Recurring Service Modules for Future Science Missions
Publication date: 19 January 2007
Authors: Payot, F.
Issue: 1
Page: 1-127
Year: 2006
Copyright: ESA
Over the last few years, due to a diminishing purchasing power and difficulties in increasing the available budget, cost effectiveness has become a great concern within ESA. Indeed, missions cost have noticeably increased (especially for science missions) and many initiatives have been undertaken to control and limit the expenditure by streamlining processes and resources, especially in order to implement a mission within a more restrictive budget.
In addition, the scientific community requirements are more and more challenging: demanding mission objectives lead to more complex mission concepts. Moreover, a quicker response time from approval to launch would be desirable, whilst keeping a very high overall level of reliability.
The main objective of this study is to review the application of recurring service modules as a potential answer to the challenges listed above.
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