The purpose of the $1.3 billion X-33 Program, cosponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Lockheed Martin Corporation, is to develop and demonstrate advanced technologies and techniques needed for future reusable launch vehicles (RLV), including lightweight internal fuel tanks, advanced rocket engines, a durable heat shield, and rapid-turnaround, low-cost operations. The X-33 vehicle will be a half-scale model of Lockheed Martins planned single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) Venture Star RLV, an operational vehicle that will be based on and developed after the X-33. Because of the Subcommittees concerns about technical difficulties encountered by the X-33 Program, you asked us to review the progress of the program. As agreed with your offices, we (1) determined whether the X-33 Program is meeting the cost, schedule, and performance objectives established in the X-33 cooperative agreement, (2) determined how NASAs oversight responsibility was changed by the cooperative agreement, and (3) identified potential issues NASA may face as it moves toward a decision on whether to use Venture Star RLVs to service the International Space Station.


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