Earth Observing System
Cost and Research Issues Gao ID: T-NSIAD-96-116 March 6, 1996This testimony focuses on NASA's Earth Observing System, which will use a network of satellites to collect and distribute climate data. Teams of scientists will convert the data into useful information and conduct research using it. GAO discusses (1) its previous work on the investment that will be required over the life of the system and (2) its ongoing work on NASA's strategy for maximizing the scientific return on that investment by ensuring that an adequate research community will be available to analyze the large amount of data expected to be generated by the system.