NASA Human Space Exploration: Persistent Delays and Cost Growth Reinforce Concerns over Management of Programs

Abstract

NASA is undertaking a trio of closely related programs to continue human space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. All three programs (SLS, Orion, and supporting ground systems) are working toward a launch readiness date of June 2020 for the first mission. The House Committee on Appropriations included a provision in its 2017 report for GAO to continue to review NASA's human space exploration programs. This is the latest in a series of reports addressing the mandate. This report assesses (1) how NASA's human space exploration programs are performing relative to cost and schedule commitments, and (2) the extent to which NASA's use of contract award fees is achieving desired program outcomes. To do this work, GAO examined program cost and schedule reports and contractor data, and interviewed officials. This report does not assess the effect, if any, of the government shutdown that ended in January 2019.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2019
Accession Number
AD1157554

Entities

People

  • Alyssa Weir
  • Andrea Bivens
  • Cristina T. Chaplain
  • John Warren
  • Molly Traci
  • Robin Wilson
  • Ryan Stott
  • Sylvia Schatz
  • Tanya Waller

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Assembly
  • Best Practices
  • Congress
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Cost Estimates
  • Engineering
  • Governments
  • House Of Representatives
  • Incentive Contracts
  • Manufacturing
  • Production
  • Service Modules
  • Spacecraft
  • Three Dimensional
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Government Contracting/Procurement.

Technology Areas

  • Space