Summary: In response to a congressional request, GAO assessed the Air Force's progress in acquiring the first two blocks of its Space Defense Operations Center (SPADOC) modernization program, focusing on: (1) why Block A, intended to provide the hardware and software for automating the assessment of foreign activities affecting U.S. satellites, did not meet Air Force requirements and was significantly behind schedule; (2) whether Block B development, intended to improve space surveillance by making orbital position predictions for 400 satellites, could correct Block A problems; and (3) how effectively the Air Force managed the program.
GAO found that the Air Force: (1) has invested over $235 million in SPADOC, which is now more than 4 years behind schedule and far from meeting its required operational capability; (2) continued to press forward with the program despite technical contractor warnings that it would be difficult to meet requirements; (3) consistently deferred resolution of problems involving controlled mode security, software development, performance prediction model validity, and design integrity to later development phases; (4) accepted Block A, which did not meet most of the requirements and was not operational; (5) rejected the initial Block B design in 1988, since it would not meet all of the requirements, but scheduled review of another design in April 1989; and (6) has not yet obtained congressional funding for Block C development, intended to complete the automated capability needed to consolidate the U.S. Space Command's space defense data processing functions. GAO believes that, under the best circumstances, SPADOC will become operational at least 6 years late and $147 million over the original budget.
