ROCKET SYSTEMS LAUNCH PROGRAM (RSLP)

Transcription

1 ROCKET SYSTEMS LAUNCH PROGRAM (RSLP) Reducing the Cost of Launching Small Satellites: A Perspective From the Field Mr. Steve Buckley Northrop Grumman RSLP/AFRL Support 12 August 2004

2 Agenda RSLP Focus The Rocket Cost Equation Launch Vehicle Contractor Costs Range Costs Launch Facility Costs Launch Agency Costs Other Costs Opportunities for Improved Costs Launch Vehicle Contractor Costs Range Costs Launch Facility Costs Launch Agency Costs Other Costs The Trivial Solution Questions

3 RSLP Focus: Experience Base RSLP Is Committed to Providing Reliable Small Spacelift for the Lowest Possible Cost! Author s Experience: 60+ Launches (Rockets, Missiles, Space Launch) 40+ Years of Combined Experience 16 Satellites on Orbit 6 Satellite Launch Missions in-work Three Space Launch Vehicles Developed/Adapted Several other Space Launch Capabilities In-Work We Work Space Launch Missions Every Day. Our Experience and Lessons Learned can help in the total Effort to Reduce Spacelift Costs!

4 RSLP Focus Established in 1962 to flight test reentry technology Chartered by SECDEF in 1972 to be A Single Agency Providing Launch Vehicle Support for Three Services on a Cost Reimbursable Basis Provide R&D flight tests and support for Air Force, DoD and other government agencies including NASA and DOE Control & Manage all Air Force deactivated ballistic missile assets Provides Low-Cost, Reliable Spacelift Launching Small R&D Satellites for the DoD and Other Government Agencies

5 RSLP Focus: Satellite Launch History RSLP Has Been Striving to Reduce the Cost of Small Spacelift Since 1995! Pegasus XL Rex II (1996) FORTE (1997) STEP-M4 (1997) Taurus STEX (1998) MTI (2000) Minotaur I (Minuteman II Derived) JAWSAT (2000) MightySat II.1 (2000) 4 On Contract- Missions In-Work Minotaur IV (Peacekeeper Derived) First Mission In-Work

6 RSLP Focus: Cost Control Progress Launch System Estimated Mission Cost Dollars/Kilogram 185 km, 28.5 degrees Relative Performance Pegasus XL $22M $50, Minotaur 1 (Minuteman Derived) $21M $34, Minotaur IV (Peacekeeper Derived) $22M $12,

7 5% 10% 15% 5% 65% Launch Vehicle Contractor Costs Range Support Costs Launch Site Facilities Costs Launch Agency Costs Other Mission Costs

8 Launch Contractor Costs Cost Components Labor to Design, Analyze, Manufacture, Test, and Launch the Space Launch Vehicle Vendor Costs for Materials and Components Booster Motors Avionics Structural Components Other (Overhead, Travel, Etc.) Mission Success Payment About $13M for a Minotaur Mission

9 Range Support Costs Cost Components Labor to Plan, Review, Coordinate, Approve, and Execute the Space Launch Mission Approval Process for Range Safety Components Range Support Planning/Documentation Telemetry Radars, Communications, Etc. Ground Safety Review/Approval Process Launch Mission Planning Support Day-of-Launch Costs $1.0M-$1.3M for a Minotaur Mission

10 Launch Site Facilities Costs Cost Components Labor to Plan, Review, Coordinate, and Provide Launch Facilities Range Support Planning/Documentation Ground Safety Review/Approval Process Launch Mission Planning Support Day-of-Launch Costs About $1M for a Minotaur Mission (More if Facilities need to be developed)

11 Launch Agency Costs Cost Components Booster Costs (Refurbishment of ICBM Motors) Mission Assurance Mission Support Contingency Administration (Travel, Fiscal, Etc.) About $3M for a Minotaur Mission

12 Other Costs Cost Components (Varies by Mission) Special Systems (Payload Isolation, Etc.) Special Labor (Studies, Reviews, Etc.) Enhancement Costs (OSP Contract) Payloader Driven Costs Special Processing Facilities Changes to the Basic Launch Service Various costs Patented Design

13 Opportunities for Improved Costs Launch Contractor Costs Reduce Labor Hire the Best People (Efficient Operations) Hire as Few People as Possible Lower Overhead Risky Experience Base Limitations Reduce Vendor Costs for Materials and Components Make Sure Your Vendors: Hire the Best People (Efficient Operations) Hire as Few People as Possible (Lower Overhead) Use the Most Efficient Hardware Simplified Integration and Test Reduce Mission Periods of Performance (Economies of Scale) All Significant LV Contractor Costs Are Manpower Related. The Simple Answer to Cost Control Is to Minimize the Contractor Team or Minimize the Period Of Performance They Work a Particular Mission

