Principal Investigator-Led Missions in Space Science

NASA’s space science program managers commissioned this study to identify corrective actions to address the increase in the number and magnitude of cost overruns in PI-led space science flight missions.

The associate administrator for space science asked the National Research Council’s (NRC) Space Studies Board (SSB) to take a broad look at PI-led projects, examining the overall successes and difficulties of PI-led space science missions, and to recommend ways to improve their overall performance. The National Academy of Public Administration (Academy) study team worked closely with the SSB’s Committee on PI-Led Missions in the Space Sciences.