Space Shuttle Main Engine: NASA Has Not Evaluated the Alternate Fuel Turbopump Costs and Benefits (Letter Report, 10/29/93, GAO/NSIAD-94-54). The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) decision to develop an alternative high-pressure fuel turbopump for the space shuttle's main engine may prove more desirable from cost, performance, and safety perspectives than the current design or a modified version of the design; NASA, however, has not compared the various alternatives on the basis of cost and safety factors. Such information is essential if NASA is to determine whether it can afford this program. The alternative fuel pump's design may prove to be more rugged than the current pump's. But according to NASA and outside experts, with existing safety controls, the current pump is safe to fly. NASA has not quantified the contribution of the fuel pump to the increase in shuttle reliability expected to result from the improvements. Many flights and a large number of tests will be needed to determine whether the alternative pump will be as reliable as the current pump. Also, NASA has not estimated the life-cycle costs of the alternative fuel pump or improvements to the existing pump. NASA projects that, excluding test costs, to complete development and buy 18 alternative pumps will cost $314 million. By reducing the amount of inspection and maintenance, the alternative pump should reduce shuttle operating costs, but NASA has not estimated the amount of the expected savings. --------------------------- Indexing Terms ----------------------------- REPORTNUM: NSIAD-94-54 TITLE: Space Shuttle Main Engine: NASA Has Not Evaluated the Alternate Fuel Turbopump Costs and Benefits DATE: 10/29/93 SUBJECT: Aerospace research Aerospace engineering Safety standards Life cycle costs Cost analysis Comparative analysis Aircraft engines Research and development Alternative energy sources Space exploration IDENTIFIER: Space Shuttle NASA Space Shuttle Safety and Obsolescence Upgrade Program Space Shuttle High Pressure Fuel Turbopump ************************************************************************ We regret that the full text of this item is presently unavailable. See the GAO FAQ - Section 2.0 for printed copy ordering information. The FAQ is automatically retrieved with all WAIS search results or can be obtained by sending e-mail to: [email protected]