Private firm could fill weather satellite gap

The looming gap in satellite coverage later this decade due to aging weather satellites has the federal government worried.

Within the next few years, some of the USA's aging weather satellites are predicted to deteriorate or fail, which could leave a gap in the data that forecasters use to predict weather.

But now, a private company — Bethesda, Md.-based PlanetIQ — is proposing to bridge that gap: PlanetIQ's solution includes launching a constellation of 12 small satellites in low-Earth orbit to collect weather data, which PlanetIQ says the federal government could access at less cost and risk than current government-funded efforts.

Anne Hale Miglarese, CEO of PlanetIQ, made this case before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies last Thursday. She said that using PlanetIQ's proposal would:

• Improve weather forecast accuracy and warning lead times.
• Mitigate the risk of harmful gaps in satellite data.
• Relieve pressure on existing government satellite programs that are over-budget and behind schedule

Full Story : http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2013/03/25/weather-satellite-gap-private-company-planetiq/2018047/