A Case Study in NASA-DoD - The Black Vault

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STPSS (STPSS-LC) spacecraft can handle 89 percent of the payloads,
whereas all three precision configurations (L-AEH-P, STPSS-P, and MMS)
can handle all of the payloads.
Consistent with the Work Statement guidelines, we have assumed
that those payloads that require spinning can be accomplished on a
three-axis-stabilized spacecraft by allowing portions of the payload
to spin. It is also assumed that the total payload integration costs
for the mission model will not vary substantially as a function of the
procurement option. A further assumption that was made is that those
*: payloads having accuracy requirements in excess of the capability of
* the L-AEM-P, STPSS-P, and MS really have attitude determination requirements
rather than pointing accuracy requirements.
In the analysis of program costs that follows (Sec. IV), only
those spacecraft and combinations of spacecraft that can accommodate
the entire Space Test Program mission model were considered. The
various procurement options will be evaluated on a constant performance
basis. To expand the mission model up to 114 payloads of the nominal
case, a linear extrapolation of the characteristics of the 46 payload
model given in the bluebook has been used.
SPACECRAFT AND LAUNCH COSTS
Spacecraft
Estimating the costs of the AEM, L-AEM, STPSS, and MMS presented
an interesting problem because each was at a different stage of development.
The AEM was well along in the development process, and the contractor,
Boeing, was confident that the ceiling price would not be
exceeded. Should the L-AEM be developed, Boeing would have AEM experience
to build on. The three STPSS configurations were the result of a
short study by TRW, and they lacked the specificity of the AEM and MMS.
Since preliminary designs generally change, and changes generally
It is clear that some procurement options, such as the pure M1S
option, will have excess capability. However, no attempt has been made
to determine the value of this excess capacity for the Space Test Program.