Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) program, focusing on the: (1) reasonableness of the NASA program cost estimate; and (2) extent that the redesigned program will provide scientific returns comparable to the original program.

GAO found that: (1) NASA has made the AXAF program more affordable by redesigning and dividing AXAF into two satellites; (2) the redesigned program has reduced estimated program development and operating costs by 54 percent; (3) revising the AXAF program will further reduce costs by an undetermined amount; (4) funding reserves may be inadequate for the AXAF-I portion of the program; (5) NASA did not account for the increased technical risks inherent in the new design; (6) the inability to repair AXAF-I in orbit could result in the need for higher quality original components and more stringent qualification testing; (7) the redesigned AXAF program should achieve most of the original program's scientific objectives because the satellites operate more efficiently than the single-satellite design due to higher orbits and greater individual use of instruments; and (8) the mission to launch AXAF-S could affect the satellite's scientific capabilities.

Status Legend:

Review Pending-GAO has not yet assessed implementation status.

Open-Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned, or actions that partially satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.

Closed-implemented-Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.

Closed-not implemented-While the intent of the recommendation has not been satisfied, time or circumstances have rendered the recommendation invalid.

• Review Pending
• Open
• Closed - implemented
• Closed - not implemented

Recommendations for Executive Action

Recommendation: The Administrator, NASA, should review the AXAF-I development program to determine whether funding reserves are realistic in light of the program's uncertainty and risk.

Agency Affected: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Status: Closed - Implemented

Comments: GAO recommended that NASA assess the adequacy of AXAF-I funding reserves. NASA has done so.

Recommendation: The Administrator, NASA, should review the AXAF-I development program to determine whether the AXAF-I payload classification is prudent given the complexity, costs, and lack of repair capability inherent in the new design.

Agency Affected: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Status: Closed - Implemented

Comments: GAO recommended that NASA assess the appropriateness of the AXAF-I payload classification. NASA has agreed to do so.