January 30, 2009 Vol. 2, Issue 1
The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Program (EELV) faces uncertainties that require close attention from the Department of Defense, according to a report by the General Accountability Office.
The EELV program, which conducted its first launch in 2002, has had 21 successful launches to date, but no single configuration has flown often enough to demonstrate production process reliability. The program also faces organizational challenges resulting from the creation of United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin that has brought together their respective EELV operations in a single entity. According to GAO, this transition poses potential risks as the merger consolidates facilities and personnel from different organizational cultures. GAO also notes that it is unclear whether the program’s budget is adequate for the short term because the Air Force’s budget estimates relied on preliminary data.
GAO recommends that the Department of Defense should: 1) conduct an independent life cycle cost estimate; 2) assess the EELV program’s staffing needs; and 3) require that the program continue to provide program cost and status data using criteria that apply to major research and development programs.
