110 HR 6063 EH: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008
U.S. House of Representatives
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1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Title I—Authorization of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009
Sec. 101. Fiscal year 2009.
Title II—Earth Science
Sec. 201. Goal.
Sec. 202. Governance of United States Earth Observations activities.
Sec. 203. Decadal survey missions.
Sec. 204. Transitioning experimental research into operational services.
Sec. 205. Landsat thermal infrared data continuity.
Sec. 206. Reauthorization of Glory Mission.
Sec. 207. Plan for disposition of Deep Space Climate Observatory.
Sec. 208. Tornadoes.
Sec. 209. Sharing weather research.
Title III—Aeronautics
Sec. 301. Environmentally friendly aircraft research and development initiative.
Sec. 302. Research alignment.
Sec. 303. Research program to determine perceived impact of sonic booms.
Sec. 304. External review of NASA’s aviation safety-related research programs.
Sec. 305. Interagency research initiative on the impact of aviation on the climate.
Sec. 306. Research on design for certification.
Sec. 307. Aviation weather research.
Sec. 308. Joint Aeronautics Research and Development Advisory Committee.
Sec. 309. Funding for research and development activities in support of other mission directorates.
Sec. 310. University-based centers for research on aviation training.
Title IV—International Exploration Initiative
Sec. 401. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 402. Stepping stone approach to exploration.
Sec. 403. Lunar outpost.
Sec. 404. Exploration technology development.
Sec. 405. Exploration risk mitigation plan.
Sec. 406. Exploration crew rescue.
Sec. 407. Participatory exploration.
Sec. 408. Science and exploration.
Sec. 409. Congressional Budget Office report update.
Title V—Space Science
Sec. 501. Technology development.
Sec. 502. Provision for future servicing of observatory-class scientific spacecraft.
Sec. 503. Mars exploration.
Sec. 504. Importance of a balanced science program.
Sec. 505. Restoration of radioisotope thermoelectric generator material production.
Sec. 506. Assessment of impediments to interagency cooperation on space and Earth science missions.
Sec. 507. Assessment of cost growth.
Sec. 508. Outer planets exploration.
Title VI—Space Operations
Subtitle A—International Space Station
Sec. 601. Utilization.
Sec. 602. Research management plan.
Sec. 603. Contingency plan for cargo resupply.
Subtitle B—Space Shuttle
Sec. 611. Flight manifest.
Sec. 612. Disposition of shuttle-related assets.
Sec. 613. Space Shuttle transition liaison office.
Subtitle C—Launch Services
Sec. 621. Launch services strategy.
Title VII—Education
Sec. 701. Response to review.
Sec. 702. External review of Explorer Schools program.
Sec. 703. Sense of Congress.
Title VIII—Near-Earth Objects
Sec. 801. In general.
Sec. 802. Findings.
Sec. 803. Requests for information.
Sec. 804. Establishment of policy.
Sec. 805. Planetary radar capability.
Sec. 806. Arecibo Observatory.
Sec. 807. International resources.
Title IX—Commercial Initiatives
Sec. 901. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 902. Commercial crew initiative.
Title X—Revitalization of NASA Institutional Capabilities
Sec. 1001. Review of information security controls.
Sec. 1002. Maintenance and upgrade of Center facilities.
Sec. 1003. Assessment of NASA laboratory capabilities.
Title XI—Other Provisions
Sec. 1101. Space weather.
Sec. 1102. Space traffic management.
Sec. 1103. Study of export control policies related to civil and commercial space activities.
Sec. 1104. Astronaut health care.
Sec. 1105. National Academies decadal surveys.
Sec. 1106. Innovation prizes.
Sec. 1107. Commercial space launch range study.
Sec. 1108. NASA outreach and technology assistance program.
Sec. 1109. Reduction-in-force moratorium.
Sec. 1110. Limit on the use of term positions.
Sec. 1111. Temporary continuation of coverage of health benefits.