14 Opportunities for Improved Costs Range Support Costs Reduce Labor Hire the Best People (Efficient Operations) Hire as Few People as Possible Reduce Operating Costs for Facilities Modernize Hardware and Methodologies: New Radars, Etc. (Don t Break as Often) Reduces Overall Cost Risk (Fewer Launch Attempts) Develop a Modular Range Safety System Applicable to all Small Launch Vehicles Simplified Integration and Test Reduced Launch Contractor and Range Personnel Costs A Simplified Range Safety Hardware Approval Process, Less Costly Range Facilities, and a Standardized Process will Save Significant Launch Costs

15 Opportunities for Improved Costs Launch Site Facilities Costs Reduce Labor Hire the Best People (Efficient Operations) Hire as Few People as Possible Reduce Operating Costs for Facilities Invest in Launch Pad Facilities that Support Several SLVs Foster Competition at the Commercial Facilities Develop Alternative Government Launch Facilities Develop and Austere Site Launch Capability Simplified Support Requirements Will Significantly Reduce Costs

16 Launch Agency Costs Cost Components Booster Costs Fixed, about 5% of New Procurement Costs Mission Assurance Shoot for 10% of LV Contractor Effort Mission Support Contingency Necessary to Deal with Issues Returned to Customer if not Required Administration (Travel, Fiscal, Etc.) Small Delta Cost Relatively Fixed Costs,Good Value for the Funds

17 Other Costs Special Systems (Payload Isolation, Etc.) Under $200K Special Labor (Studies, Reviews, Etc.) Customer Controlled Enhancement Costs (OSP Contract) Customer Controlled Payloader Driven Costs Special Processing Facilities Customer Controlled Changes to the Basic Launch Service Customer Controlled Customer s Simplified Support Requirements Will Significantly Reduce Costs

18 General Rules Buckley s Rule of Space Acquisition 1. The Payload Always Gets Heavier, Costs More to Build, and Takes Longer to Build! 2. The Launch Vehicle Always Has Less Performance, Costs More to Build, and Takes Longer to Build!

19 General Rules People Drive the Cost. All Significant Cost Drivers Are Coupled to the Workforce Costs: A Typical Rocket Team May Have 50 Individuals Highly Educated, High Maintenance Rocket Scientists Who Can Command Good Pay and Benefits. Notional Model: 50 People X $100,000 Person/Year X 1.5 Overhead =$7.5m/Year 18-month Period of Performance: $7.5m X 1.5 Years = $11.25m

20 General Rules Escalation Happens. Typical Contract Cost Escalation Is About 4% Per Year why? Personnel Pay Raises Is a Driver. If People Don t Get Raises, You Can t Retain the Best Ones! This Kills the Efficiency of Your Team Through a Continuous Learning Curve With New and Potentially Less Qualified People

21 The Trivial Solution Given That: You Can t Do It Safely With Fewer That About 50 People. You Have to Pay Those 50 People Well. There Are Significant Costs Associated With the Range. The Flight Approval Process Requires Mission Assurance. Rockets Are the Only Game in Town! This Drives Minimum Fly Away Costs Between $12M and $20M There Really Isn t Much, Given State of the Technical, Managerial, and Business Environment to Drastically Reduce Costs. We Need to Find Another Door to Escape High Costs.

22 The Trivial Solution Continued Step 1: The Solution: Get the Most Capable Launch Vehicle You Can for $15M-$20M. Step 2: Develop Multi Payload Capability for That Vehicle. Step 3: Develop Managerial Methods That Enable Multipayload Missions get the Kids to Play Nice! Step 4: Fund Periodic Access to Space and Allocate Slots. Shoot Every 1-2 Years Using an STP-like Process

23 The Trivial Solution Continued + + A Viable Multi Payload = Process OSP SLV MPAs Primary Payload (500 Kg) Costs $7M to $10M Secondary Payload Kg) Costs $4M to $6M each

24 Points of Contact RSLP Program Manager (Acting): Lt Col Randy Riddle, Chief, R&D Launch Division: Ms Theresa Kuennen, Theresa. Chief, Space Launch Branch: Maj Nick Chando, RSLP Mission Development Office: Mr. Mitch Elson,

25 Rocket Systems Launch Program Affordable, Reliable Access to Space