Use error-propagation (i., first-order second-moment) approximation to calculate a mean and standard deviation for the cost of this new telescope.

Use error-propagation (i.e., first-order second-moment) approximation to calculate a mean and standard deviation for the cost of this new telescope.

In making early cost estimates for complex systems projects, NASA and its contractors rely on parametric estimating techniques using Cost Estimating Relations (CERs). CERs are nothing more than multivariate regression models. A review of CERs for space telescopes has been made by Stahl, from which a simple one-dimensional CER for telescope complexity is shown in Figure 2. in which,