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Assessment of Mission Size Trade-offs for NASA's Earth and Space Science Missions (2000) / Chapter Skim
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3 Summary and Recommendations
Pages 52-58

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From page 52...
... The committee's findings and recommendations reflect the importance of these factors in facilitating a balanced portfolio of mission sizes for achieving high-priority science for NASA's Earth science and space science programs. In light of the myriad and complex considerations bearing on mission planning, the committee did not prescribe what the mix of mission sizes should be.
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From page 53...
... Missions that address complex science have required longer development periods, which automatically increases a program's cost. Moreover, as noted in the technology discussion in Chapter 1, the prospect of sending a large, expensive spacecraft carrying several sophisticated instruments to the outer planets reduces tolerance for risk that might be inherent in newer, more capable technologies or leaner management.
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From page 54...
... has shown that great care must be exercised in changing technical management techniques lest mission success be compromised. Recommendation 1: Transfer appropriate elements of the faster-better-cheaper management principles to the entire portfolio of space science and Earth science mission sizes and cost ranges and tailor the management approach of each project to the size, complexity, scien~irc value, and cost of its mission.
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From page 55...
... · The strength and appeal of faster-better-cheaper is to promote efficiency in design and timely executionshorter time to science of space missions in comparison with what are perceived as less efficient or more costly traditional methods. · A mixed portfolio of mission sizes is crucial in virtually all space and Earth science disciplines in order to accomplish a variety of significant research objectives.
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From page 56...
... government payloads to be launched on vehicles manufactured in the United States prevents taking advantage of low-cost access to space on foreign launch vehicles. Recommendation 5: Develop more affordable launch options for gaining access to space, including possibly foreign launch vehicles, so that a mixed portfolio of mission sizes becomes a viable approach.
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From page 57...
... An appropriate allocation of the investment between the space system and instrumentation elements; data calibration, characterization, and validation; and the subsequent data analysis effort is essential to a logical evolution of mission sequences in a given field of Earth or space science. The committee believes it is important to develop an implementation plan for each science mission, regardless of size, that will support data integrity (characterization, calibration, and validation)
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Key Terms

  • space science
  • mission size
  • science programs
  • earth science
  • space research

  • science missions
  • research missions
  • space missions
  • science objectives
  • risk associated

  • scientific value
  • scientific objectives
  • mixed portfolio
  • earth sciences
  • sophisticated instruments

  • science mission
  • fbc approach
  • science return
  • international missions
  • mission planning

  • science strategies
  • international collaboration
  • launch vehicles
  • scientific return
  • spacecraft carrying

  • educational activities
  • missions conducted
  • predict future
  • climate computer
  • useful device


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