The National Polar- Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System

Given the expectation that converging the POES and DMSP programs would reduce duplication and result in sizable cost savings, a May 1994 presidential decision directive required NOAA and DOD to converge the two satellite programs into a single satellite program capable of satisfying both civilian and military requirements. To handle these increased data volumes, the four processing centers have begun high-level planning to transform their respective satellite data processing infrastructures. In summary, today’s polar-orbiting weather satellite program is essential to a variety of civilian and military operations, ranging from weather warnings and forecasts to specialized weather products. NPOESS is expected to merge today’s two separate satellite systems into a single state-of-the-art weather and environmental monitoring satellite system to support all users. To prepare for these increased data volumes, the four data processing centers must address key data management challenges— including building up their respective infrastructures and working to be able to efficiently incorporate new data in their derived weather products and models.
Why GAO Did This Study

This testimony discusses the planned National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS).

What GAO Found

Today's polar-orbiting environmental satellite program is a complex infrastructure encompassing two satellite systems, supporting ground stations, and four central data processing centers that provide general weather information and specialized environmental products to a variety of users, including weather forecasters, the military, and the public. NPOESS will merge the two satellite systems into a single state-of-the-art environment monitoring satellite system, at a significant cost savings. To handle this increased volume of satellite data, the four processing centers will need to build up their respective infrastructures, and they will need to efficiently incorporate new data into their weather products and models.