and commercial sectors of 10 countries around the world. The papers encompass the subject areas in mission planning and operation, TT&C systems, mission control centers, and mini and small satellite support, highlighting the issues concerned by the researchers and engineers involved in a wide range of space programs and space industries.

The second edition of Space Mission Analysis and Design continues the tradition of emphasizing the process of mission design established by the first edition. Process tables are now included for all elements of the design activity. The quick-reference tables of important mission design parameters have been expanded to six pages on the inside rear cover. Numerous data tables have been expanded and updated, including space computers and a new presentation of satellite lifetimes. New sections have been added on defining the overall mission concept, subject trades, guidance and navigation, and applying the mission analysis and design process to reduce cost and risk in later programme stages. The material on mission analysis, space payloads, spacecraft subsystems, and launch systems has been substantially revised. This book remains an invaluable tool for the concept exploration process and is required reading for anyone involved in this process for unmanned space missions.

Cost-Effective Space Mission Operations, Second Edition describes the relationship between mission operations and the other elements of the space mission as well as specific operations tasks. This book defines a process that helps the mission operations manager translate mission objectives and requirements into a viable mission operations concept. The mission operations manager must develop this operations concept early enough, during concept exploration, so that the project manager can trade the future cost of operations against current development costs. Written for professionals and students involved in systems engineering and operations in space, this book is valuable for program managers, mission operations managers, spacecraft engineers and designers, project scientists and operators. Cost-Effective Space Mission Operations includes detailed descriptions of thirteen mission operations functions, provides a process for developing a mission operations concept, and describes a model for evaluating the cost and complexity of an operations system. The book also covers how to conduct routine, launch and early-orbit, and special operations, as well as how to operate interplanetary, international, microsatellite, and crewed missions.