Managers of the U.S. government's next-generation geostationary weather satellite system remain hopeful of meeting a targeted 2015 initial launch date despite an uncertain 2009 budget and its potential impact on two major contract awards, the manager of the program said Sept. 23. Officials with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have said they need $477 million in 2009 - a $242.5 million increase from 2008 - for the Geostationary-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite-R, or GOES-R, system. Plans call for awarding contracts for the space and ground segments of the system in early 2009, said Greg Mandt, NOAA's GOES-R program director.
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