AView, a Browser-based Tool for Analyzing FTE, WYE Across NASA Science Missions

Abstract

When reviewing and evaluating the basis of estimate for mission phases, it is important to understand how the labor basis of estimate compares with past NASA science missions. As such, it can be very valuable to understand the labor loading [Full-time Equivalents and Work Year Equivalents (FTE/WYE)] for historical missions and how the final, actual staffing levels compare with the initially planned staffing levels for these missions at certain project milestones. The FTE Tool11Justin F. McNeill, Jr. et al., “FTE Tool, a Practical Tool for Analyzing Staffing Levels and Cost Across Missions,” IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, Montana, 5 March 2014. is a legacy, Microsoft©Excel application-based plotting capability built upon a detailed repository of mission programmatic data. The tool has been in use as a tool for comparative analysis in staffing profiles since 2009. It provides high-level views of the historical data for twenty-six NASA missions for development Phases C and D as well as the operations Phase E. FTE Tool is available via the One NASA Cost Engineering Database (ONCE). To modernize and enhance this capability, a new web browser-based application, aView, is being developed on an open source software platform: chart.js for its front-end and a SQLite database for its backend. The name aView is short for Aerospace Viewer of NASA Project Staffing Data. As with the FTE Tool, in aView, the user may select from a set of predefined plots that give a wide variety of views into the missions' programmatic data. One can plot FTE/WYE versus dollar cost for multiple missions during specific phases of development or during operations. Other plots provided by the tool include planned versus actual annual FTE/WYE and FTE/WYE and dollar cost per fiscal year. In addition to the plotting capabilities, aView is a repository of fairly detailed mission information and data. Individual fact pages have been compiled for each mission. Each page provides an illustration of the mission's space vehicle and instruments and the associated technical data and programmatic information, i.e., estimated and/or actual program cost, major development milestones including launch date, launch vehicle, mission trajectory, links to mission website. All of the fact pages are crafted based on information drawn from the NASA Cost Analysis Data Requirement (CADRe) documents and from the project's monthly management/status reviews (MMR/MSR). This paper will discuss the general capabilities and construction of aView. In addition, the paper will explore some use cases (scenarios of application) to illustrate how this application may answer specific programmatic questions. The presentation may include a brief video or live demonstration.