In the 8 years since a contract was awarded, the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environ. Satellite System (NPOESS) -- a tri-agency program managed by NOAA, DoD, and NASA -- has experienced escalating costs, schedule delays, and ineffective interagency mgmt. The launch date for a demo. satellite has been delayed by 5 years and the cost estimate for the program has more than doubled. In Feb. 2010, NPOESS was disbanded, and, instead, the agencies have undertaken separate acquisitions. This report: (1) assessed efforts to establish separate satellite programs; (2) evaluated the status and risks of the NPOESS components still under development; and (3) evaluated the implications of using the demo. satellite's data operationally. Illus.

" Environmental satellites provide critical data used in forecasting weather and measuring variations in climate over time. NPOESS-a program managed by NOAA, DOD, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration-was planned to replace two existing polar-orbiting environmental satellite systems. However, 8 years after a development contract for the NPOESS program was awarded in 2002, the cost estimate had more than doubled-to about $15 billion, launch dates had been delayed by over 5 years, significant functionality had been removed from the program, and the program's tri-agency management structure had proven to be ineffective. In February 2010, a presidential task force decided to disband NPOESS and, instead, to have NOAA and DOD undertake separate acquisitions. GAO was asked to evaluate (1) efforts to transfer responsibilities from the NPOESS program to the separate NOAA and DOD programs, (2) NOAA's progress in developing its satellite system, and (3) NOAA's efforts to mitigate key project risks. To do so, GAO analyzed program management, contract, cost, and risk data, attended executive program reviews, and interviewed agency and contractor officials. "

The National Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) is a tri-agency acquisition -- managed by the DoD & NASA -- which experienced escalating costs, schedule delays, & technical difficulties. These factors led to a June 2006 decision to restructure the program, thereby decreasing the program¿s complexity, increasing its estimated cost to $12.5 billion, & delaying the first two satellites by 3 to 5 years. The author was asked to: (1) assess progress in restructuring the acquisition; (2) evaluate progress in establishing an effective mgmt. structure; (3) assess the reliability of the cost & schedule estimate; & (4) identify the status & key risks facing the program¿s major segments. Includes recommendations. Charts & tables.

The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) is a tri-agency acquisition--managed by the Departments of Commerce and Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration--which experienced escalating costs, schedule delays, and technical difficulties. These factors led to a June 2006 decision to restructure the program thereby decreasing the program's complexity, increasing its estimated cost to $12.5 billion, and delaying the first two satellites by 3 to 5 years. GAO was asked to (1) assess progress in restructuring the acquisition, (2) evaluate progress in establishing an effective management structure, (3) assess the reliability of the cost ...

The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) is a triagency acquisition-managed by the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-that has experienced escalating costs, schedule delays, and technical difficulties. As the often-delayed launch of its demonstration satellite draws closer, these problems continue. GAO was asked to (1) identify the status and risks of key program components, (2) assess the NPOESS Executive Committee's ability to fulfill its responsibilities, and (3) evaluate efforts to identify an alternative system integrator for later NPOESS satellites. To do so, GAO analyzed program and contractor data, attended program reviews, and interviewed agency officials. GAO is making recommendations to the Secretaries of Commerce and Defense and to the Administrator of NASA to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of