Sec. 1112. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 1113. Sense of Congress regarding the need for a robust workforce.
Sec. 1114. Exception to alternative fuel procurement requirement.
Sec. 1115. Christa McAuliffe scholarship program for fields related to the mission of NASA.
2.The Congress finds, on this, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the following:
(1)NASA is and should remain a multimission agency with a balanced and robust set of core missions in science, aeronautics, and human space flight and exploration.
(2)Investment in NASA’s programs will promote innovation through research and development, and will improve the competitiveness of the United States.
(3)Investment in NASA’s programs, like investments in other Federal science and technology activities, is an investment in our future.
(4)Properly structured, NASA’s activities can contribute to an improved quality of life, economic vitality, United States leadership in peaceful cooperation with other nations on challenging undertakings in science and technology, national security, and the advancement of knowledge.
(5)NASA should assume a leadership role in a cooperative international Earth observations and research effort to address key research issues associated with climate change and its impacts on the Earth system.
(6)NASA should undertake a program of aeronautical research, development, and where appropriate demonstration activities with the overarching goals of—
(A)ensuring that the Nation’s future air transportation system can handle up to 3 times the current travel demand and incorporate new vehicle types with no degradation in safety or adverse environmental impact on local communities;
(B)protecting the environment;
(C)promoting the security of the Nation; and
(D)retaining the leadership of the United States in global aviation.
(7)Human and robotic exploration of the solar system will be a significant long term undertaking of humanity in the 21st century and beyond, and it is in the national interest that the United States should assume a leadership role in a cooperative international exploration initiative.
(8)Developing United States human space flight capabilities to allow independent American access to the International Space Station, and to explore beyond low Earth orbit, is a strategically important national imperative, and all prudent steps should thus be taken to bring the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle to full operational capability as soon as practicable.
(9)NASA’s scientific research activities have contributed much to the advancement of knowledge, provided societal benefits, and helped train the next generation of scientists and engineers, and those activities should continue to be an important priority.
(10)NASA should make a sustained commitment to a robust long-term technology development activity. Such investments represent the critically important seed corn on which NASA’s ability to carry out challenging and productive missions in the future will depend.
(11)NASA, through its pursuit of challenging and relevant activities, can provide an important stimulus to the next generation to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(12)Commercial activities have substantially contributed to the strength of both the United States space program and the national economy, and the development of a healthy and robust United States commercial space sector should continue to be encouraged.
(13)It is in the national interest for the United States to have an export control policy that protects the national security while also enabling the United States aerospace industry to compete effectively in the global market place and the United States to undertake cooperative programs in science and human space flight in an effective and efficient manner.
3.In this Act:
(1)The term Administrator means the Administrator of NASA.
(2)The term NASA means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(3)The term NOAA means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(4)The term OSTP means the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
<enum>I</enum><header>Authorization of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009</header>
<section id="HB2ADFE06D5084F5FA4A908E609D11137"><enum>101.</enum><header>Fiscal year 2009</header>
<subsection id="H4FCFB476847E4009A8EEDD267B43BE7D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Baseline authorization</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to NASA for fiscal year 2009 $19,210,000,000, as follows:</text>
<paragraph id="H2F7C6FB133F848C00024DA8020079E26"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For Science, $4,932,200,000, of which—</text>
<subparagraph id="H1BE36EEAC3A6428BA46758B9AF686779"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$1,518,000,000 shall be for Earth Science, including $29,200,000 for suborbital activities and $2,500,000 for carrying out section 313 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/109/155">Public Law 109–155</external-xref>);</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9FDCC903F5994788A85711BFD0776BE7"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$1,483,000,000 shall be for Planetary Science, including $486,500,000 for the Mars Exploration program, $2,000,000 to continue planetary radar operations at the Arecibo Observatory in support of the Near-Earth Object program, and $5,000,000 for radioisotope material production, to remain available until expended;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H508C52590522478E00000000C7BDE8C3"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$1,290,400,000 shall be for Astrophysics, including $27,300,000 for suborbital activities;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H4ECDFA758A6A4AA79B8FD75164002F5E"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$640,800,000 