Environmental Satellites : Weather and Environmental Information Systems.

ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITES: WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS -- CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- POLAR-ORBITING OPERATIONALENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITES:RESTRUCTURING IS UNDER WAY,BUT TECHNICAL CHALLENGESAND RISKS REMAIN -- WHAT GAO FOUND -- ABBREVIATIONS -- RESULTS IN BRIEF -- BACKGROUND -- Polar Satellite Data and Products -- NPOESS Overview -- NPOESS Acquisition Strategy -- NPOESS Experienced Cost Increases, Schedule Delays, and TechnicalProblems over Several Years -- Nunn-McCurdy Process Led to a Decision to Restructure the NPOESSProgram -- Earned Value Management Techniques Provide Insight onProgram Cost and Schedule -- NPOESS ACQUISITION RESTRUCTURING IS WELL UNDER WAY, BUT KEY STEPS REMAIN TO BE COMPLETED -- PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN ESTABLISHING ANEFFECTIVE NPOESS MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, BUTEXECUTIVE TURNOVER WILL INCREASE RISKS, ANDSTAFFING PROBLEMS REMAIN -- NPOESS Program Has Made Progress in Establishing an EffectiveManagement Structure and Increasing Oversight Activities, butExecutive Turnover Will Increase Program Risks -- NPOESS Program Has Filled Key Vacancies but Lacks aProgramwide Staffing Process -- METHODOLOGY SUPPORTING THE JUNE 2006 COST ANDSCHEDULE ESTIMATE WAS RELIABLE, BUT RECENT EVENTSCOULD INCREASE PROGRAM COSTS -- Certified Program Estimates Were Developed Using an AcceptableMethodology -- Recent Events Could Lead to Increased Program Costs or DelayedSchedules -- MAJOR PROGRAM SEGMENTS ARE UNDER DEVELOPMENT,BUT SIGNIFICANT RISKS REMAIN -- Space Segment-Progress Made, but Key Sensors Continue to FaceMajor Risks -- Earned Value Data Show Problems on the Space Segment -- Program Office Is Monitoring Sensor Risks and EvaluatingOptions -- Ground Segment- Progress Has Been Made, but Work Remains -- Ground Segment Cost and Schedule Are on Track -- Work andRisks Remain -- Program Office Has Plans to Address IDPS Risks.

Launch Segment-NPP Launch Preparation Has Begun, whileNPOESS Launch Planning Remains a Future Event -- CONCLUSIONS -- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION -- AGENCY COMMENTS AND OUR EVALUATION -- APPENDIX I: OBJECTIVES, SCOPE, AND METHODOLOGY -- APPENDIX II: OVERVIEW OF SATELLITE DATA PROCESSINGALGORITHMS AND THE CALIBRATION AND VALIDATIONPROCESS -- APPENDIX III:COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE -- APPENDIX IV:COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE -- APPENDIX V: COMMENTS FROM THE NATIONALAERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION -- APPENDIX VI: GAO CONTACTAND STAFF ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- GAO Contact -- Staff Acknowledgments -- REFERENCES -- ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITES: POLAR-ORBITING SATELLITE ACQUISITION FACES DELAYS -- DECISIONS NEEDED ON WHETHER AND HOW TO ENSURE CLIMATE DATA CONTINUITY∗ -- WHAT GAO FOUND -- RESULTS IN BRIEF -- BACKGROUND -- NPOESS Overview -- NPOESS Experienced Cost Increases, Schedule Delays, andTechnical Problems That Led to Decision to Restructure theNPOESS Program -- Major Restructuring Activities Have Been Completed, but KeyRemaining Activities Could Affect Funding and Schedule -- PROGRAM HAS MADE PROGRESS, BUT KEY MILESTONES HAVE BEEN DELAYED AND RISKS REMAIN -- Ground Segment-Progress Made but Important Work Remains to Be Done -- Space Segment-Progress Made, but One Sensor Was Delayed and Sensors Continue to Face Risks -- ProgramRisks Remain -- Continued Oversight Is Needed to Prevent Further Cost Increases and Schedule Delays -- AGENCIES HAVE UNDERTAKEN PRELIMINARY STEPS TORESTORE KEY SENSORS, BUT LACK TIMELY PLANS TOENSURE LONG-TERM DATA CONTINUITY -- NASA, NOAA, and DOD Have Identified Priorities, AssessedOptions, and Made Decisions to Restore Selected Sensors -- Agencies Lack Plans to Ensure Long-Term Data Continuity.

GAO MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE THATFUTURE CLIMATE NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED AND TOCOMPLETE RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES -- APPENDIX I: STATUS OF KEY ACQUISITION DOCUMENTS -- REFERENCES -- WRITTEN STATEMENT BY VICE ADMIRAL CONRAD LAUTENBACHER, JR. (U.S. NAVY, RET.) UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE AND NOAA ADMINISTRATOR NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE -- OVERSIGHT HEARING ON "ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITES POLAR-ORBITING SATELLITE ACQUISITION FACES DELAYS -- DECISIONS NEEDED ON WHETHER AND HOW TO ENSURE CLIMATE DATA CONTINUITY" -- BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES -- INTRODUCTION -- STATUS OF THE NPOESS PROGRAM -- COORDINATION OF TRI-AGENCY ACQUISITION DECISION MEMORANDA -- STATUS OF RESTORING KEY CLIMATE SENSORS -- STATUS OF DEMANIFESTED SPACE WEATHER SENSORS -- GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE (GAO) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION -- CONCLUSION -- INDEX.