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 2007-10-31 monographic deposited born digital 33 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-51 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-51 P0b002ee180376514 f:d0851 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-51 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-51 GAO-08-51 Aerospace industry Cost analysis Cost control Cost overruns Product evaluation Research and development Research and development contracts Research and development costs Risk assessment Risk management Schedule slippages Space exploration Technology assessment Technology research Space shuttles Crew Exploration Vehicle Crew Launch Vehicle Other Written Product A77800 One of the first steps in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) efforts to implement the President's plan to return humans to the moon and prepare for eventual human space flight to Mars is the development of the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle. In 2005, NASA outlined a framework for implementing the President's plan and has awarded contracts for Ares I and the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle it is designed to send into space. It plans to conduct the first human space flight in 2015. However, the agency is seeking to speed development efforts in order to reduce the gap in our nation's ability to provide human access to space caused by the Space Shuttle's retirement in 2010. GAO was asked to assess NASA's progress in developing the knowledge needed to make sound investment decisions for the Ares I project. GAO's work included analyzing Ares I plans, contracts, schedules, and risk assessments. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-51/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-51.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-51/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-51.pdf GAO-08-51 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-51 Other Written Product GAO-08-51; NASA: Agency Has Taken Steps Toward Making Sound Investment Decisions for Ares I but Still Faces Challenging Knowledge Gaps; Aerospace industry Cost analysis Cost control Cost overruns Product evaluation Research and development Research and development contracts Research and development costs Risk assessment Risk management Schedule slippages Space exploration Technology assessment Technology research Space shuttles Crew Exploration Vehicle Crew Launch Vehicle