shall be for Heliophysics, including $50,000,000 for suborbital activities; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H220ABAFBE27247F286EDF14EEC7F7CDB"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$75,000,000 shall be for Cross-Science Mission Directorate Technology Development, to be taken on a proportional basis from the funding subtotals under subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HDE40E8AF2479416D82CC47E5225607E9"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For Aeronautics, $853,400,000, of which $406,900,000 shall be for system-level research, development, and demonstration activities related to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H37CE2D81A0EF4612B1A3EB6DA2F5CFC4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>aviation safety;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H510163196279493795EC5FA8A161504B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>environmental impact mitigation, including noise, energy efficiency, and emissions;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1E10194ED08B48E0A1B5EA847416A056"><enum>(C)</enum><text>support of the Next Generation Air Transportation System initiative; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H559AF9D139884530933D5261A36EE311"><enum>(D)</enum><text>investigation of new vehicle concepts and flight regimes.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H86E8108473CE4BB9BB5E9052A9413F72"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For Exploration, $3,886,000,000, of which $100,000,000 shall be for the activities under sections 902(b) and 902(d); and $737,800,000 shall be for Advanced Capabilities, including $106,300,000 for the Lunar Precursor Robotic Program, $276,500,000 for International Space Station-related research and development activities, and $355,000,000 for research and development activities not related to the International Space Station.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H24589E0F1DB24E1A863CF9DB6DE5699E"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For Education, $128,300,000.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H23CA9A4DBF5A4E460089E4CBE5B3E7C"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For Space Operations, $6,074,700,000, of which—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF442FA28FBCC4286A4A9845BDF00121B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$150,000,000 shall be for an additional Space Shuttle flight to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2DBF8BA395874851A86648FA741FB63D"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$100,000,000 shall be to augment funding for International Space Station Cargo Services to enhance research utilization of the International Space Station, to remain available until expended; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD25B1558F569497185936C853CD8B16"><enum>(C)</enum><text>$50,000,000 shall be to augment funding for Space Operations Mission Directorate reserves and Shuttle Transition and Retirement activities.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8CDCEBB725C147939400D540C7794627"><enum>(6)</enum><text>For Cross-Agency Support Programs, $3,299,900,000.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE3980B14AD0F4652AE805D1CF029518C"><enum>(7)</enum><text>For Inspector General, $35,500,000.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H8912AD9680734889914DB0E36E224C4"><enum>(b)</enum><header> Additional authorization To address human space flight gap</header><text>In addition to the sums authorized by subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated for the purposes described in subsection (a)(3) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, to be used to accelerate the initial operational capability of the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle and associated ground support systems, to remain available until expended.</text> </subsection></section>
<enum>II</enum><header>Earth Science </header>
<section id="H6BE26DA568F2465CA62E57E936172C00"><enum>201.</enum><header>Goal</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The goal for NASA’s Earth Science program shall be to pursue a program of Earth observations, research, and applications activities to better understand the Earth, how it supports life, and how human activities affect its ability to do so in the future. In pursuit of this goal, NASA’s Earth Science program shall ensure that securing practical benefits for society will be an important measure of its success in addition to securing new knowledge about the Earth system and climate change. In further pursuit of this goal, NASA shall assume a leadership role in developing and carrying out a cooperative international Earth observations-based research and applications program.</text> </section>
<section id="H779CD8A732164632AEA9AF9804F4E8E6"><enum>202.</enum><header>Governance of United States Earth Observations activities</header>
<subsection id="HA89EC640C1694F65B2AD3DF59A1DCBF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study</header><text>The Director of the OSTP shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academies for a study to determine the most appropriate governance structure for United States Earth Observations programs in order to meet evolving United States Earth information needs and facilitate United States participation in global Earth Observations initiatives.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HF9D06E8302F6414E87F572EC6B851E10"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Director shall transmit the study to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and shall provide OSTP’s plan for implementing the study’s recommendations not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H639FC91A394B4F6AA0E41B5F49985F43"><enum>203.</enum><header>Decadal survey missions</header>
