A Case Study in NASA-DoD - The Black Vault

-81-
COST
LAUNCH COSTS
(Millions of
Dollars M US PRORATED
250 - NASA TARIFF
200 - MODIFIED NASA TARIFF
NOMINAL CASE:
114 PAYLOADS
6 MAX. PISC
50
N h
SPACECRAFT $15.4 Million S30 Million $15.4 Million $30 Million
SHUTTLE SHUTTLE, SHUTTLE S UTTLE
WESTERN TEST RMGE LAUNCH EASTERN TEST RANGE LAUNCH
COSTS
COSTS
Fig. 10-Distribution of program costs
(L-AEM option)
exceed $100 million. The most significant factor is the orbit inclination.
The use of the modified NASA tariff rate redresses this drastic
cost imbalance. The variation in shuttle cost considered in this study
does not appear to greatly alter the launch costs, providing the earlier
NASA tariff rate is not used.
jt
CONCLUSIONS
Four major conclusions have been drawn from this case study. First,
progrma coat does not proiide a basis for choosing amng the ARM, STPSS,
adMS spacecraft, given their present designs. Only when the modified
NASA tariff schedule was used for allocating the shuttle launch cost did
the STPSS options become preferred; with the uncertainty in the appropriateness
of this tariff schedule, this case does not provide sufficient basis
for recommending the STPSS development.
Second, the avaiZability of the L-AE1. spacecraft, or some vezr similtar
design, would provide a basis for minimizing the co t of the Air Force's
Space Test Program. The L-AEM could be used individually or in combination
with the AE1 and/or MI(S as the missions require. The upgraded AEM
options, although having program costs similar to the L-AEM options,
provide less capability for handling growth in the Space Test Program
mission model.