NASA's Earth Observing System

The Earth Observing System, the centerpiece of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth, seeks to understand the total earth system--air, water, land, life, and their interactions--and the effects of natural and human-induced change on the global environment. The system has three major components: a system of satellites to collect 15 years worth of climate data, a data and information system to run the satellites and process the resulting data, and teams of scientists to develop algorithms for converting sensor data into useful information and to conduct research using the information. GAO estimates that funding needs for the Earth Observing System would total about $33 billion for fiscal years 1991-2022. NASA is studying ways to reduce future system funding needs and expects to substantially change the baseline program when these studies are completed in July 1995. NASA officials claim that technology development and operational improvement could cut annual funding requirements for the second and third satellites in each series by as much as 30 percent, which would reduce GAO's estimate of total funding requirements to $27 billion. NASA officials believe the further reductions may be possible from increased collaboration with other agencies, international partners, and the commercial sector.

GAO found that: (1) GAO estimated that funding requirements for the EOS baseline program would total about $33 billion for fiscal years 1991 through 2022; (2) NASA is studying ways to reduce future EOS funding requirements and expects to substantially change the baseline program when these studies are completed in July 1995; (3) according to NASA officials, preliminary results of these studies indicate that technology development and operational improvements could reduce annual funding for the second and third satellites in each series by as much as 30 percent; (4) if NASA were able to reduce annual funding by 30 percent in future years, GAO's estimate of total funding requirements drops to $27 billion; (5) NASA officials believe that further reductions may be possible from increased collaboration with other agencies, international partners, and the commercial sector; and (6) it remains to be seen whether NASA will be able to achieve the level of reductions being discussed.