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Human Space Flight Project Management Challenges: 

Human Space Flight Project Management Challenges W. Michael Hawes Special Assistant, OSF 12/9/03

Human Space Flight Project Management: 

Human Space Flight Project Management NASA’s large human spaceflight programs are organized as multiple projects with Program management and integration held as central responsibilities. Space Shuttle The Orbiter vehicles The External Tank The Space Shuttle Main Engines The Solid rocket Boosters ISS The United States On Orbit Segment International Partner Segments Research Capability Operations

Program/Project Management Roles: 

Program/Project Management Roles NASA HQ provides critical functions Requirements and budget control External advocacy IP political integration and support The NASA Program Manager (in the field) provides: Technical definition and control Execution management IP interface definition The ISS Program Manager reports directly to NASA HQ.

Project Management and Portfolio Management: 

Project Management and Portfolio Management How do portions of the portfolio interact? In the Space Shuttle all projects in the portfolio had to be successful at the same time (and must continue to be…). In the ISS situation there is significant flexibility between the US segment project and the International Partner segments. While the flexibility is a useful tool - it allows/demands that many different combinations to be worked simultaneously.

Program Level IntegrationvsLevel of Interdependence of Projects within Programs: 

Program Level Integration vs Level of Interdependence of Projects within Programs Program Level Integration Level of Interdependence of Projects Within Programs Programs with Interdependent Projects (System Delivery at Program Level) STS ISS Programs with Synergistic Projects Mars Exploration EOS Programs with Independent Projects NMP Explorer Solar Terrestrial Probes ESSP Discovery MAC 5/29/01 Living With a Star HST n n Aviation Sys. Capacity & Aviation Safety n Space Launch Initiative n X-33 Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology

Slide6: 

Zarya (Dawn) Control Module (Russian Built, US Owned) S0 Truss Segment (U.S.) Russian Elements U.S. Core Elements U.S. Owned, Partner built, to be added Canadian Elements European Elements Japanese Elements S4 Truss Segment Solar Alpha Rotary Joint S3 Truss Segment ISS Core Program: President’s FY 2003 Budget International Space Station Express Pallet Science Power Platform Research Module Research Module Universal Docking Module (Russian) JEM Exposed Section Docking and Stowage Module European Lab Columbus Orbital Facility SPDM

Specific HSF challenges: 

Specific HSF challenges The large scale and interdependence of HSF projects present many challenges Little academic research seems to exist to capture past performance or lessons learned from these programs. The recently released Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) report provides some ideas of program management issues. Such as: The appropriate interplay between the program and independent safety and engineering in his risk system developments Best practices for communications in high risk space systems. How does the chain of command deal with dissent? Organizational values - how do we identify the critical values and imbue the system with them.? How do we add without diluting what we do well?

Specific HSF challenges: 

Specific HSF challenges Other issues are more general in scope: Project life cycle and the best practices that separate true R&D from the HSF development programs, which are still not operational in a practical sense. (X-program vs. Shuttle or ISS) Ho does our HSF experience rate across programs dealing with the similar challenges of multiyear developments and single year appropriations? Assessing risk management tools. How does the HSF program compare in the use of PRA, FMEA, etc. Can cost estimating tools be updated to better predict HSF programs? Similarly for schedule estimating tools. What about the estimation of reserves? What are the most meaningful metrics to judge the performance of these large programs? Are our contracting structures the best suited to these difficult, high challenge developments?

Summary: 

Summary HSF programs have traditionally been large, multi-year, if not multi-decade developments. Given that challenge, do we understand how to impact and improve future projects? What are we missing that a research institute can assist us with?