SpaceDaily.com reported that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration signed an agreement with the Japan Meteorological Agency that provides for satellites from both organizations to serve as back-ups in the event of an in-orbit failure of satellites from either agency, thus providing continual monitoring of severe weather. The agreement calls for one agency to move its satellites, for up to one, year to provide coverage if the other agency’s satellite fails and has no available back-up at no cost.