Space Station

In terms of national security, the Pentagon has no real need for a manned space station. In fact, the Space Station Freedom would be less suitable for military research than would existing facilities on the space shuttle. In March 1993, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) revised its cost estimate for the station to $31.3 billion. At the same time, NASA stretched the schedule for having permanent occupants in the space station to the year 2000. NASA's updated estimate, like earlier estimates, excludes substantial sums required to successfully complete development and support the station during its planned 30-year life. Additional funding necessary to support and outfit the station for permanent occupancy would top $11 billion. Further, at least $78 billion would be required to bring the facility to its full planned capability and maintain, supply, and operate the station after permanent occupancy was achieved. When these costs are included, the space station funding requirements through 2027 soar to at least $121 billion. The only existing space station is the Russian Mir, which, although believed to be beyond its design life, continues in use, and major upgrades are planned in 1994 to add remote sensing and atmospheric studies capabilities. In the long term, the Russians plan to build a more capable space station.

GAO found that: (1) DOD has not identified or planned any research that would require the space station's unique environment; (2) the space station's design is not suitable for many DOD activities conducted on the space shuttle, but some shuttle-based research could benefit from the space station's capabilities; (3) space shuttle upgrades, such as long duration orbiters and Spacehab, could meet potential DOD research needs; (4) the space station's total estimated cost is at least $118 billion, but program costs may increase due to design changes and other research and development activities; and (5) Russia plans to upgrade its existing space station in 1994 and build a new more capable station in the future.