Skip to main content

Space Operations: NASA's Communications Support for Earth Orbiting Spacecraft

IMTEC-89-41 Published: Apr 07, 1989. Publicly Released: May 12, 1989.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) plans for providing emergency backup communications support for earth-orbiting spacecraft.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The Administrator, NASA, should ensure that: (1) appropriate risk analyses are performed and documented for present and future earth-orbiting spacecraft missions before the four ground stations located at Guam, Hawaii, Santiago, and Ascension Island are closed; (2) plans for support for launches of expendable vehicles are finalized before the Ascension Island station is closed; and (3) a plan is developed to provide support for Small Explorer Missions in equatorial orbits.
Closed – Implemented
A risk analysis for current missions was completed, a French company took over operations of Ascension Island, and plans are not needed for new small explorer missions because no requirements have been developed.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Aerospace researchCommunication satellitesData transmissionEmergency preparednessFacility managementFederal agency reorganizationNavigation aidsSpace explorationTransportation terminalsSatellites