GAO Warns of Space Launch System Cost and Schedule Risks

摘要

In contrast to NASA and industry claims that work on the Space Launch System is on track, a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office released July 23 warned that tight schedules and budgets could delay the first launch of that heavy-lift rocket. The report, requested by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), warned that the flat budget profile for development of SLS may be insufficient to keep the program on track for a first launch in December 2017. "The SLS program office calculated the risk associated with insufficient funding through 2017 as having a 90 percent likelihood of occurrence," the report stated. "[Furthermore, it indicated the insufficient budget could push the planned December 2017 launch date out 6 months and add some $400 million to the overall cost of SLS development." The development of the core stage, which is driving the overall SLS schedule, is compressed and much of its schedule reserve may already be spoken for, the GAO report found.