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                    Most Recent Reports**1 - 20 of 731 Reports**
	
	

	
	  **Released on   Feb 21, 2024**
          Commercial Space Transportation: FAA's Oversight of Human Spaceflight
    GAO-24-106184
      Published:   Feb 21, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Feb 21, 2024
.
    The commercial space industry is rapidly growing as private companies transport cargo, satellites, and people to space. The Federal Aviation Administration oversees these commercial space operations. FAA is working with industry as it prepares to potentially expand its oversight of operations with people on board. FAA chartered a rulemaking committee in April 2023 to solicit industry input on future regulations aimed at protecting people's health...
      **Released on   Jan 17, 2024**
          NASA Artemis Programs: Lunar Landing Plans Are Progressing but Challenges Remain
    GAO-24-107249
      Published:   Jan 17, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jan 17, 2024
.
    NASA is making progress on its Artemis missions, including Artemis III, which will eventually land humans on the moon for the first time since 1972. We testified that: NASA has made progress on its test flights, including launching Artemis I in 2022 Our prior work showed that Artemis III was unlikely to occur in 2025, and NASA recently adjusted the launch date to 2026 NASA...
      **Released on   Dec 14, 2023**
          Artificial Intelligence in Natural Hazard Modeling: Severe Storms, Hurricanes, Floods, and Wildfires
    GAO-24-106213
      Published:   Dec 14, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 14, 2023
.
    Severe storms, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires kill hundreds of people and cause billions of dollars in damage in the U.S. each year. Forecasting models can help predict these hazards. Machine learning—a type of artificial intelligence —can help improve model accuracy, increase warning times, and reduce uncertainty. Some machine learning forecasting models are in use, but there are challenges to developing and adopting them more widely...
      **Released on   Dec 12, 2023**
          Artificial Intelligence: Agencies Have Begun Implementation but Need to Complete Key Requirements
    GAO-24-105980
      Published:   Dec 12, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 12, 2023
.
    Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the world and could improve government operations. For example, federal agencies can use AI to analyze drone photos and large datasets. But safeguards are needed to manage AI risks. Federal law and guidance have several requirements for agencies implementing AI, but they haven't all been met. For example, there's no government-wide guidance on how agencies should acquire and use AI...
      **Released on   Nov 30, 2023**
          NASA Artemis Programs: Crewed Moon Landing Faces Multiple Challenges
    GAO-24-106256
      Published:   Nov 30, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 30, 2023
.
    NASA is taking steps to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972—in a mission called Artemis III. NASA and its contractors made progress since our last report on the Artemis missions, but they are still facing challenges with developing the lunar lander and space suits. For example, some flight tests have been delayed, which could affect the timing of subsequent tests...
      **Released on   Nov 28, 2023**
          Small Business Research Programs: Information Regarding Subaward Use and Data Quality
    GAO-24-106399
      Published:   Nov 28, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 28, 2023
.
    Agencies that participate in the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs have helped small businesses bring new technologies to market—such as a low-cost, energy-efficient alternative to fluorescent lights. Small businesses that receive these awards are allowed to use subcontractors and consultants (such as other companies, academic institutions, and nonprofits) to assist with these projects. We estimated that about 70% of award...
      **Released on   Sep 7, 2023**
          Space Launch System: Cost Transparency Needed to Monitor Program Affordability
    GAO-23-105609
      Published:   Sep 7, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Sep 7, 2023
.
    Last year, NASA launched its Artemis I flight test using a Space Launch System rocket, or SLS. NASA plans to spend billions of dollars to produce more rockets. It also needs to build progressively stronger versions of these rockets for use on Artemis missions into the 2030s. Original SLS cost baselines, or committed costs, were tied to the launch of Artemis I. Without a baseline...
      **Released on   Jul 27, 2023**
          Leading Practices: Iterative Cycles Enable Rapid Delivery of Complex, Innovative Products
    GAO-23-106222
      Published:   Jul 27, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jul 27, 2023
.
    Agencies are increasingly investing in products that combine hardware and software—"cyber-physical systems"—to meet their mission needs. Traditional acquisition processes don't support speedy delivery of these systems. Leading companies get these kinds of systems to market quickly using iterative design, testing, and feedback processes. For example, data from simulations and tests are recorded in a "digital thread"—a tool that product teams can access in real time...
      **Released on   May 31, 2023**
          NASA: Assessments of Major Projects
    GAO-23-106021
      Published:   May 31, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   May 31, 2023
.
    NASA plans to invest over $83 billion in its major projects to continue exploring Earth, the moon, and the solar system. This is our 15th annual assessment of these projects. In the last year, NASA decreased its total project "overruns"—when costs incurred are more than budgeted—by almost $5 billion. The agency's largest, most complex projects have the biggest impact on these overruns. A key factor...
      **Released on   May 10, 2023**
          Priority Open Recommendations: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    GAO-23-106496
      Published:   May 3, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   May 10, 2023
.
    Each year, we make more than 1,000 recommendations to help the federal government save money, address issues on our High Risk List , and significantly improve government operations. This letter to NASA outlines 9 open recommendations that it should prioritize. For example, we recommended that NASA create cost and schedule targets for some of the major systems required for upcoming Artemis lunar missions. NASA implemented...
