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Space Shuttle Main Engine: NASA Has Not Evaluated the Alternate Fuel Turbopump Costs and Benefits

NSIAD-94-54 Published: Oct 29, 1993. Publicly Released: Oct 29, 1993.
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Highlights

GAO reviewed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) planned development of an alternate high pressure fuel turbopump for the Space Shuttle's main engines, focusing on whether NASA has adequately analyzed cost, performance, and expected program benefits in comparison to other alternatives before resuming its development of the alternate pump.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The Administrator, NASA, should require agency officials to estimate the life-cycle costs and benefits for the alternate fuel pump program and compare those with the costs and benefits of further improvements to the existing pump before deciding whether to resume development of the alternate fuel pump.
Closed – Not Implemented
NASA did not agree to comparatively assess the life-cycle costs of AFP and the existing pump before restarting the AFP development program. The NASA explanation is based on its belief in the overriding importance of the safety considerations of replacing the existing pump. AFP is intended to increase the safety margins of the space shuttle's main engines.

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Topics

Aerospace engineeringAerospace researchAircraft enginesAlternative energy sourcesComparative analysisCost analysisLife cycle costsResearch and developmentSafety standardsSpace exploration