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Space-related Reports

Earth Observing System, Weather and Climate

• Environmental Satellites: Polar-orbiting Satellite Acquisition Faces Delays; Decisions Needed on Whether and How to Ensure Climate Data Continuity GAO-08-899T June 19, 2008
• Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites: Further Actions Needed to Effectively Manage Risks GAO-08-183T October 23, 2007
• Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites: Progress Has Been Made, but Improvements Are Needed to Effectively Manage Risks GAO-08-18 October 23, 2007
• Environmental Satellite Acquisitions: Progress and Challenges GAO-07-1099T July 11, 2007
• Weather Forecasting: National Weather Service's Operations Prototype Needs More Rigorous Planning GAO-07-650 June 8, 2007
• Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites: Restructuring Is Under Way, but Challenges and Risks Remain GAO-07-910T June 7, 2007
• Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites: Cost Increases Trigger Review and Place Program's Direction on Hold, GAO-06-573T, March 30, 2006
• Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites: Technical Problems, Cost Increases, and Schedule Delays Trigger Need for Difficult Trade-off Decisions, GAO-06-249T, November 16, 2005
• Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellites: Information on Program Cost and Schedule Changes. GAO-04-1054, September 30, 2004.
• Geospatial Information: Better Coordination and Oversight Could Help Reduce Duplicative Investments, by Linda D. Koontz, director, information management, before the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census, House Committee on Government Reform. GAO-04-824T, June 23, 2004. [PDF 1.7MB]
• Geospatial Information: Better Coordination Needed to Identify and Reduce Duplicative Investments. GAO-04-703, June 23, 2004. [PDF 3.8MB]
• Geospatial Information: Technologies Hold Promise for Wildland Fire Management, but Challenges Remain, (GAO-03-1047), September 23, 2003 [PDF 7.89 Mb]
• Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellites: Project Risks Could Affect Continuity of Data for Weather Forecasts, by David A. Powner, acting director, Information Technology, before the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards, House Committee on Science (GAO-03-987T) July 15, 2003

• POLAR-ORBITING ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITES: Status, Plans, and Future Data Management Challenges, Statement of Linda D. Koontz, Director, Information Management Issues, July 24, 2002 (GAO-02-684T) [PDF 1.8 Mb]

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: National Weather Service Modernization and Weather Satellite Program [T-AIMD-00-086] 03/29/2000

• Weather Satellites: Planning for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Program Needs More Attention (Chapter Report, 03/13/97, GAO/AIMD-97-37). [PDF Version]

• Earth Observing System: Concerns Over NASA's Basic Research Funding Strategy (Letter Report, 07/11/96, GAO/NSIAD-96-97). [PDF Version]
• Earth Science Information Network: Relationship of Consortium to Federal Agencies (Letter Report, 10/27/95, GAO/NSIAD-96-13). [PDF Version]

• Global Warming: Limitations of General Circulation Models and Costs of Modeling Efforts (Letter Report, 07/13/95, GAO/RCED-95-164). [PDF Version]
• NASA's Earth Observing System: Estimated Funding Requirements (Letter Report, 06/09/95, GAO/NSIAD-95-175). [PDF Version]
• Weather Forecasting: Unmet Needs and Unknown Costs Warrant Reassessment of Observing System Plans (Chapter Report, 04/21/95, GAO/AIMD-95-81). [PDF Version]

• Weather Forecasting: Systems Architecture Needed for National Weather Service Modernization (Chapter Report, 03/11/94, GAO/AIMD-94-28). [PDF Version 3.5 Mb]