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 1996-07-24 monographic deposited born digital 8 p. GA 1.13:T-NSIAD-96-210 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-210 P0b002ee18037c04a f:ns96210t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-210 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-210 T-NSIAD-96-210 Space exploration Research and development costs Cost overruns International cooperation Prime contractors Cost control Aerospace contracts Contractor performance Future budget projections Contract modifications NASA International Space Station Program Testimony NSIAD GAO discussed the risks involved in controlling the cost and maintaining the schedule of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) International Space Station Program. GAO noted that: (1) it will cost $17.4 billion to develop and operate the international space station; (2) $6.3 billion of this estimate covers the prime contractor's costs, $5.5 billion is for development of ground-based and on-orbit capabilities, $2.6 billion is for development of on-orbit research facilities and other research, and $3 billion is for financial reserves; (3) the program has been able to maintain sufficient reserves to fund additional station costs; (5) NASA did not budget the full amount of its contract estimates because it believes that it can negotiate authorized contract changes; (6) as of April 1996, the prime contractor was $89 million over budget and $88 million behind schedule; (7) there are several instances where the prime contractor's total cost estimates neglect to recognize over-budget conditions; (8) there is concern regarding Russia's financial participation in the space program; and (9) NASA has made progress towards ensuring that its contractors have an adequate performance measurement system. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-210/html/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-210.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-210/pdf/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-210.pdf GAO/T-NSIAD-96-210 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-210 Testimony GAO/T-NSIAD-96-210; Space Station: Cost Control Difficulties Continue; Space exploration Research and development costs Cost overruns International cooperation Prime contractors Cost control Aerospace contracts Contractor performance Future budget projections Contract modifications NASA International Space Station Program