Earth Observing System: Information on NASA's Selection of Data Centers

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) selection of seven Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAAC) for the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS), a large, distributed information system project expected to cost between $3.6 billion and $4 billion through fiscal year 2000, focusing on: (1) the process NASA used to select seven DAAC sites; (2) other data centers with significant earth science holdings; and (3) the roles and functions of data centers within EOSDIS.