NASA costs: There are four main reasons for the cost growth of NASA missions, says a 13 July report by the National Academies in Washington DC: overly optimistic estimates, shifting mission requirements, problems with instrument and technology development, and problems with launch services. The report recommends keeping a close eye on the most expensive missions. In an analysis of 40 missions launched from 1996 to 2007, the study found that 14 of them - including some with the highest initial prices - were responsible for 92% of the growth in cost. The worst offender was the Spitzer Space Telescope, which overshot its cost estimate by US$ 170 million.
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