NASA: Actions Needed to Improve the Management of Human Spaceflight Programs

Abstract

NASA is undertaking a trio of closely related programs to continue human space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. These three programs include a launch vehicle, a crew capsule, and the associated ground systems at Kennedy Space Center. All three programs are working towards a launch readiness date of June 2020 for the first mission. NASA then plans for these systems to support future human space exploration goals, which include seeking to land two astronauts on the lunar surface. GAO has a body of work highlighting concerns over NASA's management and oversight of these programs. This statement discusses (1) the cost and schedule status of NASA's human spaceflight programs and (2) lessons that NASA can apply to improve its management of its human spaceflight programs. This statement is based on eight reports issued from 2014 to 2019 and selected updates as of September 2019. For the updates, GAO analyzed recent program status reports on program progress.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 18, 2019
Accession Number
AD1150206

Entities

People

  • Cristina T. Chaplain

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Best Practices
  • Congress
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Cost Estimates
  • Costs
  • Earth Orbits
  • Governments
  • Ground Control Stations
  • Launch Vehicles
  • Life Cycle Costs
  • Life Cycles
  • Service Modules
  • Space Exploration
  • Spacecraft
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space