A White House budget proposal suggests a significant restructuring of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) future geostationary satellite constellation, GeoXO. The proposal, part of the draft 2026 budget, calls for canceling major contracts and dramatically reducing costs.
The plan aims to decrease lifecycle costs by 50 percent, maintaining an annual budget below $500 million. Instead of the originally planned six satellites covering the East, West, and Central United States, the revised proposal focuses on only East and West satellites, mirroring the GOES-R Series configuration. The first launch is still scheduled for 2032.
A key change involves ending NOAA's reliance on NASA for satellite acquisition. The document cites NASA's "reluctance to accept risk," use of fixed-price contracts, and high overhead charges as reasons for this decision. This shift presents both "challenges and opportunities," according to the proposal, requiring NOAA to secure necessary legal authorities by April 24, 2025.
The revised GeoXO program will prioritize weather data collection, foregoing comprehensive ocean and atmospheric condition monitoring. The budget proposal explicitly states, "The program shall be redesigned to fit budget constraints, not maximize new capabilities." The use of a sounder will depend on meeting overall budget goals. The first satellite will utilize an Advanced Baseline Imager from the GOES-R program, delaying the need for a next-generation imager until the late 2030s.
The proposal also suggests reevaluating the need for a lightning mapper, considering the capabilities of ground-based networks. Funding for the Near Earth Orbit Network will increase, while the Space Weather Next program will see a slight budget reduction. Funding for satellite ground services and systems architecture and engineering will also be trimmed.
Reactions to the proposal are mixed. A Lockheed Martin spokeswoman, the company building the GeoXO satellites and lightning mapper, stated, “It’s too early in the budget cycle for us to comment based on these unofficial reports.” She added, “Lockheed Martin has proudly developed and delivered breakthrough geostationary weather satellites and technologies that have saved countless lives.” “Solutions like GeoXO are also designed to support public safety, search and rescue, and mission success for military operations.”