Eric Colburn, PLS

Professional Land Surveyor News

The following information is taken from the “Highlights” page of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the GAO’s study and evaluation of how ready NOAA and NASA are for a possible satellite coverage gap from April to October 2015.

This potential gap in satellite coverage is attributable to contract delays and the probable failing of aging Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-14 and GOES-15, whose procurement and management are The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) responsibilities.

Links the entire GAO GOES report are at the end of this post.

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites

Improvements Needed in Continuity Planning and Involvement of Key Users

Why GAO Did This Study

The Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with the aid of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is to procure the next generation of geostationary operational environmental satellites, called Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R) series. The GOES-R series is to replace the current series of satellites, which will likely begin to reach the end of their useful lives in approximately 2015. This new series is considered critical to the United States’ ability to maintain the continuity of data required for weather forecasting through the year 2028.

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