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3.0      NASA Program/Project Life Cycle
3.1      Program Formulation
3.2      Program Implementation
3.3      Project Pre-Phase A: Concept Studies
3.4      Project Phase A: Concept and Technology Development
3.5      Project Phase B: Preliminary Design and Technology Completion
3.6      Project Phase C: Final Design and Fabrication
3.7      Project Phase D: System Assembly, Integration and Test, Launch
3.8      Project Phase E: Operations and Sustainment    
3.9      Project Phase F: Closeout
3.10    Funding: The Budget Cycle
3.11    Tailoring and Customization of NPR 7123.1 Requirements

The program Formulation Phase establishes a cost-effective program that is demonstrably capable of meeting Agency and mission directorate goals and objectives. The program Formulation Authorization Document (FAD) authorizes a Program Manager (PM) to initiate the planning of a new program and to perform the analyses required to formulate a sound program plan. The lead systems engineer provides the technical planning and concept development or this phase of the program life cycle. Planning includes identifying the major technical reviews that are needed and associated entrance and exit criteria. Major reviews leading to approval at KDP I are the SRR, SDR, PDR, and governing Program Management Council (PMC) review. A summary of the required gate products for the program Formulation Phase can be found in the governing NASA directive (e.g., NPR 7120.5 for space flight programs, NPR 7120.7 for IT projects, NPR 7120.8 for research and technology projects). Formulation for all program types is the same, involving one or more program reviews followed by KDP I where a decision is made approving a program to begin implementation.

Space Flight Program Formulation

Purpose

  • To establish a cost-effective program that is demonstrably capable of meeting Agency and mission directorate goals and objectives

Typical Activities and Their Products for Space Flight Programs

  • Identify program stakeholders and users
  • Develop program requirements based on user expectations and allocate them to initial projects
  • Identify NASA risk classification
  • Define and approve program acquisition strategies
  • Develop interfaces to other programs
  • Start developing technologies that cut across multiple projects within the program
  • Derive initial cost estimates and approve a program budget based on the project’s life cycle costs
  • Perform required program Formulation technical activities defined in NPR 7120.5
  • Satisfy program Formulation reviews’ entrance/success criteria detailed in NPR 7123.1
  • Develop a clear vision of the program’s benefits and usage in the operational era and document it in a ConOps

Reviews

  • MCR (pre-Formulation)
  • SRR
  • SDR