NOTE: There are two caveats to this table. First, operating costs are projected to be lower than current values in fiscal year 2005 and beyond because of current efforts to increase automation within flight operations, thereby reducing staffing levels. No reserves are included in the estimates to mitigate the risks of not achieving these reductions or from risks due to other factors (e.g., NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center manpower and other annual rate fluctuations). Second, the estimates reflect the “most probable” timing for reaching controlled reentry fuel threshold of 138 kg and a fiscal year 2004 Program Operating Plan guideline.

^aCost of maintaining staffing of flight control.

^bCost of analysis, training, and staffing for reentry maneuvers.

^cCost of (1) reprocessing existing data, (2) transition to a new precipitation processing system for GPM, and (3) development of multisatellite three-hour precipitation products (these three items are not always clearly separable).

^dFunds in NASA Goddard’s May 2004 budget to cover TRMM operations.

^eDifference between estimated total cost and funds in the NASA Goddard budget for this activity.

SOURCE: Steven Neeck, NASA.