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Continued Oversight of NOAA's Geostationary Weather Satellite System 23 Apr 2009
At the request of the House Committee on Science and Technology, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) submitted its latest report on the progress of the new GOES-R series of geostationary weather satellites being developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). On 23 April 2009, the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment heard testimony from GAO, NOAA, and NASA on the status of the program and the GAO's findings and recommendations.
Among the witnesses were David Powner, Director of Information Technology Management Issues at GAO, Mary Ellen Kicza, Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services at NOAA, and George Morrow, Director of Flight Projects Directorate at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
The Subcommittee noted that “NOAA depends on its GOES satellites to detect and track weather systems affecting the Western Hemisphere. The Severe Storm Center uses GOES to track tornadoes, hailstorms and other weather events threatening life and property over land. For the Hurricane Center, GOES shows developing storms in the areas of the oceans where there are no other observational sensors.” Several committee members are concerned about the continuous delays and increasing costs of the satellites. However, Kicza stated that “one third of U.S. Gross Domestic Product is impacted by the weather and climate sensors that NOAA brings to bear.”
Please visit the Subcommittee's Hearing Charter, the GAO Report, the Chairman's Opening Statement, and the Witness Statements.