Managing Balloon Projects - A Changing Paradigm: A Retrospective Look

With the advent of the Ultra-Long Duration Balloon (ULDB) capability and balloons being offered as a carrier for NASA Explorer class missions, a fundamental shift in the way balloon mission projects are managed will be required. This shift will ensure the performance and reliability of the science instrument, balloon vehicle, flight system, and ground control center to support a science mission of up to 100 days in duration. The current ``design to capability'' paradigm, with minimal management oversight, has traditionally worked well for many years in flying scientific instruments on balloons at low cost with medium to high risk. Newer, more complex science instruments and missions, such as those developed under NASA's Explorers Program, will require a radical shift to a much more formal ``design to requirements'' management paradigm. This paper will attempt to take a retrospective look at the formality imposed by the Explorers Program and determine what management elements are needed to assure the success of the current ``design to capability'' missions without increasing significant cost. This paradigm shift is intended to support the successful accomplishment of balloon missions on schedule, within budget, and lower risk, while enhancing and satisfying the success criteria and requirements of the primary customer, the Principal Investigator. This shift to a ``Explorer-like'' formality paradigm will require development of a cohesive mission management organization, organizing an effective system engineering process that links science requirements to instrument and flight system performance, implementing a cost effective performance assurance program, and exerting cost control over all aspects of the mission. All of these elements need to be addressed within a context of a strong commitment to meeting schedule within the constrained budgets.