Weather Satellites

Action Needed to Resolve Status of the U.S. Geostationary Satellite Program Gao ID: NSIAD-91-252 July 24, 1991

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) joint efforts to develop and acquire the next generation of geostationary weather satellites, GOES-Next, focusing on: (1) cost, schedule, and technical status; (2) reasons for program problems that led to cost increases and schedule delays; and (3) options available for preventing a gap in U.S. geostationary weather satellite coverage.

GAO found that: (1) since NOAA submitted the fiscal year (FY) 1991 budget, the total estimated funding requirements increased from $1.3 billion to over $1.7 billion; (2) the first scheduled launch date for GOES-Next slipped from June 1991 to October 1992, a 3-year delay since the original July 1989 launch date; (3) technical problems with GOES-Next instruments and satellite control systems continue to cause significant cost increases and schedule delays; (4) NOAA and NASA halted work on the last three GOES-Next satellites to define and resolve technical problems; (5) reasons for past and present program difficulties included design complexity, inadequate technical management, poor contractor coordination and workmanship, and inadequate program management; (6) the United States could experience a lack of geostationary satellite coverage if the GOES-7, the sole geostationary weather satellite now in operation, fails before GOES-Next or a replacement satellite is in orbit; and (7) the only alternative that addresses the current risk to U.S. weather forecast operations is the purchase of a foreign-owned satellite, which would resolve the risk of a loss or degradation of satellite coverage in 1993 or later if the GOES-Next program is further delayed or cancelled and allow time for further repairs to GOES-7 if NOAA decides to proceed with the program.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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