Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellites: With Costs Increasing and Data Continuity at Risk, Improvements Needed in Tri-Agency Decision Making

Abstract

The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) is a tri agency acquisitionmanaged by the Department of Commerces National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)that has experienced escalating costs, schedule delays, and technical difficulties. As the often-delayed launch of its demonstration satellite draws closer, these problems continue. GAO was asked to (1) identify the status and risks of key program components, (2) assess the NPOESS Executive Committees ability to fulfill its responsibilities, and (3) evaluate efforts to identify an alternative system integrator for later NPOESS satellites. To do so, GAO analyzed program and contractor data, attended program reviews, and interviewed agency officials.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 17, 2009
Accession Number
AD1174367

Entities

People

  • David A. Powner

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Congress
  • Contracts
  • Cost Estimates
  • Costs
  • Data Processing
  • Department Of Defense
  • Government Procurement
  • Governments
  • Ground Stations
  • Information Security
  • Infrared Detectors
  • Life Cycles
  • Meteorological Satellites
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Radiation
  • Satellite Constellations
  • Spacecraft
  • System Software
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Weather Forecasting

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites