Andrew Yee[_1_]
January 29th 08, 01:28 AM
NOAA
Washington, D.C.
Media Contact:
John Leslie, 301-713-2087 ext. 174
January 22, 2008
NOAA Administrator Expresses Concern over Satellite Contractor Delay
NOAA's top official today expressed concern that a contractor's slow
development of a critical new sensor will delay its delivery for a scheduled
launch of a precursor mission for the National Polar-Orbiting Environmental
Satellite System (NPOESS).
Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., speaking at a meeting of the
tri-agency NPOESS Executive Committee (EXCOM), pointed to continued problems
with the contractor's performance on the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer
Suite (VIIRS), which is scheduled to fly on NASA's NPOESS Preparatory
Project (NPP).
"I am extremely disappointed with the pace of the contractor in analyzing
and closing potential quality, workmanship, and testing issues in the VIIRS
program," said Lautenbacher. "The contractor's lack of progress on fixing
several technical issues is unacceptable and has resulted in significant
delays to the original VIIRS planned delivery."
At the meeting, the EXCOM acknowledged that the VIIRS delivery would be
delayed so that the sensor contractor could properly address technical
issues uncovered during the most recent test phase of the sensor. The VIIRS
instrument delivery delay will push back the launch of NPP, a data
continuity and risk reduction mission.
As corrective measures, the EXCOM directed the NPOESS contractors to
increase management oversight at the VIIRS facility. The EXCOM also directed
the Program Executive Officer for NPOESS to conduct bi-weekly reviews with
the contractor's senior-level executives.
Lautenbacher said, "We will continue to remain vigilant so that the current
problems do not have a cost or schedule impact on the NPOESS program."
VIIRS is a new, advanced sensor that will collect visible and infrared
imagery and data for weather forecasting and climate monitoring.
NPOESS will combine NOAA's current polar-orbiting satellite operations with
the Department of Defense's Meteorological Satellite Program into one
system. With the launch of the first spacecraft planned for 2013, NPOESS
will bring improved data and imagery, allowing for better weather forecasts,
severe-weather monitoring and detection of climate change.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S.
Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and
national safety through the prediction and research of weather and
climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation,
and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and
marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 70
countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network
that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.
Washington, D.C.
Media Contact:
John Leslie, 301-713-2087 ext. 174
January 22, 2008
NOAA Administrator Expresses Concern over Satellite Contractor Delay
NOAA's top official today expressed concern that a contractor's slow
development of a critical new sensor will delay its delivery for a scheduled
launch of a precursor mission for the National Polar-Orbiting Environmental
Satellite System (NPOESS).
Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., speaking at a meeting of the
tri-agency NPOESS Executive Committee (EXCOM), pointed to continued problems
with the contractor's performance on the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer
Suite (VIIRS), which is scheduled to fly on NASA's NPOESS Preparatory
Project (NPP).
"I am extremely disappointed with the pace of the contractor in analyzing
and closing potential quality, workmanship, and testing issues in the VIIRS
program," said Lautenbacher. "The contractor's lack of progress on fixing
several technical issues is unacceptable and has resulted in significant
delays to the original VIIRS planned delivery."
At the meeting, the EXCOM acknowledged that the VIIRS delivery would be
delayed so that the sensor contractor could properly address technical
issues uncovered during the most recent test phase of the sensor. The VIIRS
instrument delivery delay will push back the launch of NPP, a data
continuity and risk reduction mission.
As corrective measures, the EXCOM directed the NPOESS contractors to
increase management oversight at the VIIRS facility. The EXCOM also directed
the Program Executive Officer for NPOESS to conduct bi-weekly reviews with
the contractor's senior-level executives.
Lautenbacher said, "We will continue to remain vigilant so that the current
problems do not have a cost or schedule impact on the NPOESS program."
VIIRS is a new, advanced sensor that will collect visible and infrared
imagery and data for weather forecasting and climate monitoring.
NPOESS will combine NOAA's current polar-orbiting satellite operations with
the Department of Defense's Meteorological Satellite Program into one
system. With the launch of the first spacecraft planned for 2013, NPOESS
will bring improved data and imagery, allowing for better weather forecasts,
severe-weather monitoring and detection of climate change.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S.
Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and
national safety through the prediction and research of weather and
climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation,
and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and
marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 70
countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network
that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.