Review of NGES Significant Results and Path Forward

NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service (NESDIS) performed a Ground Enterprise Study (NGES) to identify the most capable and cost-effective ground architecture(s) for NESDIS to invest in for near-, mid-, and long-term success of its mission. NGES addressed the full range of NESDIS ground operations including satellite operations, science operations and data operations. Six key functional attributes that support ground operations were identified to study:

• Constellation Mission Operations
• Space-Based Data Relay (SBDR) and Space-Ground Communications (SGC)
• Collaborative Science
• Product Operations
• Data Delivery
• Algorithm Operations and Development

Consequently, NGES identified multiple alternative architectures (and combinations of

architectures) to consider variations of how NESDIS could accomplish these functions while balancing the need for programs to be independently successful with cost-efficient implementation and highest value for users. The analysis showed significant benefits will be realized with enhanced mission operations, commercial offerings, open science collaboration tools, and space-based data relay services of particularly high value.

NGES tactical results were available in spring 2023 and shared with the NESDIS offices to identify the path forward for implementation. The study’s key findings and recommendations that were deemed the most cost effective included:

• Outsourcing Mission Operations produces savings and value far above all other recommendations.
• Moving mission operations to the Cloud should be enabled.
• A complete outsourcing solution (24/7) cost and benefit is nearly the same as an “enhanced” approach wherein NOAA maintains 8x5 while commercializing the remaining time to reach 24/7 operations. However, allowing NOAA to maintain primary operational authority is more widely preferred by NESDIS programs and offices.
• While the long-term strategic recommendation is to utilize Space-Based Data Relays, early application of that technology may still have some risk. However, the analysis shows that capitalizing on Commercial Space-Ground Communications is both highly available and cost effective.
• The data suggests that focusing upon enhanced mission operations and implementing commercial space to ground communications will provide the most value, cost savings, and assist NESDIS migration to a more sustainable enterprise ground environment.

The authors will review the key elements of these findings and discuss the implications they have for the path forward at NESDIS for full implementation by 2035, and how they will support the next generation of ground enterprise architecture’s strategic vision through 2050.