United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2001-06-20 monographic deposited born digital 13 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-826T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-826T P0b002ee180387783 f:d01826t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-826T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-826T GAO-01-826T Cost analysis Risk management Space exploration Federal procurement NASA X-33 Program NASA X-34 Program NASA Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle Program Testimony A01220 This testimony discusses the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) X-33 and X-34 reusable launch vehicle programs. The X-33 and X-34 programs experienced difficulties achieving their goals primarily because NASA did not develop realistic cost estimates, timely acquisition and risk management plans, and adequate and realistic performance goals. In particular, neither program fully (1) assessed the costs associated with developing new, unproven technologies, (2) provided for the financial reserves needed to deal with technical risks and accommodate normal development delays, (3) developed plans to quantify and mitigate the risks to NASA, or (4) established performance targets showing a clear path leading to an operational reusable launch vehicle. As a result, both programs were terminated. Currently, NASA is in the process of taking steps in the Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle Program to help avoid problems like those encountered in the X-33 and X-34 programs. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-826T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-826T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-826T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-826T.pdf GAO-01-826T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-826T Testimony GAO-01-826T; Space Transportation: Critical Areas NASA Needs to Address in Managing Its Reusable Launch Vehicle Program; Cost analysis Risk management Space exploration Federal procurement NASA X-33 Program NASA X-34 Program NASA Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle Program