The third shoe - Problems with military space programs

Posted on: Feb. 20th, 2006 || Source: thespacereview.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

Military space programs have suffered in recent years from numerous cost overruns, schedule delays, and other problems. Wayne Eleazer explains how this stemmed from changes the Air Force made to the acquisition and management of space projects.

The FY 2006 Department of Defense budget slashed funding for a number of military space programs. According to Aviation Week, the Transformational Satellite (TSAT) communications system was cut by $400 million, the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) High was cut by $50 million, and the Space Radar Program lost $125.8 million. All together, that is a cut of over $575 million; as the late Senator Everett F. Dirksen might have said, at this rate pretty soon we are going to be talking about some real money.

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