Space Acquisitions: Major Space Programs Still at Risk for Cost and Schedule Increases

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 2008-03-04 monographic deposited born digital 21 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-552T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-552T P0b002ee1803a5c94 f:d08552t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-552T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-552T GAO-08-552T Aerospace industry Cost analysis Cost effectiveness analysis Cost overruns Data collection Defense operations Defense procurement Government information dissemination Performance measures Program management Risk assessment Risk factors Schedule slippages Strategic planning Testimony A81214 Space Acquisitions: Major Space Programs Still at Risk for Cost and Schedule Increases Each year, the Department of Defense (DOD) spends billions of dollars to acquire space-based capabilities to support current military and other government operations as well as to enable DOD to transform the way it collects and disseminates information, gathers data on adversaries, and attacks targets. In fiscal year 2009 alone, DOD expects to spend over $10 billion to develop and procure satellites and other space systems. At the same time, however, DOD's space system acquisitions have experienced problems over the past several decades that have driven up costs by hundreds of millions, even billions, of dollars; stretched schedules by years; and increased performance risks. In some cases, capabilities have not been delivered to the warfighter after decades of development. This testimony relies on the extensive body of work GAO has produced reviewing DOD space acquisitions. It comments on the persistent problems affecting space acquisitions, the actions DOD has been taking to address these problems, and what remains to be done. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-552T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-552T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-552T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-552T.pdf GAO-08-552T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-552T Testimony GAO-08-552T; Space Acquisitions: Major Space Programs Still at Risk for Cost and Schedule Increases; Aerospace industry Cost analysis Cost effectiveness analysis Cost overruns Data collection Defense operations Defense procurement Government information dissemination Performance measures Program management Risk assessment Risk factors Schedule slippages Strategic planning