United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office National Security and International Affairs Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1997-12-01 monographic deposited born digital 44 p. GA 1.13:NSIAD-98-42 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-42 P0b002ee18037183f f:ns98042 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-42 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-42 NSIAD-98-42 Space exploration Aerospace research Satellites Military communication Data collection Interagency relations Military intelligence Radar equipment Warning systems Systems compatibility Space Shuttle NASA International Space Station Alpha Program DOD Space Surveillance Network SDI Ground-Based Radar SDI Theater High Altitude Area Defense System THAADS Navy Space Surveillance System DOD Space-Based Infrared System DOD Space-Based Infrared System-Low Chapter Report NSIAD GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) space surveillance requirements and DOD's space surveillance capabilities, focusing on: (1) how well DOD's existing surveillance capabilities support DOD's and NASA's current and future surveillance requirements; and (2) the extent to which potential surveillance capabilities and technologies are coordinated to provide opportunities for improvements.<p/>GAO noted that: (1) DOD's existing space surveillance network is not capable of providing the information NASA needs to adequately predict collisions between space objects orbiting the earth and multibillion dollar space programs like the space station; (2) the existing network cannot satisfy DOD's emerging space surveillance requirements, which are currently under review; (3) DOD's plans--to modernize an existing surveillance network radar system and develop three new ballistic missile warning systems that could contribute to performing the surveillance function--do not adequately consider DOD's or NASA's surveillance requirements; (4) these four systems are separately managed by the Navy, the Air Force, and the Army; (5) an opportunity exists to consider these systems' potential capabilities to enhance the surveillance network to better satisfy requirements and achieve greater benefits from planned investment in space sensor technology; (6) despite NASA's dependency on DOD to provide space object information, the 1996 National Space Policy makes no provision for an interagency mechanism--either organizational or funding--to ensure that DOD's surveillance capabilities satisfy NASA's requirements; (7) overall, there is no authoritative direction, formal agreement, or clear plan on how DOD and NASA could consolidate their space surveillance requirements for a common capability; (8) a coordinated interagency plan that considers all existing and planned space surveillance capabilities could be beneficial in making cost-effective decisions to satisfy a consolidated set of national security and civil space surveillance requirements; (9) unless DOD and NASA can agree on such a plan, an opportunity may be missed to simultaneously: (a) achieve efficiencies; (b) better ensure the safety of the planned multibillion dollar space station; and (c) help satisfy national security needs, including the U.S. forces' future needs for space asset information. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-42/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-42.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-42/pdf/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-42.pdf GAO/NSIAD-98-42 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-42 Chapter Report GAO/NSIAD-98-42; Space Surveillance: DOD and NASA Need Consolidated Requirements and a Coordinated Plan; Space exploration Aerospace research Satellites Military communication Data collection Interagency relations Military intelligence Radar equipment Warning systems Systems compatibility Space Shuttle NASA International Space Station Alpha Program DOD Space Surveillance Network SDI Ground-Based Radar SDI Theater High Altitude Area Defense System THAADS Navy Space Surveillance System DOD Space-Based Infrared System DOD Space-Based Infrared System-Low