Hunt, Charles D.¹ and van Pelt, Michel O.² (2004)

Comparing NASA and ESA Cost Estimating Methods for Human Missions to Mars

Document Actions

In: Twenty-Sixth International Conference of the International Society of Parametric Analysts, edited by No authors specified. International Society of Parametric Analysts.

Abstract

To compare working methodologies between the cost engineering functions in NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and ESA European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), as well as to set-up cost engineering capabilities for future manned Mars projects and other studies which involve similar subsystem technologies in MSFC and ESTEC, a demonstration cost estimate exercise was organized.

This exercise was a direct way of enhancing not only cooperation between agencies but also both agencies commitment to credible cost analyses. Cost engineers in MSFC and ESTEC independently prepared life-cycle cost estimates for a reference human Mars project and subsequently compared the results and estimate methods in detail. As a non-sensitive, public domain reference case for human Mars projects, the Mars Direct concept was chosen.

In this paper the results of the exercise are shown the differences and similarities in estimate methodologies, philosophies, and databases between MSFC and ESTEC, as well as the estimate results for the Mars Direct concept. The most significant differences are explained and possible estimate improvements identified. In addition, the Mars Direct plan and the extensive cost breakdown structure jointly set-up by MSFC and ESTEC for this concept are presented.

It was found that NASA applied estimate models mainly based on historic Apollo and Space Shuttle cost data, taking into account the changes in technology since then. ESA used models mostly based on European satellite and launcher cost data, taking into account the higher equipment and testing standards for human space flight.

Most of NASA's and ESA s estimates for the Mars Direct case are comparable, but there are some important, consistent differences in the estimates for

Large Structures and Thermal Control subsystems
System Level Management, Engineering, Product Assurance and Assembly, Integration and Test Verification activities
Mission Control
Space Agency Program Level activities.

1 - NASA MSFC
2 - ESA-ESTEC

Keywords

Mars Mission Planning and Engineering, Human Exploration

Plain-form abstract

Full Text File