Long-Range Planning Cost Model for Support of Future Space Missions by the Deep Space Network

This article suggests a simple model to do long-range planning cost estimates for Deep Space Network (DSN) support of future space missions. The model estimates total DSN preparation costs and the annual distribution of these costs for long-range budgetary planning. The cost model is based on actual DSN preparation costs from four space missions: Galileo, Voyager (Uranus), Voyager (Neptune), and Magellan. The model was tested against the four projects and gave cost estimates that range from 18 percent above the actual total preparation costs of the projects to 25 percent below. The model was also compared to two other independent projects: Viking and Mariner Jupiter/Saturn (MJS later became Voyager). The model gave cost esti-mates that range from 2 percent (for Viking) to 10 percent (for MJS) below the actual total preparation costs of these missions. A rule of thmnb based on these six missions is that the average annual DSN preparation cost is $7.2 million in 1987 dollars. 17