Briefing on Commercial and Department of Defense Space System Requirements and Acquisition Practices

Abstract

The Department of Defense (DOD) has had long-standing difficulties developing and delivering space systems on time and within budget. Some programs have been delayed by years and cost billions of dollars more than their initial estimates. Attempts to reform DOD space acquisitions in the past have sought to leverage commercial approaches or rely more on the commercial sector to meet DOD needs. These efforts have not been successful and, in some cases, have exacerbated problems, particularly with respect to oversight. In view of past challenges with adopting commercial approaches, Congress requested an examination of the following questions: (1) What are the differences between commercial and national security space system missions, requirements, and technology development? (2) What acquisition practices adopted by commercial companies could be used for national security space system acquisitions? (3) Which acquisition practices adopted by commercial companies may not be readily adaptable for national security space system acquisitions?

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 14, 2010
Accession Number
AD1157707

Entities

People

  • Arthur Gallegos
  • Cristina T. Chaplain
  • Kristine R. Heuwinkel
  • Laura T. Holliday
  • Martin G. Campbell
  • Peter E. Zwanzig
  • Richard Y. Horiuchi
  • Sylvia Schatz

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronic Mail
  • Environment
  • Governments
  • Manufacturing
  • National Security
  • Procurement
  • Prototypes
  • Reliability
  • Space Systems
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Weapon Systems
  • Websites

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space