Summary: NASA plans to launch the first spacecraft of the Earth Observing System (EOS) in 1998. The overall goal of EOS is to understand the total earth system--air, water, land, and life and their interactions--and the effects of natural and human-induced changes on the environment. EOS has three main components: a constellation of satellites that will collect climate data, a data system designed to operate the satellites and process and distribute data, and teams of scientists who will develop algorithms for converting sensor data into useful information and conduct research using the data. This report (1) discusses NASA's strategy for developing an EOS-related basic research community, focusing on the number of currently funded EOS science investigations, and (2) summarizes researchers' views on whether changes to EOS during the last few years have impeded their ability to carry out their interdisciplinary earth science investigations. GAO also discusses the Earth System Science Pathfinder program and its potential impact on funding availability for future EOS investigations.
