Tech2Mars - Martian Global Positioning System

Budget and Timeline

Budget

The Martian Global Postitioning System budget contains three distinct categories, materials & assembly, launch services, and personnel support. All figures assume a system lifetime of 10 years with a total system replacement after that period lasting an additional 10 years.

Materials and Assembly
Materials and assembly covers the purchase of all the required components to construct the 20 satellites and the Mars lander probe as well as the cost of their assembly. The satellites will be nearly identical to the current Block II F satellites used in the GPS system with the exception of larger solar panels, a larger battery, and mesh networking equipment. The satellites used in the Martian Global Positioning System will cost $75 million each. A Block II F satellite costs $66 million to build. The additional $9 million accounts for larger solar panels, lighter weight construction, and more efficient station-keeping fuel utilization.

The lander will cost $100 million. The on-board atmospheric accumulator fuel processor will cost $30 million to research and build. The lander assembly will cost $50 million and the remaining communications, power, and dish antenna steering systems will cost $20 million.

The Martian Global Positioning System will consist of five constellations of three satellites (plus one redudant per constellation), bringing the total number of satellites to 20. There will be only one lander. The total cost of the satellites and lander will be $1.6 Billion. A comparable cost will once again be incurred in 10 years when the replacement satellites are sent to Mars.

Launch Services
The cost of launching the satellite constellations using Delta IV rockets (see propulsion) is $905 million. It costs $19,000 in fuel to launch 1 kg. With a total payload of 4300kg, the launch cost will be $81 million per rocket. Adding this to the non-recoverable cost of the rocket of $150 million, it will cost $181 million per launch. This system will require five launches resulting in a total launch cost of $905 million. This cost will also once again be incurred in 10 years when the replacement satellites are launched.

Personnel Support
The Tech2Mars research and development team consists of five people. With a mean salary of $150,000/year and 40% overhead costs, it will cost $1.05 million per year to maintain the staff. Assuming a project lifetime of 20 years, the total cost of personnel support will be $21 million. During this time, the personnel will oversee the operation of the system and, if needed, activate the redundant satellites as failures occur. The staff would also use the time to design and implement the next generation of satellites and landers that will replace the current system in 10 years. Other maintenance operations such as trajectory adjustments and firmware updates will be conducted on an as-needed basis.

Amitorization Schedule

Assuming a system lifetime of 10 years with straight-line amitorization of the physical system and a 4% interest rate, the total amitorized cost can be calculated. The initial cost to get the system operational is $1.6 billion. There will be an additional $1.6 billion needed in 10 years when the system is replaced. This cost setup results in an annual payment of $197 million over 20 years.

Design Timeline

The design project consisted of a two month period during which the individual sub-systems were designed, peer-evaluated, and finalized. Once a critical design component was adopted, the constraints it imposed were then carried into the next subsystem.

Scroll the Gantt chart below to the right to see the entire project progression.


Home Communications Location System Power System Propulsion System Orbital Mechanics Budget & Timeline	Budget and Timeline Budget The Martian Global Postitioning System budget contains three distinct categories, materials & assembly, launch services, and personnel support. All figures assume a system lifetime of 10 years with a total system replacement after that period lasting an additional 10 years. Materials and Assembly Materials and assembly covers the purchase of all the required components to construct the 20 satellites and the Mars lander probe as well as the cost of their assembly. The satellites will be nearly identical to the current Block II F satellites used in the GPS system with the exception of larger solar panels, a larger battery, and mesh networking equipment. The satellites used in the Martian Global Positioning System will cost $75 million each. A Block II F satellite costs $66 million to build. The additional $9 million accounts for larger solar panels, lighter weight construction, and more efficient station-keeping fuel utilization. The lander will cost $100 million. The on-board atmospheric accumulator fuel processor will cost $30 million to research and build. The lander assembly will cost $50 million and the remaining communications, power, and dish antenna steering systems will cost $20 million. The Martian Global Positioning System will consist of five constellations of three satellites (plus one redudant per constellation), bringing the total number of satellites to 20. There will be only one lander. The total cost of the satellites and lander will be $1.6 Billion. A comparable cost will once again be incurred in 10 years when the replacement satellites are sent to Mars. Launch Services The cost of launching the satellite constellations using Delta IV rockets (see propulsion) is $905 million. It costs $19,000 in fuel to launch 1 kg. With a total payload of 4300kg, the launch cost will be $81 million per rocket. Adding this to the non-recoverable cost of the rocket of $150 million, it will cost $181 million per launch. This system will require five launches resulting in a total launch cost of $905 million. This cost will also once again be incurred in 10 years when the replacement satellites are launched. Personnel Support The Tech2Mars research and development team consists of five people. With a mean salary of $150,000/year and 40% overhead costs, it will cost $1.05 million per year to maintain the staff. Assuming a project lifetime of 20 years, the total cost of personnel support will be $21 million. During this time, the personnel will oversee the operation of the system and, if needed, activate the redundant satellites as failures occur. The staff would also use the time to design and implement the next generation of satellites and landers that will replace the current system in 10 years. Other maintenance operations such as trajectory adjustments and firmware updates will be conducted on an as-needed basis. Amitorization Schedule Assuming a system lifetime of 10 years with straight-line amitorization of the physical system and a 4% interest rate, the total amitorized cost can be calculated. The initial cost to get the system operational is $1.6 billion. There will be an additional $1.6 billion needed in 10 years when the system is replaced. This cost setup results in an annual payment of $197 million over 20 years. Design Timeline The design project consisted of a two month period during which the individual sub-systems were designed, peer-evaluated, and finalized. Once a critical design component was adopted, the constraints it imposed were then carried into the next subsystem. Scroll the Gantt chart below to the right to see the entire project progression.