spacetoday.net: GAO report raises issues about Constellation

Posted: Sat, Sep 26, 2009, 10:16 AM ET (1416 GMT)
Ares 1 launch illustration (NASA)

A report released Friday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concludes that NASA has not made a "sound business case" for its Constellation exploration program, citing multiple technical, cost, and schedule issues. The report outlines a number of key issues that the Constellation program, in the form of the Ares 1 launch vehicle and Orion crew exploration vehicle, need to overcome, including a number of technical issues, a "poorly phased" funding plan, testing plan changes, and an uncertain acquisition plan. the GAO concluded that NASA needs to close the business plan for Constellation before proceeding from the preliminary design stage into implementation. The House Science and Technology Committee, which requested the report, said in a statement that the report was proof that the Constellation program was underfunded.