**GAO-09-323**                      Published: Apr 02, 2009. Publicly Released: Apr 23, 2009.                  

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## Highlights

The Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with the aid of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), plans to procure the next generation of geostationary operational environmental satellites, called the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R series (GOES-R). GOES-R is to replace the current series of satellites, which will likely begin to reach the end of their useful lives in approximately 2014. This series is considered critical to the United States' ability to maintain the continuity of data required for weather forecasting through the year 2028. GAO was asked to (1) determine the status of the GOES-R program, (2) evaluate whether plans for the acquisition address problems experienced on similar programs, and (3) determine whether NOAA's plan will be adequate to support current data requirements. To do so, GAO analyzed contractor and program data and interviewed officials from NOAA and NASA.

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## Topics

Government Operations

Cost analysisCost overrunsData collectionData integrityEarth resources satellitesEarth sciences data systemsGeosynchronous satellitesLessons learnedProcurement planningProgram evaluationProgram managementReporting requirementsRisk managementSatellitesSchedule slippagesStrategic planningTechnologyTechnology assessmentWeatherWeather forecastingCost estimatesProgram implementation