National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Planned Use of Information Technology for the Space Station

GAO discussed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) plans to develop information technology for its Space Station and found that: (1) NASA recently developed revised cost estimates, a phased deployment program, and an extended time frame for design, development, and operation of the station; (2) NASA advanced automation efforts could improve both ground and orbital operations, lower costs, and increase productivity; (3) inadequate information technology development efforts could make initial operations expensive and inefficient; (4) rebuilding information systems over time to include more automated designs would be extremely costly; (5) the NASA advanced automation technology plans would not significantly influence station design; and (6) NASA efforts to design the station within the initial target cost, without full consideration of operational costs, could inhibit automation planning for the station.