INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES/METHODOLOGIES TO REDUCE SPACE SYSTEM COSTS

THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PAST THIRTY YEARS IN THE SPACE BUSINESS HAS YET TO BE FULLY EXPLOITED FOR ITS POTENTIAL IN REDUCING SPACE SYSTEMS COSTS. THE PROPOSED EFFORT WILL PROVIDE A METHODOLOGY WHICH WILL PLACE THE PAST EXPERIENCE OF COST REDUCTION INITIATIVES AT THE FINGERTIPS OF THE AIR FORCE MANAGERS. THE METHODOLOGY IS PLANNED TO TAKE THE FORM OF A TWO PART DECISION SUPPORT MODEL CODED FOR A PERSONAL COMPUTER. PART ONE WILL LEAD THE USER TO THE COST REDUCTION OPPORTUNITY WHICH IS MOST APPLICABLE TO THE CURRENT SITUATION. PART TWO WILL SUGGEST THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN AND THE HURDLES TO BE OVERCOME TO IMPLEMENT AN INITIATIVE. IN EACH CASE, THE MODEL WILL PROVIDE THE USER WITH CASE STUDIED THAT GIVE DETAILED RELEVANT EXPERIENCE. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODEL WILL MAKE USE OF THE CURRENT STATE-OF-THEART IN EXPERT OR INTELLIGENT ADVISORY SYSTEMS. PHASE I WILL FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE BASE AND ITS REPRESENTATION IN THE MODEL BY UTILIZING KEY PERSONNEL WHO HAVE SIGNIFICANT PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN MANAGING AIR FORCE COST REDUCTION INITIATIVES. PHASE II WILL CONSIST OF COMPLETION OF THE DATA BASE AND MODEL STRUCTURE VERIFIED BY FINAL TESTING OF THE MODEL.