<subsection id="HD04CE449686340F4832D8064C54CF4A7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The missions recommended in the National Academies’ decadal survey <quote>Earth Science and Applications from Space</quote> provide the basis for a compelling and relevant program of research and applications, and the Administrator should work to establish an international cooperative effort to pursue those missions.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HB024A2FC5EE84880826BF2B4A6176180"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Plan</header><text>The Administrator shall prepare a plan for submission to Congress not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act that shall describe how NASA intends to implement the missions recommended as described in subsection (a), whether by means of dedicated NASA missions, multi-agency missions, international cooperative missions, data sharing, or commercial data buys, or by means of long-term technology development to determine whether specific missions would be executable at a reasonable cost and within a reasonable schedule.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="HD4E2DAB547E34D91911CA6355706B8E1"><enum>204.</enum><header>Transitioning experimental research into operational services</header>
<subsection id="H7E3AF8BDFF754B2397962639FAAEEE9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of congress</header><text>It is the sense of the Congress that experimental NASA sensors and missions that have the potential to benefit society if transitioned into operational monitoring systems be transitioned into operational status whenever possible.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HDF15D9F7CE41478DB53E149916544776"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Interagency process</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Director of OSTP, in consultation with the Administrator, the Administrator of NOAA, and other relevant stakeholders, shall develop a process to transition, when appropriate, NASA Earth science and space weather missions or sensors into operational status. The process shall include coordination of annual agency budget requests as required to execute the transitions.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HBAB52B46C1594AB998BD9B02C6386627"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Responsible agency official</header><text>The Administrator and the Administrator of NOAA shall each designate an agency official who shall have the responsibility for and authority to lead NASA’s and NOAA’s transition activities and interagency coordination.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H8580EBF9A7AE443A9E29A4A38E22BC5C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Plan</header><text>For each mission or sensor that is determined to be appropriate for transition under subsection (b), NASA and NOAA shall transmit to Congress a joint plan for conducting the transition. The plan shall include the strategy, milestones, and budget required to execute the transition. The transition plan shall be transmitted to Congress not later than 60 days after the successful completion of the mission or sensor critical design review.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="HEC5C683FD5E34897B93F08D4B7488DC1"><enum>205.</enum><header>Landsat thermal infrared data continuity</header>
<subsection id="H4D8154C2FDE24A34BA500601E500ACD7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plan</header><text>In view of the importance of Landsat thermal infrared data for both scientific research and water management applications, the Administrator shall prepare a plan for ensuring the continuity of Landsat thermal infrared data or its equivalent, including allocation of costs and responsibility for the collection and distribution of the data, and a budget plan. As part of the plan, the Administrator shall provide an option for developing a thermal infrared sensor at minimum cost to be flown on the Landsat Data Continuity Mission with minimum delay to the schedule of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H6E556E0D48BB4FDC9C32EFD335F026E7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text>The plan shall be provided to Congress not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H22D823B1501849BFA648D0768CEB4DFD"><enum>206.</enum><header>Reauthorization of Glory Mission</header>
<subsection id="H1AED54BDE48A4260B082B935AB30B5E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Reauthorization</header><text>Congress reauthorizes NASA to continue with development of the Glory Mission, which will examine how aerosols and solar energy affect the Earth’s climate.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HC16683F68138456EB564A6C8ADA948ED"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Baseline report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Pursuant to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/109/155">Public Law 109–155</external-xref>), not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a new baseline report consistent with section 103(b)(2) of such Act. The report shall include an analysis of the factors contributing to cost growth and the steps taken to address them.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H06D34861AE0B4089A4AF8EE401B79840"><enum>207.</enum><header>Plan for disposition of Deep Space Climate Observatory</header>
