Economic analysis on the Space Transportation Architecture Study (STAS) NASA team

Abstract

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) performed the Space Transportation Architecture Study (STAS) provide information support end-of-the-decade decisions on possible near-term US Government (USG) investments in space transportation. To gain a clearer understanding of the costs and benefits of the broadest range of possible space transportation options, six teams, five from aerospace industry companies and one internal NASA, were tasked answer three primary questions: a) If the Space Shuttle system should be replaced; b) If so, when the replacement should take place and how the transition should be implemented; and c) If not, what is the upgrade strategy continue safe and affordable flight of the Space Shuttle beyond 2010. The overall goal of the Study was to develop investment options be considered by the Administration for the President's FY2001 budget meet NASA's future human space flight requirements with significant reductions in costs. This emphasis on government investment, coupled with the participation by commercial f'trms, required an unprecedented level of economic analysis of costs and benefits from both industry and government viewpoints. This paper will discuss the economic and market models developed by the in-house NASA Team analyze space transportation architectures, the results of those analyses, and how those results were reflected in the conclusions and recommendations of the STAS NASA Team. Copyright 1999 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. No copyright is asserted in the United States under Title 17, U.$. Code. The U.S. Government has a royalty-free license exercise all rights under the copyright claimed herein for Governmental purposes. All other rights are reserved by the copyright owner.