The joint NOAA and DOD National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite system has raised the ire of Congress, as one of many space programs that appear to have gone off the rails. It has Congressional auditors worrying about a possible weather gap. NPOESS has breached the Nunn-McCurdy rule, making its continued existence questionable. Yet, defense analyst Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute, says the problems with NPOESS “aren’t so serious” as some folks believe. In fact, he says, one reason NPOESS wound up on the breach roll is because of an “accounting change, not a technology problem.” What troubles the program has “reside in a handful of sensors rather than overall design,” says Thompson. Will it get a second chance
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.