Sen. Cantwell Says NPOESS IRT Report is "Pretty Damning"

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Commerce subcommittee with jurisdiction over NOAA, said that the report of the NPOESS Independent Review Team, chaired by Tom Young, is “pretty damning of the current process.” NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco said that fixing NPOESS was one of her highest priorities, and the three agencies (NOAA, DOD, and NASA) are working with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to determine the best way forward. She said that the IPT put four options on the table, but did not elaborate. A SpacePolicyOnline.com summary of this congressional hearing is available here.

On May 20, Senator Bill Nelson stated at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, which he chairs, that the IPT recommended that NASA design and operate the system for NOAA with the cooperation of DOD instead of the tri-agency management structure now in place. He also said the program will cost an additional $1-1.5 billion. A SpacePolicyOnline.com summary of that hearing is available here.

The House Science and Technology Committee’s Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee is planning a hearing specifically on NPOESS next week (June 17, 2:00-4:00, 2318 Rayburn).