<subsection id="HA3F4ABC9B96744189DC0ED556829867B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plan</header><text>NASA shall develop a plan for the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), including such options as using the parts of the spacecraft in the development and assembly of other science missions, transferring the spacecraft to another agency, reconfiguring the spacecraft for another Earth science mission, establishing a public-private partnership for the mission, and entering into an international cooperative partnership to use the spacecraft for its primary or other purposes. The plan shall include an estimate of budgetary resources and schedules required to implement each of the options.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H7999B87918424596B1ED0D9509D53D0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>NASA shall consult, as necessary, with other Federal agencies, industry, academic institutions, and international space agencies in developing the plan.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H433C8E0D1CBB4225A36F7D5E36F39CAB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall transmit the plan required under subsection (a) to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="HBA0149694BBA43599344B65EB6D98F75" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>208.</enum><header>Tornadoes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall ensure that NASA gives high priority to those parts of its existing cooperative activities with NOAA that are related to the study of tornadoes, tornado-force winds, and other factors determined to influence the development of tornadoes, with the goal of improving the Nation’s ability to predict tornado events. Further, the Administrator shall examine whether there are additional cooperative activities with NOAA that should be undertaken in the area of tornado research. </text></section>
<section id="H463105D8ECE6453A926BD041CFD880BD"><enum>209.</enum><header>Sharing weather research</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall work to ensure that NASA’s policies on the sharing of climate related data respond to the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office’s report on climate change research and data-sharing policies and to the recommendations on the processing, distribution, and archiving of data by the National Academies Earth Science Decadal Survey, Earth Science and Applications from Space, and other relevant National Academies reports, to enhance and facilitate their availability and widest possible use to ensure public access to accurate and current data on global warming.</text></section>
<enum>III</enum><header>Aeronautics</header>
<section id="H54979C52A6364D6AB98F2DD1588E527B"><enum>301.</enum><header>Environmentally friendly aircraft research and development initiative</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall establish an initiative involving NASA, universities, industry, and other research organizations as appropriate, of research, development, and demonstration, in a relevant environment, of technologies to enable the following commercial aircraft performance characteristics:</text>
<paragraph id="HA8A59FD0D8F94888B71701620039121F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Noise levels on takeoff and on airport approach and landing that do not exceed ambient noise levels in the absence of flight operations in the vicinity of airports from which such commercial aircraft would normally operate, without increasing energy consumption or nitrogen oxide emissions compared to aircraft in commercial service as of the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="HEC1BDDBD278C4F5197FE4CA26FB79B22"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared to aircraft in commercial services as of the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </paragraph></section>
<section id="H44D68D39213B49FAA72832FEC6E4B5A9"><enum>302.</enum><header>Research alignment</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In addition to pursuing the research and development initiative described in section 301, the Administrator shall, to the maximum extent practicable within available funding, align the fundamental aeronautics research program to address high priority technology challenges of the National Academies’ Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics, and shall work to increase the degree of involvement of external organizations, and especially of universities, in the fundamental aeronautics research program.</text> </section>
<section id="HA6395D2BD466494400C6F6BD00918592"><enum>303.</enum><header>Research program to determine perceived impact of sonic booms</header>
<subsection id="H7A1058D1996A474EB2365D49658B85E8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The ability to fly commercial aircraft over land at supersonic speeds without adverse impacts on the environment or on local communities would open new markets and enable new transportation capabilities. In order to have the basis for establishing an appropriate sonic boom standard for such flight operations, a research program is needed to assess the impact in a relevant environment of commercial supersonic flight operations.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HEA2A74FCCCCA4B9BA468F72A12C2BE3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Administrator shall establish a cooperative research program with industry, including the conduct of flight demonstrations in a relevant environment, to collect data on the perceived impact of sonic booms that would enable the promulgation of a standard that would have to be met for overland commercial supersonic flight operations.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H98426DA22C704B369CD146462B06DA9D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall ensure that sonic boom research is coordinated as appropriate with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and as appropriate make use of the expertise of the Partnership for Air Transportation Noise and Emissions Reduction Center of Excellence sponsored by NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H0B4812AB5075441E818E77D87EF200B3"><enum>304.</enum><header>External review of NASA’s aviation safety-related research programs</header>
