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                    Most Recent Reports**1 - 20 of 1272 Reports**
	
	

	
	  **Released on   Mar 26, 2024**
          Space Acquisitions: Analysis of Two DOD Reports to Congress
    GAO-24-106984
      Published:   Mar 26, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Mar 26, 2024
.
    The Department of Defense plans to spend billions on space technology, such as satellites, that could help the U.S. Space Force contribute to national security and more. But in its space acquisitions, DOD has historically struggled with ballooning costs, schedule overruns, and fragmented leadership. This Q&A report discusses two reports that DOD and the Air Force, which oversees the Space Force, released in 2020 and...
      **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 7, 2023**
          Commercial Space Transportation: FAA Should Improve Its Mishap Investigation Process
    GAO-24-105561
      Published:   Dec 7, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 7, 2023
.
    The commercial space industry is rapidly growing as private companies transport cargo, satellites, and people to space. But not all launches go smoothly. Some have exploded or otherwise failed, which can endanger the public. Usually, FAA is responsible for finding out what caused such mishaps. Although FAA can investigate a mishap itself, it has always opted to authorize the launch operator to investigate under agency...
      **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   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   Jun 8, 2023**
          Space Command and Control: Improved Tracking and Reporting Would Clarify Progress amid Persistent Delays
    GAO-23-105920
      Published:   Jun 8, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jun 8, 2023
.
    The Department of Defense relies on software-intensive systems for command and control of satellites and other space assets. With space more crowded than ever and threats to military satellites increasing, replacing DOD's aging command and control systems has become even more urgent. Reports on the system replacement program within DOD and to Congress don't include context, consistent metrics, or other information that would give a...
      **Released on   Jun 5, 2023**
          GPS Modernization: Space Force Should Reassess Requirements for Satellites and Handheld Devices
    GAO-23-106018
      Published:   Jun 5, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jun 5, 2023
.
    DOD has worked for years to upgrade GPS with a military-specific signal known as M-code. DOD plans to have the needed ground, space, and user equipment ready soon. But it's unclear whether the current constellation of 24 satellites will meet some users' accuracy needs. Having 3 more satellites could help, but DOD may not be able to keep all 27 available consistently over the next...
      **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   Apr 24, 2023**
          Space Situational Awareness: DOD Should Evaluate How It Can Use Commercial Data
    GAO-23-105565
      Published:   Apr 24, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 24, 2023
.
    Historically, DOD has relied on its own systems to monitor objects in space and assess the potential for collisions with satellites. Tracking these objects is known as “space situational awareness.” In recent years, commercial companies have begun collecting more data on space objects. DOD already uses some of this data to maintain its awareness as the number of threats and objects in space grows. DOD...
      **Released on   Apr 10, 2023**
          Satellite Control Network: Updating Sustainment Plan Would Help Space Force Better Manage Future Efforts
    GAO-23-105505
      Published:   Apr 10, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 10, 2023
.
    Space Force—a branch of the U.S. military—runs a network of 19 antennas around the world that communicate with and control U.S. government satellites. This network is aging and difficult to maintain. At the same time, demand on the network is increasing as more satellites are launched. Space Force's long-term plan to sustain this network hasn't been updated since 2017, so it doesn't reflect recent acquisitions...
      **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 29, 2022**
          Large Constellations of Satellites: Mitigating Environmental and Other Effects
    GAO-22-105166
      Published:   Sep 29, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Sep 29, 2022
.
    For decades, satellites have been used for GPS, communications, and remote sensing. The number of satellites has recently increased, as thousands more have been launched to provide internet access. But this increase may be disruptive. For example, it could lead to more space debris, which can damage existing satellites used for commerce or national security. We reviewed technologies and other tools to lessen potential effects...
      **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...
      **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   Jun 2, 2022**
          U.S. Space Command: Air Force Should Develop Guidance for Strengthening Future Basing Decisions
    GAO-22-106055
      Published:   Jun 2, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jun 2, 2022
.
    We reviewed the Air Force's process for identifying the preferred location for U.S. Space Command headquarters. We assessed the process against 21 "Analysis of Alternatives" best practices, which can help increase transparency and avoid the presence or appearance of bias. The practices are grouped into four characteristics of a high-quality analysis: comprehensive, well-documented, unbiased, and credible. We found that the Air Force's process did not...
    
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