Project management case stydy - NASA | ACE project

ACE Project by NASAMission impossible. Or is it?

Natalya PrilipkoJune, 2014

Project scopePrimary Mission: Observe energetic particles within the solar system

Project scopeCustomer : NASA

Project ACE

Ground operations Integration TestingSpace

craftScience

Instruments

Class : C

● 3 organizations

● 1 Project manager

● 1 Principal Investigator

● 1 Program Manager

● 1 Woman in the management

● 3 countries: USA, Germany, Switzerland

● 20 Institutions

In a nutshellProject ACE

CalTech

Building spacecraft

Overall project responsibility

John Hopkins University

(APL) - Contractor

Lead Scientific Institution

Mary Chui Don Margolies Dr. Edward Stone

NASA

Organizational structure

Payload management

Allan FrandsenCalltech

NASA Ground System and

support

PIDr. Edward Stone

(Caltech)

Spacecraft Management

Mary Chui(APL)

Co-Investigators

PMDon Margolies

NASA

Complexity

● R&D space project● Different cultures● Various locations● A lot of uncertainty● Launch restrictions

Pablo Picasso. Figures on a Beach. 1931 · "Figures on a Beach", 1931

Key challenges

● Completing on budget and schedule ● New expensive technology ● Communication and culture● NASA’s Micro-management● Launch date

Key PM principles

● People● Planning● Communication● Uncertainty● Complexity

Lessons learned

● Respect● Mix of Management styles● Smart team shuffling● Constant communication within the

management● Hot meetings● De-scoping to good enough

ACE launchedon

25 August 1997from

Cape Canaveral AirForce Station

Merci!

Thank you!

Gracias!

Спасибо!

!תודה

What do scientists get from ACE?

ACE launch

References

● Laufer, Alexander, Todd Post, and Edward J. Hoffman. "Shared Voyage." (2005).● http://swepam.lanl.gov/● www.youtube.com●