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Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
365
E
Mission Development and
Assessment Process
INTRODUCTION
This report follows the astronomy and astrophysics and the planetary science decadal survey reports
as the third survey employing the cost and technical evaluation (CATE) process implemented by the Aerospace Corporation. CATE is an independent analytical approach for realistically assessing the expected
cost and risk related to recommended initiatives that are at an early stage of formulation (typically prePhase-A). A unique attribute of the process is the ability to employ technical methods in combination with
statistical methods to develop mission concepts based on their assessed complexity, risk, and lien factors.
An essential driver to the CATE process is the requirement that all missions be treated using systematic
and consistent methods in order to facilitate a uniform comparison of the relative cost, schedule, and risk
of projects proposed for implementation. Secondary, but also essential, to the success of the process is
the incorporation of iterative technical feedback from stakeholders, combined with a proven method for
independent validation of the results. The successful implementation of these elements as an integrated
process was fundamental to achieving confidence in the CATE process and consequent confidence in the
assessment results, implementation assumptions, and decision rules applied to the recommended program.
The CATE process is the third leg of a science investigation triad following science mission implementation recommendations and an intermediate stage consisting of mission conceptual design activities.
The flow of activities began with white paper submissions by the science community in November 2010,
followed by concept evaluation and a mission design effort culminating with initial mission selection in
April 2011. The subsequent iterative CATE process began in April and ended in September 2011.
As part of the CATE process, mission descoping options were introduced in recognition of the budget
pressures NASA is likely to be facing over the next several years. A unique strength of the heliophysics
discipline is the long experience of its investigators in doing exceptional science in a principal-investigator
(PI)-led mode using small and medium Explorers. A key finding of the CATE process used in this study was
that all of the proposed concepts were technically feasible at a reasonable cost. Furthermore, the descoped
missions were of a scope, complexity, and cost that are consistent with successful mid-size PI-led missions
executed for NASA’s Discovery program.
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
365
E
Mission Development and
Assessment Process
INTRODUCTION
This report follows the astronomy and astrophysics and the planetary science decadal survey reports
as the third survey employing the cost and technical evaluation (CATE) process implemented by the Aerospace Corporation. CATE is an independent analytical approach for realistically assessing the expected
cost and risk related to recommended initiatives that are at an early stage of formulation (typically prePhase-A). A unique attribute of the process is the ability to employ technical methods in combination with
statistical methods to develop mission concepts based on their assessed complexity, risk, and lien factors.
An essential driver to the CATE process is the requirement that all missions be treated using systematic
and consistent methods in order to facilitate a uniform comparison of the relative cost, schedule, and risk
of projects proposed for implementation. Secondary, but also essential, to the success of the process is
the incorporation of iterative technical feedback from stakeholders, combined with a proven method for
independent validation of the results. The successful implementation of these elements as an integrated
process was fundamental to achieving confidence in the CATE process and consequent confidence in the
assessment results, implementation assumptions, and decision rules applied to the recommended program.
The CATE process is the third leg of a science investigation triad following science mission implementation recommendations and an intermediate stage consisting of mission conceptual design activities.
The flow of activities began with white paper submissions by the science community in November 2010,
followed by concept evaluation and a mission design effort culminating with initial mission selection in
April 2011. The subsequent iterative CATE process began in April and ended in September 2011.
As part of the CATE process, mission descoping options were introduced in recognition of the budget
pressures NASA is likely to be facing over the next several years. A unique strength of the heliophysics
discipline is the long experience of its investigators in doing exceptional science in a principal-investigator
(PI)-led mode using small and medium Explorers. A key finding of the CATE process used in this study was
that all of the proposed concepts were technically feasible at a reasonable cost. Furthermore, the descoped
missions were of a scope, complexity, and cost that are consistent with successful mid-size PI-led missions
executed for NASA’s Discovery program.