Geostationary operational environmental satellites [electronic resource] : acquisition is under way, but improvements needed in management and oversight : report to congressional requesters.

[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2009]

ii, 37 p. :digital, PDF file

The Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with the aid of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), plans to procure the next generation of geostationary operational environmental satellites, called the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R series (GOES-R). GOES-R is to replace the current series of satellites, which will likely begin to reach the end of their useful lives in approximately 2014. This series is considered critical to the United States' ability to maintain the continuity of data required for weather forecasting through the year 2028. GAO was asked to (1) determine the status of the GOES-R program, (2) evaluate whether plans for the acquisition address problems experienced on similar programs, and (3) determine whether NOAA's plan will be adequate to support current data requirements. To do so, GAO analyzed contractor and program data and interviewed officials from NOAA and NASA. GAO is recommending that the program take steps to improve management and oversight and determine whether and how to recover certain capabilities that were removed from the program. In commenting on a draft of this report, the Acting Secretary of Commerce agreed with GAO's recommendations and stated that the agency plans to implement them.

Acquisition is under way, but improvements needed in management and oversight

Books / Online

English

August 14, 2009

Includes bibliographical references.