Douglas Isbell

Headquarters, Washington, DC June 1, 1995

(Phone: 202/358-1753)

Patricia Viets
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Suitland,
MD
(Phone: 301/457-5005)

Lt. Col. Dave Simms

Department of Defense, Washington, DC
(Phone: 703/697-5131)

RELEASE: 95-82

AGENCIES ESTABLISH NEW CIVIL-MILITARY SATELLITE PROGRAM

The Clinton Administration has taken a major step

toward combining the country's military and civilian weather
satellite programs into a single system -- a move that is
expected to save American taxpayers up to $300 million
through 1999, with additional savings through the life of
the program.

Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown, Secretary of

Defense William J. Perry, and NASA Administrator Daniel S.
Goldin signed a formal agreement on May 26, establishing the
agencies' roles and responsibilities in support of the new
system and implementing a Presidential Decision Directive
that was signed last year.

"Combining these programs was a key recommendation of

Vice President Gore's National Performance Review," said
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, D.
James Baker. "The new program will result in a major
reduction of acquisition, operational and facilities costs."

Currently four U.S. polar-orbiting satellites are used

to collect operational, meteorological, oceanographic,
climatic and space environment data. Two satellites are
provided and operated by the Department of Commerce's
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and
two by the Department of Defense's Defense Meteorological
Satellite Program. The new combined program will consist of
three satellites. The first satellite under the new system,
called the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental
Satellite System (NPOESS), is expected to be launched in 2006.

To acquire and operate the NPOESS, the Department of

Defense, NASA and NOAA have established an Integrated
Program Office. James T. Mannen, a retired Air Force
Colonel with extensive experience in space programs, was
named director of the office on May 30.

The signing of the agreement by the three agencies

represents a tangible and significant step forward in
interagency cooperation -- merging operational military and
civilian systems, while still satisfying each agency's
critical mission requirements and doing so at reduced cost
to American taxpayers.

-End-

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