Environmental Satellites : Weather and Environmental Information Systems.

Intro -- ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITES:WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTALINFORMATION SYSTEMS -- ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITES:WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTALINFORMATION SYSTEMS -- CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- Chapter 1POLAR-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 UNDERWAY, BUT KEY STEPS REMAIN TO BE COMPLETED -- PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN ESTABLISHING ANEFFECTIVE NPOESSMANAGEMENT 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 -- Chapter 2ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITES:POLAR-ORBITING SATELLITE ACQUISITIONFACES DELAYS -- DECISIONS NEEDEDON WHETHER AND HOW TO ENSURECLIMATE 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 HAVEBEEN DELAYED AND RISKS REMAIN -- Ground Segment-Progress Made but Important Work Remains toBe Done -- Space Segment-Progress Made, but One Sensor Was Delayed andSensors Continue to Face Risks -- ProgramRisks Remain -- Continued Oversight Is Needed to PreventFurther 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.

GAOMADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE THATFUTURE CLIMATE NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED AND TOCOMPLETE RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES -- APPENDIX I: STATUS OF KEY ACQUISITION DOCUMENTS -- REFERENCES -- Chapter 3WRITTEN STATEMENT BYVICE ADMIRAL CONRAD LAUTENBACHER, JR.(U.S. NAVY, RET.)UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOROCEANS AND ATMOSPHEREAND NOAAADMINISTRATOR NATIONALOCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERICADMINISTRATIONU.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE -- OVERSIGHT HEARING ON "ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITESPOLAR-ORBITING SATELLITE ACQUISITION FACES DELAYS -- DECISIONS NEEDED ON WHETHER AND HOW TO ENSURECLIMATE DATA CONTINUITY" -- BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYSUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT U.S.HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES -- INTRODUCTION -- STATUS OF THE NPOESS PROGRAM -- COORDINATION OF TRI-AGENCY ACQUISITIONDECISION MEMORANDA -- STATUS OF RESTORING KEY CLIMATE SENSORS -- STATUS OF DEMANIFESTED SPACE WEATHER SENSORS -- GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE (GAO)RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION -- CONCLUSION -- APPENDIX 1 NPOESS INSTRUMENTS (AS OF JUNE 2008) -- APPENDIX 2. STATUS OF THE CLIMATE SENSORS DEMANIFESTED DURING 2006RESTRUCTURING OF THE NPOESS PROGRAM -- INDEX -- Blank Page.

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