The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration continues to face technical issues, delays, cost growth and the potential for gaps in coverage on its two primary weather satellite systems, according to a pair of Government Accountability Office reports. NOAA has made progress on both its polar and geostationary orbiting satellite programs, but also is juggling multiple risks, the GAO said. For example, NOAA has managed to reduce an anticipated gap in coverage from its Joint Polar Satellite System from 18 to three months. But that gap could wind up being substantially longer for reasons that include uncertainty over the time needed for on-orbit validation and a higher probably of a destructive orbital impact to its current polar asset, the Suomi NPP satellite, the GAO said.
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