NASA Human Space Exploration: Integration Approach Presents Challenges to Oversight and Independence

Abstract

NASA is developing 3 programs to put astronauts into space - the Orion crew vehicle, Space Launch System, and Exploration Ground Systems. All 3 programs must work together. We found challenges in NASA's approach to integrating these programs. For example, the technical authorities for engineering and safety also have program roles that include managing resources. When technical authorities must also deal with cost and schedule pressures, it can potentially impair their independence. A review board concluded this type of tension contributed to the 2003 Columbia shuttle accident.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2017
Accession Number
AD1177146

Entities

People

  • Cristina Chaplain

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accident Investigations
  • Accountability
  • Application Software
  • Business Administration
  • Command And Control
  • Configuration Management
  • Congress
  • Cost Estimates
  • Deep Space
  • Earth Orbits
  • Engineering
  • Flight
  • Governments
  • Ground Control Stations
  • Launchers
  • Life Cycles
  • National Governments
  • Organizational Structure
  • Risk
  • Software Development
  • Software Testing
  • Space Environments
  • Space Stations
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States Government
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.

Technology Areas

  • Space