Space Station: Improving NASA's Planning for External Maintenance
NSIAD-92-271
Published: Jul 20, 1992. Publicly Released: Jul 27, 1992.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) efforts to determine the Space Station Freedom's extravehicular activity (EVA) maintenance requirements and its planning to meet those requirements.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| National Aeronautics and Space Administration | The Administrator, NASA, should direct that contractor data used to develop EVA maintenance demand estimates be reviewed in sufficient scope and depth to provide better assurance of their accuracy. |
Closed – Not Implemented
NASA has completely redesigned its management approach to the development of the space station. It no longer is directly managing the program. It has consolidated its 3 previously separate contracts into a single contract and has reduced the number of its own personnel directly working on the space station by 1,000. EVA maintenance requirements, as well as numerous other activities, are now the prime contractor's responsibility.
|
| National Aeronautics and Space Administration | The Administrator, NASA, should direct that, before the completion of the space station's critical design review, appropriate steps be taken to eliminate inconsistent assumptions in maintenance, assembly, and utilization plans concerning the availability of EVA maintenance time during the station's assembly phase. |
Closed – Not Implemented
NASA has completely redesigned its management approach to the development of the space station. It no longer is directly managing the program. It has consolidated its 3 previously separate contracts into a single contract and has reduced the number of its own personnel directly working on the space station by 1,000. EVA maintenance requirements, as well as numerous other activities, are now the prime contractor's responsibility.
|
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Aerospace engineeringComputer modelingHealth hazardsMaintenance (upkeep)Maintenance costsMaintenance standardsOccupational safetyResearch program managementSatellitesSpace exploration