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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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Executive Summary
Pages 1-5

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From page 1...
... ~overnment-industrvuniversity partnerships, graduate student training, and the like. en, am, The committee approached these questions in light of the changing environment at NASA, which has been conducting an increasing number of smaller space and Earth science missions having shorter development times and using streamlined management methods, advanced technologies, and more compact platforms than had been employed in the past.
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From page 2...
... It is within this broad context that the committee considered questions about the emerging FBC paradigm and its implications for mission size mixes in NASA's Earth and space science programs. How FBC is defined and how FBC principles are applied to programs of any scale have many implications for the space program: its tolerance for risk; its ability to carry out strategic plans; the scope, scale, and diversity of science investigated; the results and analytical products of its missions; the ways it trains young scientists and engineers; the role of international cooperation and the ease with which it can be incorporated into NASA's programs and plans; the role of universities, industry, government laboratories, and NASA centers in conducting space research missions; and the general health and vitality of the space science and Earth science enterprises.
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From page 3...
... has shown that great care must be exercised in making changes to 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, scientific value, and cost of its mission.
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From page 4...
... Recommendation 3: Maintain a vigorous technology program for the development of advanced spacecraft hardware that will enable a portfolio of missions of varying sizes and complexities. Recommendation 4: Develop scientific instrumentation enabling a portfolio of mission sizes, ensuring that funding for such development efforts is augmented and appropriately balanced with space mission line budgets.
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From page 5...
... Recommendation 6: Encourage international collaboration in all sizes and classes of missions, so that international missions will be able to fill key niches in NASA's space and Earth science programs. Specifically, restore separate, peerreviewed announcements of opportunity for enhancements to foreign-led space research missions.
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Key Terms

  • earth science
  • mission sizes
  • mission size
  • science programs
  • fbc approach

  • space research
  • research missions
  • science missions
  • mixed portfolio
  • international missions

  • scientific results
  • launch costs
  • climate observer
  • mars climate
  • science disciplines

  • hoc committee
  • research objectives
  • international collaboration
  • changing environment
  • shorter development

  • space missions
  • launch vehicles
  • science enterprises
  • useful improvements
  • absolute mission

  • science mission
  • produced useful
  • missions conducted
  • recent losses
  • handling technical


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