A discrete event simulation model for assembling the international space station

In late 2002 and early 2003, a discrete event simulation (DES) model was used to help NASA assess the viability of achieving a politically important goal. The goal was to complete the assembly of the international space station through the milestone known as United States Core Complete by February 19th, 2004. The analysis provided by the DES model was subsequently shown to be consistent with NASA´s official assessments regarding the completion date for U.S. Core Complete. The success of this DES model has led to further improvements in modeling NASA´s project to assemble the international space station.