Space Station:
Status of Efforts to Determine Commercial Potential
NSIAD-99-153R: Published: Jun 30, 1999. Publicly Released: Jul 15, 1999.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on whether space-station-related commercial activities could generate revenue capable of reducing the station's annual cost of operations, which the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) estimates will average $1.3 billion, or $13 billion over a 10-year mission life after the space station is fully assembled in 2004.
GAO noted that: (1) on the basis of available information such as commercialization proposals and opinion surveys, GAO concluded that many businesses are skeptical of the station's commercial usefulness; (2) however, commercial interest in the station may increase as the station's assembly nears completion and its capabilities grow; (3) NASA is developing an independently conducted market study of potential commercial interest in the station, as required by the Commercial Space Act, and is implementing a commercial development plan for the station; (4) when NASA completes these tasks, it should be in a better position to understand how businesses perceive the station's commercial potential; (5) until then, NASA will be unable to estimate whether commercial activity would eventually reduce the space station's cost of operations; (6) NASA has not yet decided whether to pay to develop a x-ray crystallography facility primarily intended for commercial use aboard the space station; (7) drug design companies have not agreed to pay for this facility, although some firms said they could use it if its in-orbit capabilities were sufficiently well demonstrated; and (8) other firms remained skeptical of the facility's commercial usefulness compared with the usefulness of competing ground-based facilities.
Apr 30, 2020
Priority Open Recommendations:
National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationGAO-20-526PR: Published: Apr 23, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 30, 2020.
Apr 29, 2020
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NASA:
Assessments of Major ProjectsGAO-20-405: Published: Apr 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 29, 2020.
Jan 29, 2020
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NASA Commercial Crew Program:
Significant Work Remains to Begin Operational Missions to the Space StationGAO-20-121: Published: Jan 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Jan 29, 2020.
Jan 28, 2020
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James Webb Space Telescope:
Technical Challenges Have Caused Schedule Strain and May Increase CostsGAO-20-224: Published: Jan 28, 2020. Publicly Released: Jan 28, 2020.
Dec 19, 2019
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NASA Lunar Programs:
Opportunities Exist to Strengthen Analyses and Plans for Moon LandingGAO-20-68: Published: Dec 19, 2019. Publicly Released: Dec 19, 2019.
Sep 18, 2019
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NASA:
Actions Needed to Improve the Management of Human Spaceflight ProgramsGAO-19-716T: Published: Sep 18, 2019. Publicly Released: Sep 18, 2019.
Jun 20, 2019
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NASA Commercial Crew Program:
Schedule Uncertainty Persists for Start of Operational Missions to the International Space StationGAO-19-504: Published: Jun 20, 2019. Publicly Released: Jun 20, 2019.
Jun 19, 2019
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NASA Human Space Exploration:
Persistent Delays and Cost Growth Reinforce Concerns over Management of ProgramsGAO-19-377: Published: Jun 19, 2019. Publicly Released: Jun 19, 2019.
May 30, 2019
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NASA:
Assessments of Major ProjectsGAO-19-262SP: Published: May 30, 2019. Publicly Released: May 30, 2019.
Apr 19, 2019
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Priority Open Recommendations:
National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationGAO-19-424SP: Published: Apr 12, 2019. Publicly Released: Apr 19, 2019.
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