Book Description

The Undersecretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) and the Secretary of the Air Force cosponsored the Joint Defense Science Board (DSB)/Air Force Science Advisory Board (AFSAB) Task Force on the Acquisition of National Security Space Programs and directed the task force to: Recommend improvements to the acquisition of space programs from initiation to deployment; Assess the nation's dependency on space; Characterize problems by looking at underlying causes and systemic issues such as cost growth and schedule delays that impact all space programs; and Analyze the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS), Future Imaging Architecture (FIA), and Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV). Over the course of its deliberations, the task force met with responsible representatives of acquisition- and operation-oriented government organizations, visited national security space contractors, and reviewed a broad spectrum of space programs and issues. The panel also interviewed senior government and industry officials, both active and retired. The scope of the study included both classified and unclassified space acquisition activities. The task force conducted meetings during the latter part of 2002 and evaluated issues that have developed over years of acquisition activity. In so doing, we observed many positive steps already being taken to try to correct deficiencies in the space acquisition process. We did not attempt to investigate or evaluate initiatives that were already underway.