Global SatShow Global SatShow
#SILAWARDS #5thGSS
  • Home
  • Virtual Exhibit
    • Why Virtual Exhibit
    • Who Virtual Exhibits
    • Virtual Exhibiting Options
  • Webinars
    • Schedule
    • Register
    • Become A Sponsor
  • SILAwards
  • Registration
  • Book Your Space
  • Contact Us
  • Media

More Accurate Satellite Docs will be Required from U.S. NOAA

Satellite

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has revealed a new report which concerns Satellite Industry closely. According to office’s 86 page report, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) needs to ensure its timelines for launching and obtaining satellite information are accurate, clear and fully documented.

In doing so, and providing more accurate and analyzed data, GAO believes NOAA and Congress, which funds NOAA missions, will be able to better evaluate the life of a spacecraft and requisite funds to launch new satellites when necessary.

What is NOAA responsible for?

NOAA is in charge of launching and maintaining several weather-related satellites and currently manages two weather satellite programs:

– Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES ) which is a geostationary program.

– Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) which is a polar-orbiting satellite program

Those programs provides critical environmental data used in weather forecasts and warnings.

Both programs measurements feed into forecasts for severe weather, such as hurricanes, tornadoes and blizzards. And also for assessments of environmental hazards such as droughts, forest fires, poor air quality and harmful coastal waters.

“NOAA could do more”

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently working to acquire the next generation of satellites to replace existing spacecraft that are reaching the end of their mission lives. However, The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found NOAA could do a more coherent job of publishing new timelines for these replacements such as depicting its expectations for how long its operational satellites will last and when it plans to launch new satellites.

From the report:

“NOAA updated the geostationary and polar-orbiting flyout charts three times between March 2014 and January 2016. Key changes included adding newly planned satellites; removing a satellite that reached the end of its life; and adjusting planned dates for when satellites would launch, begin operations, and reach the end of their lives.”

However, in its efforts to provide updated flyout charts to Congress, GAO finds NOAA has not consistently ensured that the data were supported by stringent analysis of the satellites’ health and availability. Without requiring that the satellite programs conduct regular assessments of satellite availability, it is difficult to determine how long satellites will last. It also found the reports were not accurate and consistent with supporting program data, clear in how a satellite’s extended life is portrayed or fully documented.

“Part of the reason for these issues is that NOAA has not established a policy that includes these steps. Until NOAA addresses the shortfalls in its practices and updates its policy to help ensure the flyout charts are accurate, consistent, and well-documented, it runs an increased risk that its flyout charts will be misleading to Congress and may lead to less-than-optimal decisions,” the report also says.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Google +

Related Posts

What is ESOA and what does it do?

What is ESOA and what does it do?

ESOA stands for EMEA Satellite Operators Association. It is a non-profit organization established in the year 2002 with its headquarters in Brussels. ...

read more
GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM (GNSS): A Revolutionary Invention of Modern Day Science and Technology

GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM (GNSS): A Revolutionary Invention of Modern Day Science and Technology

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is a wireless communication system through which time and positioning of objects can be traced via exchange ...

read more
Astronomical Satellites: An eye placed in the sky

Astronomical Satellites: An eye placed in the sky

Astronomical satellites are not simply a product of modern thinking, but its roots lie in the human psychology. It’s an inherent curiosity to find wha ...

read more
What is Satellite Communication?

What is Satellite Communication?

We rely heavily on satellite communication in our modern world, but that reliance does not necessarily transfer into an understanding of how satellite ...

read more
Satellites and their applications

Satellites and their applications

Satellites are the continuously orbiting objects around a bigger object, mostly a planet. Scientists from the early years have been trying to explore ...

read more

Categories

  • Broadcast (1)
  • IBC (4)
  • Maritime (1)
  • Mars Colony (2)
  • Mobile Operators (3)
  • Satellite (7)
  • SatShow (2)
  • Space industry (1)
  • Telecommunications (4)
  • Virtual Exhibit
    • Why Virtual Exhibit
    • Who Virtual Exhibits
    • Virtual Exhibiting Options
    • Book Your Space
  • Webinars
  • SILAwards
  • Registration
  • Contact Us
  • Media

STAY UP TO DATE

Sign up for the Global SatShow e-Newsletter and stay up to date with the latest developments in the event and industry.

ORGANISED BY

#SILAWARDS #5thGSS
2020 © Global SatShow. All right reserved
  • Home
  • Virtual Exhibit
    • Why Virtual Exhibit
    • Who Virtual Exhibits
    • Virtual Exhibiting Options
    • Book Your Space
  • Webinars
    • Schedule
    • Register
    • Become A Sponsor
  • SILAwards
  • Registration
  • Contact Us
  • Media