NASA / SATS Life Cycle Cost Model

This paper is a derivative of a report submitted to NASA which investigated the affordability of Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) aircraft. The initial effort developed a Life Cycle Cost (LCC) / Total Ownership Cost (TOC) model. The model is grounded in practical expertise as well as theories relevant to the affordability of significant and discontinuous technological innovations. Input data were either researched from valid and reputable sources, or where assumptions were needed to be made, were made in the spirit of the NASA vision and using its literature. Thus the perspective maintained throughout this phase of research might be termed “realistically optimistic.” The challenge of making the NASA SATS vision bear fruit is ambitious and imposing, yet NASA has earned a reputation for success in such projects.