Space Shuttle, NASA Faces Challenges in Its Attempt to Achieve Planned Flight Rates

Abstract

The space shuttle is the nation's only manned launch vehicle and one of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) largest programs, consuming over one-fourth of the agency's total budget. The shuttle's viability and that of some other program, such as the space station Freedom, depend in part on whether NASA can increase the shuttle flight rated to a reasonable and sustainable level without jeopardizing safety. The Chair, Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies, Senate Committee on Appropriations, asked GAO to assess (1) factors associated with achieving NASA's planned flight rate, (2) processes to ensure that safety is not compromised in order to increase flight rates, (3) impact of variations in flight rate estimates on procurement of sub- systems and spare parts, (4) planned used of expendable launch vehicles for payloads not requiring the shuttle.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA251765

Entities

People

  • Charles F. Rey
  • Karen B. Lindsey
  • Larry Kiser
  • Lee A. Edwards
  • Leo B. Sullivan

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Booster Rocket Engines
  • Congress
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Engineers
  • Launch Vehicles
  • Maintenance Requirements
  • Manufacturing
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Procurement
  • Production
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Rocket Engines
  • Space Systems
  • Space Transportation
  • Test Equipment

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Economics
  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space