What does it actually cost?

23 June 2004: NASA: Lack of Disciplined Cost-Estimating Processes Hinders Effective Program Management GAO-04-642, GAO

“NASA has limited ability to collect the program cost and schedule data needed to meet basic cost-estimating criteria. For example, as GAO has previously reported, NASA does not have a system to capture reliable financial and performance data key to using effectively the cost-estimating tools that NASA officials state that programs employ. Further, without adequate financial and nonfinancial data, programs cannot easily track an acquisition’s progress and assess whether the program can meet its cost and schedule goals before it incurs significant cost and schedule overruns.”