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Washington, DC -- Concerned that a satellite used to track hurricanes is in danger of malfunctioning in the near future, and that the agency tasked with managing this satellite does not have an adequate back-up plan in place, U.S. Rep. Ron Klein (FL-22) and Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA-3) urged in a letter to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Science Committee today to immediately hold a hearing to address these issues.
After the Director of the National Hurricane Center, Bill Proenza announced that the QuikSCAT satellite, which an most accurate mechanism for forecasting hurricanes, was deteriorating and in danger of going offline, Klein immediately became concerned. He quickly convened a meeting with NOAA and the Air Force Reserves to make sure the two entities were communicating and that NOAA had a back-up plan in the event that QuikSCAT went off line. The Air Force plays a key roll in hurricane preparedness by operating the Hurricane Hunter Aircraft.
“Last month, I met with officials from NOAA and the Air Force Reserves to discuss their level of preparedness for hurricane season. During this meeting I asked NOAA to send me a back up plan in the likely event that the QuikSCAT satellite stops functioning,” said Klein. “I received a letter yesterday from NOAA regarding my request, and remain concerned that a short and long term solution is either not yet fully developed, or still does not exist. It is unacceptable to me that our ability to track and forecast hurricanes may be taking a step backwards.
“Congressman Melancon and I have sent a letter to Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon and Vice Chairman Daniel Lipinksi today, urging them to hold a hearing on this issue. Given the urgency of this situation, we are hopeful Chairman Gordon and Vice Chairman Lipinksi will expedite our request for this hearing.”
NASA launched the QuikSCAT satellite in 1999. After its launch, The QuikSCAT satellite proved to provide valuable data that helps to more accurately track and forecast hurricanes and other deadly storms. Originally designed for a life expectancy of three years, QuikSCAT has now been operating for eight years with no replacement set to launch in the near future.
Since learning about the pending demise of the QuikSCAT satellite, Rep. Klein has made it a top priority to find a replacement. He has met with representatives from the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center, and the Air Force Reserve to discuss alternatives to QuikSCAT. Just last month, Klein and Melancon introduced the “Improved Hurricane Tracking and Forecasting Act of 2007,” which would authorize the necessary NASA funding to design and launch a replacement satellite for QuikSCAT. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Sen’s Mary Landrieau (D-LA), Bill Nelson (FL-22), Mel Martinez (R-FL), and John Kerry (D-MA).
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