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NASA: Issues Surrounding the Transition from the Space Shuttle to the Next Generation of Human Space Flight Systems

GAO-07-595T Published: Mar 28, 2007. Publicly Released: Mar 28, 2007.
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Highlights

On January 14, 2004, the President announced a new Vision for space exploration that directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to focus its efforts on returning humans to the moon by 2020 in preparation for future, more ambitions missions. Implementing the Vision will require hundreds of billions of dollars and a sustained commitment from multiple administrations and Congresses. Some of the funding for implementing exploration activities is expected to come from funding freed up after the retirement of the Space Shuttle, scheduled for 2010, and projected termination of U.S. participation in the International Space Station by 2016. Congress, while supportive of the effort has voiced concern over the potential gap in human space flight. In the NASA Authorization Act of 2005, Congress stated that it is the policy of the United States to have the capability for human access to space on a continuous basis. NASA has made it a priority to minimize the gap to the extent possible. GAO provides no recommendations in this statement. However, GAO continues to emphasize that given the Nation's fiscal challenges and NASA's past difficulty developing systems within cost, schedule, and performance parameters, it is imperative that the agency adequately manage this transition in a fiscally competent and prudent manner.

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Aerospace researchEnvironmental policiesFederal agency reorganizationHuman capital managementOperational testingProcurement planningProgram evaluationProgram managementSpace explorationStaff utilizationStrategic planningSystems designProgram implementationSpace shuttles