NASA: ASSESSMENTS OF SELECTED LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS - United States Government Accountability Office WHY GAO DID THIS STUDY

摘要

This is GAO's fourth annual assessment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) large-scale projects. GAO's work has shown that these projects, while producing ground-breaking research and advancing our understanding of the universe, tend to cost more and take longer to develop than planned, and are often approved without evidence of a sound business case. GAO has designated NASA's acquisition management a high risk area. In response to congressional direction, GAO reviewed NASA's major projects. Specifically, this report provides observations about the performance of NASA's major projects, assesses knowledge attained at key junctures of development, identifies challenges that can contribute to cost and schedule growth, and outlines steps NASA is taking to improve its acquisitions. To conduct this review, GAO assessed data on 21 projects with an estimated life-cycle cost of over $250 million, including data on projects' cost, schedule, technology maturity, design stability, and contracts; analyzed monthly project status reports; and interviewed NASA and contractor officials. GAO also reviewed project cost estimates and interviewed officials responsible for NASA's cost estimation policy.