<subsection id="H666E7B1AB1E74C09A1B003BEC959223F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Review</header><text>The Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council for an independent review of NASA’s aviation safety-related research programs. The review shall assess whether—</text>
<paragraph id="H55482CC38295450FA7EEBAB23D25663E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the programs have well-defined, prioritized, and appropriate research objectives;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE12E26FE5370462EA9D9EA8D90377548"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the programs are properly coordinated with the safety research programs of the Federal Aviation Administration and other relevant Federal agencies;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1C91E14AD60C4C2491AD6F5876E719DD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the programs have allocated appropriate resources to each of the research objectives; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5DB3FC847FCE4555005D4BC41F6B4D91"><enum>(4)</enum><text>suitable mechanisms exist for transitioning the research results from the programs into operational technologies and procedures and certification activities in a timely manner.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H2BFCE38582F3464BB28CA569E1DC4998"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 14 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the review.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H1AC41B45E85E48CF988747BB626EA4F1"><enum>305.</enum><header>Interagency research initiative on the impact of aviation on the climate</header>
<subsection id="H17A96101ED5C4D11B758F11C06B088C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in coordination with NASA and the United States Climate Change Science Program, shall establish a research initiative to assess the impact of aviation on the climate and, if warranted, to evaluate approaches to mitigate that impact.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HB9328159B860487EACAED0A3FE2EA64F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Research plan</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the participating Federal entities shall jointly develop a plan for the research program that contains the objectives, proposed tasks, milestones, and 5-year budgetary profile.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H96C5F1BAA2C544C8B2A4F58F7B3349C5"><enum>306.</enum><header>Research on design for certification</header>
<subsection id="HBCFC640949F840D7906223517C15FA7D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment of Program</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Aviation Administration, in consultation with other agencies as appropriate, shall establish a research program on methods to improve both confidence in and the timeliness of certification of new technologies for their introduction into the national airspace system.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H82C76B605C1E4D90A0C4F411A8CAAB63"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Research Plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, as part of the activity described in subsection (a), the Federal Aviation Administration shall develop a plan for the research program that contains the objectives, proposed tasks, milestones, and five-year budgetary profile.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H68108C79B00240E281D858F900D6EAE6"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall have the National Research Council conduct an independent review of the research program plan and provide the results of that review to the Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HFA3F76E231144A6585C79F6B679246C"><enum>307.</enum><header>Aviation weather research</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall establish a program of collaborative research with NOAA on convective weather events, with the goal of significantly improving the reliability of 2-hour to 6-hour aviation weather forecasts.</text> </section>
<section id="H73004EAE6DD24DADBFA37626DE9E7BE6"><enum>308.</enum><header>Joint Aeronautics Research and Development Advisory Committee</header>
<subsection id="H320D30974AA84A129684869877000159"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>A joint Aeronautics Research and Development Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the <term>Advisory Committee</term>) shall be established.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HF9C5CAD9B00A42D6ABCD5675005FC89E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The Advisory Committee shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HB142AE9260B248160026FDDB39BBC9D5"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">make recommendations regarding the coordination of research and development activities of NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC8D8D3CB68EB4F7D9D1DA6008E356F1B"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">make recommendations for and monitor development and implementation of processes for transitioning research and development from NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration to external entities for further development as appropriate;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5F82F76635344F2FABB0727E3BC0D7ED"><enum>(3)</enum><text>make recommendations regarding the status of the activities of NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration’s research and development programs as they relate to the recommendations contained in the National Research Council’s 2006 report entitled <quote>Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics</quote>, and the recommendations contained in subsequent National Research Council reports of a similar nature; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1F1D3E782F8E4D1E94FABA26EFC15DE8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>not later than March 15 of each year, transmit a report to the Administrator, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the Advisory Committee’s findings and recommendations under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H928CEDD4D4AA428795E355349BC0EBD4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Membership</header><text>The Advisory Committee shall consist of 10 members, none of whom shall be a Federal employee, including—</text>
