The U.S. National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) could be as much as $3 billion over budget, and the launch of the first spacecraft if facing another three-year delay, government officials testified Nov. 16 before the House Science Committee.

The program, which will combine weather satellite programs operated by the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Defense, has seen life cycle cost estimates grow from $6.5 billion in 2002 to $8.1 billion in 2004, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) said. As of September, GAO estimates show another $1.4 billion contract cost overrun is likely, bringing the life cycle cost estimate to about $9.7 billion.

“NPOESS is a program in crisis,” David Powner, GAO’s director of Information Technology Management Issues, said. “The current direction for the program is at a standstill.”

Conrad Lautenbacher, the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Ronald, Sega, undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force, said the first spacecraft now is not expected to be launched until 2012, three years later than the most recent program plan. If the last satellites in the Polar Operational Environmental Satellite program fails before the first NPOESS launch, the GAO has forecast a potential gap in satellite coverage of at least three years.