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NASA: Agency Has Taken Steps Toward Making Sound Investment Decisions for Ares I but Still Faces Challenging Knowledge Gaps

GAO-08-51 Published: Oct 31, 2007. Publicly Released: Nov 29, 2007.
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Highlights

One of the first steps in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) efforts to implement the President's plan to return humans to the moon and prepare for eventual human space flight to Mars is the development of the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle. In 2005, NASA outlined a framework for implementing the President's plan and has awarded contracts for Ares I and the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle it is designed to send into space. It plans to conduct the first human space flight in 2015. However, the agency is seeking to speed development efforts in order to reduce the gap in our nation's ability to provide human access to space caused by the Space Shuttle's retirement in 2010. GAO was asked to assess NASA's progress in developing the knowledge needed to make sound investment decisions for the Ares I project. GAO's work included analyzing Ares I plans, contracts, schedules, and risk assessments.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The NASA Administrator should direct the Ares I project manager to develop a sound business case--supported by firm requirements, mature technologies, a preliminary design, a realistic cost estimate, and sufficient funding and time--before proceeding beyond preliminary design review (currently planned for July 2008) and, if necessary, delay the preliminary design review until a sound business case demonstrating the project's readiness to move forward into product development is in hand.
Closed – Implemented
NASA delayed the Ares I Preliminary Design Review (PDR) from July 2008 until September 2008 to allow more time to gain additional knowledge about the system's design before moving forward in development. Further, at the July 8, 2009 exit conference for engagement code 120795--NASA's Constellation Program--NASA informed GAO that although the PDR for Ares I was completed in September 2008, resolution of some technical issues, including thrust oscillation and vibroacoustics, had been deferred until the program level PDR scheduled for March 2010 to allow the agency to gain a better understanding of technical issues and proposed solutions prior to entering implementation. During May 2010 meetings, Constellation program officials indicated that NASA completed the Constellation program PDR in March 2010. Based on NASA's actions, slipping the Ares I PDR and deferring resolution of technical issues thereby delaying entry in to implementation until increased knowledge was in hand, we are closing this recommendation as implemented.

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Topics

Aerospace industryCost analysisCost controlCost overrunsProduct evaluationResearch and developmentResearch and development contractsResearch and development costsRisk assessmentRisk managementSchedule slippagesSpace explorationTechnology assessmentTechnology researchSpace shuttles