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NSIAD-93-258R 1 (1993-08-13)

handle is hein.gao/gaobackjp0001 and id is 1 raw text is: (I1/\C) United States General Accounting Office . o Washington, D.C. 20548 National Security and International Affairs Division B-254251 August 13, 1993 149756 The Honorable William S. Cohen Ranking Minority Member Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management Committee on Governmental Affairs United States Senate Dear Senator Cohen: Enclosed is a copy of our November 1992 report detailing the status of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Advanced Solid Rocket Motor development program. At your request, this letter updates some of the information in that report. NOVEMBER 1992 STATUS In November 1992 we reported that the need for the advanced motor had diminished since the development program was first approved in 1988. The advanced motor program was justified on the basis that it would enhance the shuttle's safety and reliability and increase the shuttle's lift capability by about 12,000 pounds. When the advanced motor program was approved, NASA had no actual flight experience with the motors, which were redesigned following the January 1986 Challenger accident. While the advanced motor incorporated design features and automated manufacturing processes, which held the potential for a more reliable and safer motor, the design was unproven and its reliability would not be known for a long time. In contrast, the existing, redesigned motors had proven themselves to be very reliable. Through October 1992, NASA had successfully flown the redesigned motors 26 times and had identified no major design problems during post-flight inspections of the motors. Also, although the advanced motor was expected to increase the shuttle's lift capability, we reported that it might not be used for launching either of the 1 GAO/NSIAD-93-258R, Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Status

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