Improving Space Project Cost Estimating With Engineering Management Variables

Abstract

:Current aerospace parametric cost models predict space project costs using regression equations. The equations relate the historical cost of projects to technical variables such as weight and power. While improvements in parametric cost modeling have been made, there is still significant variability in the estimates. This is particularly true when estimating the costs for complex systems. Part of this variability may be due to the models' inability to capture the impacts of the engineering management considerations required to develop these systems. This article lays the groundwork for the introduction of engineering management variables into current cost models to improve their predictive capabilities.