Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project: Project Management Methods

TITLE AND SUBTITLE:
Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project: Project Management Methods

AUTHOR(S):
Marc G. Millis

REPORT DATE:
December 2004

FUNDING NUMBERS:
WBS-2262-949-10-01

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field
Cleveland, Ohio 44135-3191

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER:
E-14920

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Washington, DC 20546-0001

REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED:
Technical Memorandum

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER:
NASA TM-2004-213406

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES:
Responsible person, Marc G. Millis, organization code RTP, 216-977-7535.

ABSTRACT:
To leap past the limitations of existing propulsion, the NASA Breakthrough Propulsion Physics (BPP) Project seeks further advancements in physics from which new propulsion methods can eventually be derived. Three visionary breakthroughs are sought: (1) propulsion that requires no propellant, (2) propulsion that circumvents existing speed limits, and (3) breakthrough methods of energy production to power such devices. Because these propulsion goals are presumably far from fruition, a special emphasis is to identify credible research that will make measurable progress toward these goals in the near-term. The management techniques to address this challenge are presented, with a special emphasis on the process used to review, prioritize, and select research tasks. This selection process includes these key features: (a) research tasks are constrained to only address the immediate unknowns, curious effects or critical issues, (b) reliability of assertions is more important than the implications of the assertions, which includes the practice where the reviewers judge credibility rather than feasibility, and (c) total scores are obtained by multiplying the criteria scores rather than by adding. Lessons learned and revisions planned are discussed.

SUBJECT TERMS:
Project management; Spacecraft propulsion; Physics; Relativity; Antigravity

NUMBER OF PAGES:
41

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2004/TM-2004-213406.pdf ( 422 KB )
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