Fuzzy Expert Tool for Small Satellite Cost Estimation

Cost estimation is a critical issue in the planning of a large project and may prove to be a vital determinant of final success. Despite its great importance, predicting the cost of developing complex high-technology systems and products, based a good deal on research and development, is difficult and carries a degree of uncertainty in the results. The difficulty of the process has been especially evident in projects for which there was little prior experience. Estimating satellite development costs has been just such an endeavor, in which history shows cost overruns are not uncommon [1]. © 1986-2012 IEEE.