Cost reduction in space operations - Structuring a planetary program to minimize the annual funding requirement as opposed to minimizing the program runout costAn approach is proposed for the structuring of a planetary mission set wherein the peak annual funding is minimized to meet the annual budget restraint. One aspect of the approach is to have a transportation capability that can launch a mission in any planetary opportunity; such capability can be provided by solar electric propulsion. Another cost reduction technique is to structure a mission test in a time sequenced fashion that could utilize essentially the same spacecraft for the implementation of several missions. A third technique would be to fulfill a scientific objective in several sequential missions rather than attempt to accomplish all of the objectives with one mission. The application of the approach is illustrated by an example involving the Solar Orbiter Dual Probe mission.
Document ID
19810034015
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Herman, D. H. (NASA Planetary Programs Office Washington, D.C., United States)
Niehoff, J. C. (NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Spadoni, D. J. (Science Applications, Inc. Schaumburg, Ill., United States)