Space Weather Follow-On (SWFO) Program: Rideshare Schedule Presents Challenges and Lack of Backup Option Warrants NOAA Attention

Our audit objective was to identify SWFO program challenges that may affect cost, schedule, or overall mission performance and assess the extent to which NOAA is addressing them. To satisfy our objective, we reviewed the SWFO program acquisition strategy, identified challenges in key program milestone activities, assessed program control activities, and analyzed selected issues and risks. We found that NOAA needs to ensure that SWFO-L1 has launch contingency options commensurate with its role as a critical, high-profile mission and that the SWFO program should improve its lessons learned processes and contract surveillance oversight. We also found that NOAA should update its space weather observation requirements in accordance with its validation criteria.