Polar Orbiting Weather Satellite Programs V. B-180466

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B-180466 1 (1974-04-11)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaafrm0001 and id is 1 raw text is:

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COMPTROLLER GENERAL OFTHE2UNITEDjiTAre
WASHINGTON. 01C. 2W w

B- 180466
iPR 1 I

The Honorable Frank E. Moss
Chairman, Committee on Aeronautical
6, and Space Sciences .i , i r .
United States Senate LM095911

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Your January 16, 1974, letter asked us to obtain cost and other data
on both the Department of the Air Force and the joint National Aeronauticsf
and Space Administration (NASA)/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration (NOAA) polar orbiting weather satellite programs.

We interviewed officials in NASA, NOAA, the Department of the Air
Force and the Office of Management and Budget ((iMB). At these meetings
they told us of the existence of two classified studies which provided
some comparative analyses of the technical charicteristics and costs of
the NASA and Air Force operational weather sateJlite systems and the
follow-on systems in development.

We then met with your staff on February 13, 1974, and orally presented
the information. At that meeting your staff as ed us for a written re-
port. We have not independently verified the dita; however, we have dis-
cussed the matters in this report with the ageny officials.

We plan to discuss briefly the history of the NASA/NOAA and Air Force
satellite systems, compare the characteristics 4,f both systems, provide
cost comparisons of the operational and developiiental satellite systems,
and furnish information on plans to obtain some measure of commonality of
both systems.

HISTORY OF NASA/NOAA PROGRAM

The purpose of the joint NASA/NOAA weather satellite system is to
provide systematic, global cloud cover observations and oter meteorologi-
c al observations to increase man's ability to forecast weather conditions.
it is also to observe, collect and dJsseminate comprchcn~ive data and
information about the state of the upper and lower atmosplhcre, the oceans
and their resources,inlandwaters,_ the earth, the sun, and the space,
envir -oeht-The NASA/NOAA system provides data for weather predictions
not-o-n-y'-to the United Statesut also to foreign countries.

~~o9~ -~REST ED Lju~ AVUPL