<paragraph id="H70F5B52961544FB9001077347CEFEA84"><enum>(1)</enum><text>5 members selected by the Administrator; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H687F8704E27B467AAFA2BCB34FCA71F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>5 members selected by the Chair of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Research, Engineering, and Development Advisory Committee (REDAC).</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H068BAC28AB5744F6BC94754C3C87E148"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Selection process</header><text>Initial selections under subsection (c) shall be made within 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as provided in subsection (c).</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HB0481532D0AD4F9A8C0069B500507314"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Chairperson</header><text>The Advisory Committee shall select a chairperson from among its members.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H378EE76FA923403FBACB8EB7F2BE681F"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>The Advisory Committee shall coordinate with the advisory bodies of other Federal agencies, which may engage in related research activities.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H49EAAC03A8DF4EF89ECFA366335E6BF5"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Compensation</header><text>The members of the Advisory Committee shall serve without compensation, but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/5702">5702</external-xref> and <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/5703">5703</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H628C7A18B8A043DDA4D31121781B3E18"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Meetings</header><text>The Advisory Committee shall convene, in person or by electronic means, at least 4 times per year.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H2479193353994436817EBC09C508A3EB"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Quorum</header><text>A majority of the members serving on the Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting the business of the Advisory Committee.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H1D79C0E5421343E8BDF641D43C75D005"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the Advisory Committee.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H2BAAD784FEF146A2B200063569A7E4DB"><enum>309.</enum><header>Funding for research and development activities in support of other mission directorates</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Research and development activities performed by the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate with the primary objective of assisting in the development of a flight project in another Mission Directorate shall be funded by the Mission Directorate seeking assistance.</text> </section>
<section id="HC0042747514C4C1DA3C53D5785E788FE"><enum>310.</enum><header>University-based centers for research on aviation training</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 427(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/109/155">Public Law 109–155</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>may</quote> and inserting <quote>shall</quote>.</text> </section>
<enum>IV</enum><header>International Exploration Initiative</header>
<section id="H8B7BF43D174947DFB5B592698968C1E8"><enum>401.</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that the President of the United States should invite America's friends and allies to participate in a long-term international initiative under the leadership of the United States to expand human and robotic presence into the solar system, including the exploration and utilization of the Moon, near Earth asteroids, Lagrangian points, and eventually Mars and its moons, among other exploration and utilization goals. When appropriate, the United States should lead confidence building measures that advance the long-term initiative for international cooperation.</text> </section>
<section id="H7AB37EEBB0F44367BE725D840311A5BE"><enum>402.</enum><header>Stepping stone approach to exploration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In order to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the long-term exploration and utilization activities of the United States, the Administrator shall take all necessary steps to ensure that activities in its lunar exploration program shall be designed and implemented in a manner that gives strong consideration to how those activities might also help meet the requirements of future exploration and utilization activities beyond the Moon. The timetable of the lunar phase of the long-term international exploration initiative shall be determined by the availability of funding and agreement on an international cooperative framework for the conduct of the international exploration initiative. However, once an exploration-related project enters its development phase, the Administrator shall seek, to the maximum extent practicable, to complete that project without undue delays.</text> </section>
