Payload Accommodation and Development Planning Tools: A Desktop Resource Leveling Model (DRLM) 891528

Payload accommodation studies and project fiscal planning require frequent, iterative adjustments of resource requirements against resource availabilities. A “quick-look” Desktop Resource Leveling Model has been developed to enable planners to rapidly structure and manipulate accommodation, schedule, and funding profiles for any desired kind of experiments, payloads, facilities, flight systems, or other project “deliverables.”

The Model sets up detailed databases describing “End Item” parameters such as mass, volume, power requirements or DDT&E costs, and schedules for payload, subsystem, or flight system elements. It enables the planner to prepare detailed Scenarios describing the development, production, launch, and accommodation requirements of the payload, flight system, etc., under study, and to incorporate relevant costs from any cost estimating system. The Model automatically spreads costs by Calendar Quarter and sums costs or accommodation parameters by total project, payload, facility, payload launch, or program phase under control of the planner. The totaled parameters can be compared graphically, or in tabular form, against accommodation or program resources. “What if?” adjustments to parameters and schedules can be iterated rapidly to evaluate new options and analyze project sensitivities. Final results can be saved or printed out, automatically documenting all assumptions, inputs, and defaults.

The Model is now under intensive internal review and will be released as early as possible for general review and comment.