United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office National Security and International Affairs Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1999-08-06 monographic deposited born digital 42 p. GA 1.13:NSIAD-99-177 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-177 P0b002ee180372853 f:ns99177 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-177 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-177 NSIAD-99-177 Aerospace research Cost analysis Space exploration International cooperation Life cycle costs Cost control Strategic planning Future budget projections Cost sharing (finance) Automated Transfer Vehicle H-II Transfer Vehicle Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System Russia Japan Europe NASA Space Station Service Module Progress Space Vehicle Other Written Product NSIAD Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) estimate for the cost to operate the International Space Station after assembly is completed, focusing on: (1) whether any space station-related costs are not included in NASA's estimate; (2) the level of uncertainty in the cost estimate for operations, especially with regard to the potential impact of changes in Russian participation; and (3) how NASA funding requirements will be reduced by sharing costs with international partners or through commercial use and operations.<p/>GAO noted that: (1) NASA's $1.3 billion estimate does not include all funding requirements related to space station operations; (2) additional items that will have to be funded in the future within the space station budget include costs for upgrading obsolete systems and operating an alternative propulsion module; (3) NASA has not developed detailed estimates for potential upgrades to combat component obsolescence and improve performance, but space station officials believe that a robust enhancement program could cost $100 million or more per year; (4) NASA has not estimated the cost of operating an alternative propulsion module being procured to provide reboost if Russia is unable to provide that function; (5) items that GAO determined to be space station-related that are funded in other NASA budget lines include space shuttle flights, civil service personnel, principal investigators, and space communications; these are estimated to cost a total of $2.5 billion in fiscal year 2004; (6) there is a high degree of uncertainty in NASA's estimate for the cost to operate the space station from 2005 to 2014; (7) NASA's original estimate of $13 billion for operating the space station was developed to aid in evaluating life-cycle costs of redesign options rather than to accurately forecast budget needs; (8) this estimate did not consider end-of-mission costs for either extending the life of the space station beyond 10 years or decommissioning it; (9) adding to the uncertainty of future costs, the full impact on operations if Russia is unable to fulfill its obligations is not known at this time; (10) NASA would incur costs to operate an alternative propulsion module, but does not yet know whether there will be a shortfall in Russian logistics flights or how such a shortfall would be spread among the shuttle and international partner resupply vehicles; (11) there is insufficient information at this time to determine the amount that NASA funding requirements could be reduced by international partners' contributions toward common operating costs; (12) in sharing operating responsibilities for the space station, NASA and Russia have agreed to exchange services rather than funds; (13) however, NASA and Russia may not be able to achieve a balance in the services provided to each other if Russia cannot fulfill its obligations; (14) NASA's share of common operating costs has increased and could change again if international partners revise their participation in the space station program; and (15) allowing partners to pay common costs with services may not reduce NASA funding requirements. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-177/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-177.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-177/pdf/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-177.pdf GAO/NSIAD-99-177 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-177 Other Written Product GAO/NSIAD-99-177; Space Station: Cost to Operate After Assembly is Uncertain; Aerospace research Cost analysis Space exploration International cooperation Life cycle costs Cost control Strategic planning Future budget projections Cost sharing (finance) Automated Transfer Vehicle H-II Transfer Vehicle Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System Russia Japan Europe NASA Space Station Service Module Progress Space Vehicle