National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Program Restructured
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The White House announced a major restructuring of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) as a result of delays, cost overruns, and difficulties with the management and budget structure. NPOESS was conceived in 1994 as a multi-agency initiative to develop a constellation of polar orbiting environmental satellites that would provide global coverage on weather, atmosphere, oceans, land, and space.
The new program will remain as an interagency initiative involving NOAA, NASA, and the U.S. Air Force, but with new operating structures. Funding details will be included with the final federal FY 2011 budget.
For more information about the NPOESS program, see the NOAA Satellite and Information Service website: http://npoess.noaa.gov/index.php.