Status Report

ISS Management and Cost Evaluation Task Force Report: Preface, Members, Executive Summary

By SpaceRef Editor
November 2, 2001
Filed under , ,

Report by the International Space Station (ISS) Management and Cost Evaluation (IMCE) Task Force to the NASA Advisory Council, November 1, 2001

PREFACE

A primary mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is

“To advance human exploration, use, and development of space.”

We have developed this report upon this premise. The International Space Station (ISS)
objectives require the establishment of a long-term human presence in space. A clear
articulation of the mission of ISS within the broader context of the human exploration of
space would greatly benefit the setting of research priorities for the station.

Although the configuration of the Space Station has been modified, the fundamental
purposes remain scientific research and international cooperation. Specific objectives are:

  • To provide the means to sustain humans during extended space flight. This will
    require a primary research focus on discovering any adverse effects of long-term
    human presence in space.

  • Perform “world class” scientific research that requires low gravity and is enhanced by
    astronaut interaction.

  • Enhance international cooperation and U.S. leadership through international
    development and operations of ISS.

    A critical element required for the overall ISS Program is a commitment to a long-term
    plan for transporting astronauts to and from the ISS.

    We offer this report in response to the Terms of Reference (Appendix A) jointly
    established by NASA and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). We believe the
    recommendations contained in this report will enhance the probability that a credible ISS
    core complete program can be established. We also believe a responsible plan is offered
    to move beyond core complete to a fully capable ISS if justified by NASA performance.

    The International Space Station Management and Cost Evaluation Task Force (IMCE)
    commends the many dedicated NASA, international partners, support teams, and
    contractor personnel who contributed to this report. While these individuals provided
    constructive comments and suggestions, responsibility for the content of the final report
    rests entirely with the IMCE. Further, the findings and recommendations in this report are
    those of the IMCE.

    EVALUATION TASK FORCE MEMBERS

    A. Thomas Young, Chairman, North Potomac, MD

    RADM. Thomas Betterton, USN (Retired), Vice Chairman, Warrenton, VA

    SCIENCE GROUP MEMBERS

    Michael DeBakey, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX

    Robert Richardson, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

    Richard Roberts, New England Biolabs, Beverly, MA

    Rae Silver, Columbia University, New York, NY

    ENGINEERING GROUP MEMBERS

    Andreas Acrivos, City College of the City University of New York, NY

    Kent Black, Pottsboro, TS

    Pete Bracken, Gaithersburg, MD

    Gregory Canavan, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM

    Sidney Gutierrez, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM

    Bradford Parkinson, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

    Peter Wilhelm, Naval Center for Space Technology, Washington, DC

    Brig. Gen. Simon Worden, Headquarters, U.S. Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO

    BUSINESS, FINANCE GROUP MEMBERS

    Anthony DeMarco, PRICE Systems, L.L.C., Mount Laurel, NJ

    William Friend, Chairman, University of California President’s Council on the
    National Laboratories, Washington, DC

    Susan Eisenhower, The Eisenhower Institute, Washington, DC

    Robert Grady, The Carlyle Group, San Francisco, CA

    ADM. Paul Reason, USN (Retired), Metro Machine Corporation, Norfolk, VA

    Roger Tetrault, Punta Gorda, FL

    SUPPORT STAFF

    In addition to the International Space Station Management and Cost Eva luation Task
    Force staff, the following NASA personnel assisted the committee, helped obtain the
    required materials, and coordinated briefings:

    Daniel Hedin, Executive Secretary, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC

    Steven Schmidt, Executive Assistant, Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA

    Nantel Suzuki, Executive Assistant, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC

    Yvonne Kellogg, Technical Editor, Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA

    1.0 Executive Summary

    The International Space Station (ISS) Management and Cost Evaluation Task Force
    (IMCE) was chartered to conduct an independent external review and assessment of the
    ISS cost, budget, and management. In addition, the Task Force was asked to provide
    recommendations that could provide maximum benefit to the U.S. taxpayers and the
    International Partners within the President’s budget request.

    The Task Force has made the following principal findings:


    • The ISS Program’s technical achievements to date, as represented by on-orbit
      capability, are extraordinary.
    • The exis ting ISS Program Plan for executing the FY 02-06 budget is not
      credible.
    • The existing deficiencies in management structure, institutional culture, cost
      estimating, and program control must be acknowledged and corrected for
      the Program to move forward in a credible fashion.
    • Additional budget flexibility, from within the Office of Space Flight (OSF)
      must be provided for a credible core complete program.
    • The research support program is proceeding assuming the budget that was
      in place before the FY02 budget runout reduction of $1B.
    • There are opportunities to maximize research on the core station program
      with modest cost impact.
    • The U.S. Core Complete configuration (three-person crew) as an end-state
      will not achieve the unique research potential of the ISS.
    • The cost estimates for the U.S.-funded enhancement options (e.g., permanent

    7-person crew) are not sufficiently developed to assess credibility.
    The Task Force has the following primary recommendations:
    – Actions required to develop and implement a credible U.S. core complete
    program within the President’s FY02 Budget Blueprint (Appendix B):


    • Major changes must be made in how the ISS program is managed
    • Additional cost reductions are required within the baseline program
    • Additional funds must be identified and applied from the Human
      Space Flight budget
    • A clearly defined program with a credible end – state, agreed to by all
      stakeholders, must be developed and implemented

    Actions required to maximize research within the President’s FY02 Budget
    Blueprint:

    • Scientific research priorities must be established and an executable
      program, consistent with those priorities, must be developed and
      implemented
    • Additional crew time must be allocated to support the highest priority
      research
    • Science leadership must be established at the highest level within the
      ISS Program Office

  • SpaceRef staff editor.