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GAO-01-576R 1 (2001-04-26)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadxfs0001 and id is 1 raw text is: I Accountability * Integrity * Reliability United States General Accounting Office Washington, DC 20548 April 26, 2001 The Honorable John McCain Chairman The Honorable Ernest F. Hollings Ranking Member Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation United States Senate The Honorable Sherwood L. Boehlert Chairman The Honorable Ralph M. Hall Ranking Minority Member Committee on Science House of Representatives Subject: International Space Station Propulsion Module Procurement Process The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) initiated the Space Station Program in 1984 to provide for a permanent human presence in an orbiting laboratory. The original U.S. design included a propulsion module that could adjust the orientation of the space station, known as attitude control, and boost its altitude, known as re-boost capability. Both capabilities are basic requirements for successful long-term operation. In 1993, Russia joined the program and agreed to provide space assets, including the propulsion capability. Because of concerns about Russian delays, however, NASA later initiated a parallel, U.S.-funded effort in December 1998 to design and build a propulsion module to ensure the required attitude control and re-boost capability. Subsequently, the U.S. propulsion module project experienced cost increases and schedule delays. Concerned that technical, cost, and schedule risks were not adequately managed, you asked us to examine a number of issues related to the propulsion module procurement. One issue involves the process NASA used in GAO-01-576R Space Station Propulsion Module