Most major space programs have experienced significant cost and  schedule increases. For instance, program costs for the Advanced  Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite program, a protected satellite  communications system, had grown 116 percent as of our latest review,  and its first satellite was launched over 3.5 years late. For the Space  Based Infrared System High (SBIRS High), a missile warning satellite  program, costs grew nearly 300 percent and the launch of the first  satellite was delayed roughly 9 years. Last year, we reported that contract  costs for the Global Positioning System (GPS) ground system, designed  to control on-orbit GPS satellites, had more than doubled and the  program had experienced a 4-year delay. The delivery of that ground  system is now estimated to be delayed another 2 years, for a cumulative  6-year delay. Some DOD officials say even that is an optimistic timeline. Table 1 below provides more details on the current status of DOD’s major  space programs. Given the problems we have identified in the GPS  program, however, it is clear that more needs to be done to improve the  management of space acquisitions. Our past work has recommended  numerous actions that can be taken to address the problems we typically  see in space programs. Challenges in Addressing Future Needs

Right now, DOD is at a crossroads for space. Fiscal constraints and  increasing threats—both environmental and adversarial—to space  systems have led DOD to consider alternatives for acquiring and  launching space-based capabilities. For satellites, our reports since 2013  have described efforts such as: disaggregating large satellites into  multiple, smaller satellites or payloads; relying on commercial satellites to  host government payloads; and procuring certain capabilities, such as  bandwidth and ground control, as services instead of developing and  deploying government-owned networks or spacecraft. Together, these reports highlight several major challenges facing DOD as  it undertakes efforts to change its approaches to space acquisitions. First,  though DOD is conducting analyses of alternatives to support decisions  about the future of various programs, our preliminary work suggests there  are gaps in cost and other data needed to weigh the pros and cons of  changes to space systems. Second, most changes being considered  today will impact ground systems and user equipment, but these systems  continue to be very troubled by cost and schedule overruns. Third,  leadership for space acquisitions is still fragmented, which may hamper  the implementation of changes, especially those that stretch across  satellites, ground systems and user equipment. Competitive Launch Acquisition. DOD  concurred with this recommendation in its review of our draft report. Space Leadership. Our preliminary findings indicate that the structure of space system  acquisitions and oversight continues to be complicated. Space Acquisitions: DOD Faces Challenges in Fully Realizing Benefits of  Satellite Acquisition Improvements. Space Acquisitions: DOD Delivering New Generations of Satellites, but  Space System Acquisition Challenges Remain.
Why GAO Did This Study

DOD is shifting its traditional approach to space acquisitions, bolstering its protection of space systems, and engaging with more commercial providers. Given the time and resource demands of DOD's space systems and today's budget environment, challenges that hinder these transitions must be addressed.
This statement focuses on (1) the current status and cost of major DOD space system acquisitions, and (2) challenges and barriers DOD faces in addressing future space-based mission needs. This statement highlights the results of GAO's work on space acquisitions over the past year and presents preliminary observations from ongoing work. We obtained comments from DOD on a draft of preliminary findings contained in this statement.

What GAO Found

Most major space programs have experienced significant cost and schedule increases. For instance, program costs for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite program, a protected satellite communications system, have grown 116 percent as of our latest review, and its first satellite was launched more than 3 years late. For the Space Based Infrared System High, a missile warning satellite program, costs grew almost 300 percent and its first satellite was launched roughly 9 years late. Last year, we reported that contract costs for the Global Positioning System (GPS) ground system, designed to control on-orbit GPS satellites, had more than doubled and the program had experienced a 4-year delay. The delivery of that ground system is now estimated to be delayed another 2 years, for a cumulative 6-year delay. Some DOD officials say even that is an optimistic timeline. Though steps have been taken to improve acquisition management in space, problems with GPS show that much more work is needed, especially since DOD is considering going in new directions for space programs.
Right now, DOD is at a crossroads for space. Fiscal constraints and increasing threats—both environmental and adversarial—to space systems have led DOD to consider alternatives for acquiring and launching space-based capabilities, such as: disaggregating large satellites into multiple, smaller satellites or payloads; relying on commercial satellites to host government payloads; and procuring certain capabilities, such as bandwidth and ground control, as services instead of developing and deploying government-owned networks or spacecraft.
This year, GAO's work on space acquisitions continued to show that DOD faces several major challenges as it undertakes efforts to change its approaches to space acquisitions. Our work assessed a range of issues including DOD's analysis supporting its decisions on future weather satellites, space leadership, and the introduction of competition into space launch acquisitions. These and other studies surfaced several challenges:
First, though DOD is conducting analyses of alternatives to support decisions about the future of space programs, there are gaps in cost and other data needed to weigh the pros and cons of changes to space systems.
Second, most changes being considered today will impact ground systems and user equipment, but these systems continue to be troubled by management and development issues.
Third, leadership for space acquisitions is still fragmented, which will likely hamper the implementation of new acquisition approaches, especially those that stretch across satellites, ground systems and user equipment.

What GAO Recommends

Past GAO reports have generally recommended that DOD adopt best practices. DOD has generally agreed and taken actions to address these recommendations. Consequently, GAO is not making any recommendations in this statement.