scope:

Description of Driving Event:

The Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) Project is a PI Mode cost capped mission. During the formation of the SORCE Mission (which is a combination of the Solar/Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment (SOLSTICE) and the Total Solar Irradiance Mission (TSIM)), two decisions were made with regards to contingency funding. First, unlike most PI Mode missions in which the PI holds all the contingency funding, it was determined that the GSFC Mission Manager would hold a small amount of contingency. Secondly, as in the past with other PI Mode Missions the total amount of contingency would be approximately 15%. For the SORCE Mission, the PI held approximately 13% and the GSFC Mission Manager held about 5%. During the Implementation Phase of the mission, new requirements have been levied on the project with regards to acceptable risk, risk mitigation, and Software Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V). Additionally, potential changes at KSC with regards to commercialization of payload processing facilities and changes to the payload/launch vehicle integration process (driven by concerns of both GSFC project management and the PI) are also forthcoming. The new requirements and changes are threatening to deplete both the contingency funds being held by the GSFC Mission Manager and the Mission unique funds held at KSC.