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ExpectMore.govExpectMore.gov home pageEXPECT FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO PERFORM WELL, AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.
 
Program Assessment

Program

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International Space Station

The Space Station Program builds, operates, and maintains the United States' segment of the International Space Station, a space laboratory that orbits the Earth. The program also manages space station resources such as electrical power, research space, and crew time.

Rating

What This Rating Means

PERFORMING
Moderately Effective

In general, a program rated Moderately Effective has set ambitious goals and is well-managed. Moderately Effective programs likely need to improve their efficiency or address other problems in the programs' design or management in order to achieve better results.
  • The program has greatly improved its management, particularly in the area of cost control. The Space Station program experienced severe overruns in 2001 and before, but has operated within its budget in recent years.
  • The program had effectively managed its budget reserves, but the reserves have been eroded by Congressional cuts and increased costs related to the hiatus in Space Shuttle operations following the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.
  • The International Space Station is extremely dependent on the Space Shuttle, which has flown only once since the Columbia accident in 2003.

Improvement Plan

About Improvement Plans

We are taking the following actions to improve the performance of the program:

  • Enabling alternatives to the Space Shuttle for resupplying the International Space Station.
  • Holding program managers accountable for meeting cost, schedule and performance goals.

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