Application of the Cost-Risk Network method to the thermal protection system of the Space Shuttle

摘要

This paper discusses the application of the Cost-Risk Network (CRN) to a real world problem. The case study involves the thermal protection system (TPS) of the Space Shuttle's Orbiter used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The CRN for the TPS focuses on decisions affecting the operation and maintenance of the components of the TPS. The decisions and data needed to construct the CRN for the TPS was gathered from a variety of sources including previous studies regarding the TPS, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board reports, NASA documents, and published articles, as well as knowledgeable estimates where necessary. Using the CRN method to analyse the decisions, both the cost and risk associated with the TPS were reduced.