Developing High Technology Spacecraft in a Severely Cost Constrained Environment

Abstract

Traditionally, the development of high technology spacecraft for the U.S. Government has been a relatively long duration, high cost activity. A step by step serial process from concept development through manufacturing and test was carefully followed with voluminous documentation, rigorous reviews at each major milestone, and a thorough test and independent quality check of each component and assembly produced. This process has evolved over many years because successful first time operation is so critical. With spacecraft, there is no second chance after a failure. Before the relatively recent emergence of a commercial spacecraft market, the only customers were the U.S. Government (DoD and NASA) who indirectly controlled the development process to insure that technical performance has always been the top priority with cost and schedule significantly lower in importance.