ABSTRACT
Projects are progressively elaborated through continual and constant modification, improvement, and detail as new information becomes available. Aerospace and, in particular, space projects differ from other types of projects in that they are generally very complex, with many 'moving parts', are generally very costly, and have a very broad group of stakeholders. This chapter focuses on why project planning is so important and then elaborates on some of the key elements, including identifying and capturing project goals, objectives, and scope; identifying and managing communication with stakeholders; staffing a competent project team; constructing a realistic project schedule and budget; and planning for risk management. Project planning is one of the most critical activities in project management and yet is frequently either performed only perfunctorily or not at all. The chapter concludes with a brief overview of other important planning activities, including planning for how to adequately address quality requirements and planning for supplier involvement in the project.
