Comparing Crisp and Fuzzy DEA Approaches for The Launch Vehicle Selection Problem of A Communication Satellite Operator

• Main Authors: G. Sena DAŞ, Taha TETİK
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Gazi University 2017-01-01
• Series: Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi
• Subjects: Fuzzy Data Envelopment Analysis; Launch Vehicle Selection; Multi Criteria Decision Making; Space Business
• Online Access: http://dergipark.gov.tr/download/article-file/290255

In space industry, launch vehicle selection for a satellite is a critical managerial and technical decision making problem. Depending on the selected launch vehicle, launch cost can vary from 20 % to 50 % of the total cost of a communication satellite that cost million dollars. The aim of this paper is to analyze several launch vehicle alternatives to boost a geostationary communication satellite into desired orbit under a Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) scheme. For this purpose, variants of crisp and fuzzy Data Envelopment Analysis are utilized as a MCDM tool. In order to evaluate launch vehicle alternatives a criteria hierarchy, which is established by the experts working in communication sector, is used. The outcomes of the crisp and fuzzy DEA methods are compared with each other. As a result of the comparison it is observed that DEA variants ranked the alternatives differently but the launch vehicle Alternative 1 is mostly ranked first.