An activity-based methodology for operations cost analysisThis report describes an activity-based cost estimation method, proposed for the Space Exploration Initiative (SEI), as an alternative to NASA's traditional mass-based cost estimation method. A case study demonstrates how the activity-based cost estimation technique can be used to identify the operations that have a significant impact on costs over the life cycle of the SEI. The case study yielded an operations cost of $101 billion for the 20-year span of the lunar surface operations for the Option 5a program architecture. In addition, the results indicated that the support and training costs for the missions were the greatest contributors to the annual cost estimates. A cost-sensitivity analysis of the cultural and architectural drivers determined that the length of training and the amount of support associated with the ground support personnel for mission activities are the most significant cost contributors.
Document ID
19920041715
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Korsmeyer, David (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Bilby, Curt (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Frizzell, R. A. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)