ISS Management and Cost Evaluation Task Force Report: Preface, Members, Executive Summary
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:
require a primary research focus on discovering any adverse effects of long-term
human presence in space.
astronaut interaction.
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