      **Released on   Dec 8, 2022**
          National Security Space: Overview of Contracts for Commercial Satellite Imagery
    GAO-23-106042
      Published:   Dec 8, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 8, 2022
.
    Commercial satellite imagery and data can play a key role in national security. For example, the war in Ukraine has drawn attention to how governments are using commercial satellites to track troop movement and the impact of attacks. The commercial space industry is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, and therefore may be able to address more of the federal government's imagery needs...
      **Released on   Sep 22, 2022**
          Privacy: Dedicated Leadership Can Improve Programs and Address Challenges
    GAO-22-105065
      Published:   Sep 22, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Sep 22, 2022
.
    Federal agencies that collect personally identifiable information—such as birthplaces and Social Security numbers—are required to establish programs to protect it. The 24 agencies we examined had designated a senior agency official for privacy, as required. However, these officials may have numerous other duties and may not bring a needed focus on privacy. They generally delegated many aspects of privacy programs to less-senior officials. We recommended...
      **Released on   Sep 20, 2022**
          Tracking the Funds: Specific Fiscal Year 2022 Provisions for National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    GAO-22-105921
      Published:   Sep 20, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Sep 20, 2022
.
    As part of FY22 appropriations, Members of Congress could request to designate a certain amount of federal funding for specific projects in their communities. While agencies often have discretion over how they award funds, Congress has directed them to distribute these funds to designated recipients. We're tracking the funds to help ensure transparency. NASA's FY22 appropriations included $22.7 million for 21 of these projects. This...
      **Released on   Sep 8, 2022**
          NASA Lunar Programs: Improved Mission Guidance Needed as Artemis Complexity Grows
    GAO-22-105323
      Published:   Sep 8, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Sep 8, 2022
.
    NASA is embarking on a series of missions—collectively known as Artemis—that will return astronauts to the moon and ultimately bring humans to Mars over the next decade-plus. The guidance NASA uses to create and manage Artemis mission schedules was intended for individual programs, not missions. Missions integrate several programs together and require coordination across different NASA divisions and with contractors. Schedule guidance specifically for missions...
          Science & Tech Spotlight: Brain-Computer Interfaces
    GAO-22-106118
      Published:   Sep 8, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Sep 8, 2022
.
    Brain-computer interfaces allow people to control machines using their thoughts. The technology is still largely experimental, but its possibilities are vast. For example, it could help people with paralysis regain control of their limbs and enable servicemembers to operate a drone hands-free on the battlefield. Yet, creating a direct connection between brain and machine may raise concerns. For example, it could give users unfair advantages...
      **Released on   Jul 28, 2022**
          Research Reliability: Federal Actions Needed to Promote Stronger Research Practices
    GAO-22-104411
      Published:   Jul 28, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jul 28, 2022
.
    While scientific discoveries can be serendipitous, reliable research is more often built on successive studies that employ rigorous design, documentation, and confirmation. The U.S. government funded over $42 billion in science research in 2019. How can federal agencies help assure the reliability of that research? Experts and others have suggested that agencies implement practices such as disclosing results and methods earlier, as well as incentivizing...
      **Released on   Jul 27, 2022**
          Priority Open Recommendations: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    GAO-22-105726
      Published:   Jul 20, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jul 27, 2022
.
    Each year, we make more than 1,000 recommendations to help improve the federal government. We alert department heads to where they can save the most money, address issues on our High Risk List , or significantly improve government operations. This report outlines our 9 priority open recommendations for NASA as of June 2022. For example, in December 2019, we recommended that NASA create a life-cycle...
      **Released on   Jun 23, 2022**
          NASA: Assessments of Major Projects
    GAO-22-105212
      Published:   Jun 23, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jun 23, 2022
.
    NASA plans to invest over $80 billion in its major projects to continue exploring Earth, the moon, and the solar system. This is our 14th annual assessment of NASA's major projects. In 2021, NASA completed six projects, including launching the James Webb space telescope. But, in the last year, NASA's major projects collectively exceeded their cost estimates by almost $3 billion. They also surpassed their...
      **Released on   Jun 7, 2022**
          International Space Station: Opportunities Exist to Improve Communication with National Laboratory Users
    GAO-22-105147
      Published:   Jun 7, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jun 7, 2022
.
    The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space manages the International Space Station National Laboratory for NASA. Some companies and universities not affiliated with NASA may want access to the lab for research that can't be done on Earth. The Center allocates resources, such as time astronauts may spend on these research projects. Recently, the Center formed an advisory committee of these users to...
      **Released on   May 9, 2022**
          Transforming Aviation: Stakeholders Identified Issues to Address for 'Advanced Air Mobility'
    GAO-22-105020
      Published:   May 9, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   May 9, 2022
.
    In the near future, "Advanced Air Mobility" services could fill the skies with small, highly-automated, electric aircraft that can take off and land vertically. Carrying people or cargo, these aircraft could reduce congestion, provide lifesaving medical transportation, and more. What would it take to make this a reality? Stakeholders described several steps, including: FAA approval of new aircraft designs Demonstration of the aircraft's safety, reliability...
    
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