<section id="H274E582CEB3B452397839856812B334E"><enum>403.</enum><header>Lunar outpost</header>
<subsection id="HEFB3A819B4394C190017C7AFBB71B6EC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>As NASA works toward the establishment of a lunar outpost, NASA shall make no plans that would require a lunar outpost to be occupied to maintain its viability. Any such outpost shall be operable as a human-tended facility capable of remote or autonomous operation for extended periods.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HE02A479DC9084C42A526C205C4C1B042"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Designation</header><text>The United States portion of the first human-tended outpost established on the surface of the Moon shall be designated the <quote>Neil A. Armstrong Lunar Outpost</quote>.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H3E68E4100AB04C4A85C81374A961857D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Congressional intent</header><text>It is the intent of Congress that NASA shall make use of commercial services to the maximum extent practicable in support of its lunar outpost activities.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H5745B64A97CC4DEB82BA70636046A21C"><enum>404.</enum><header>Exploration technology development</header>
<subsection id="HB69E4222002F42F5BD76F293102894D0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A robust program of long-term exploration-related technology research and development will be essential for the success and sustainability of any enduring initiative of human and robotic exploration of the solar system.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HAFE72D8A976843EE83E38CC3A6D2D700"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Administrator shall establish and maintain a program of long-term exploration-related technology research and development that is not tied to specific flight projects and that has a funding goal of at least 10 percent of the total budget of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H37BFB45AB6294D578037680016620053"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Goals</header><text>The long-term technology program shall have the goal of having at least 50 percent of the funding allocated to external grants and contracts with universities, research institutions, and industry.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H1E85EDA748A94024955FE0989932CEBC"><enum>405.</enum><header>Exploration risk mitigation plan</header>
<subsection id="H181CE2BBD64F45728B6189603EF81CF7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plan</header><text>The Administrator shall prepare a plan that identifies and prioritizes the human and technical risks that will need to be addressed in carrying out human exploration beyond low Earth orbit and the research and development activities required to address those risks. The plan shall address the role of the International Space Station in exploration risk mitigation and include a detailed description of the specific steps being taken to utilize the International Space Station for that purpose.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H6AFEC6E8683F4C2AAC49F665C092488"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the plan described in subsection (a) not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H2F61C4712B204B31BA40D5BC195E6239"><enum>406.</enum><header>Exploration crew rescue</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In order to maximize the ability to rescue astronauts whose space vehicles have become disabled, the Administrator shall enter into discussions with the appropriate representatives of spacefaring nations who have or plan to have crew transportation systems capable of orbital flight or flight beyond low Earth orbit for the purpose of agreeing on a common docking system standard.</text> </section>
<section id="HF2B85C488FE64712903E2E2871B44500"><enum>407.</enum><header>Participatory exploration</header>
<subsection id="HB2D1666AD36046388028572345E58600"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall develop a technology plan to enable dissemination of information to the public to allow the public to experience missions to the Moon, Mars, or other bodies within our solar system by leveraging advanced exploration technologies. The plan shall identify opportunities to leverage technologies in NASA’s Constellation systems that deliver a rich, multi-media experience to the public, and that facilitate participation by the public, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and international partners. Technologies for collecting high-definition video, 3-dimensional images, and scientific data, along with the means to rapidly deliver this content through extended high bandwidth communications networks shall be considered as part of this plan. It shall include a review of high bandwidth radio and laser communications, high-definition video, stereo imagery, 3-dimensional scene cameras, and Internet routers in space, from orbit, and on the lunar surface. The plan shall also consider secondary cargo capability for technology validation and science mission opportunities. In addition, the plan shall identify opportunities to develop and demonstrate these technologies on the International Space Station and robotic missions to the Moon, Mars, and other solar system bodies. As part of the technology plan, the Administrator shall examine the feasibility of having NASA enter into contracts with appropriate public, private sector, and international partners to broadcast electronically, including via the Internet, images and multimedia records delivered from its missions in space to the public and shall identify issues associated with such contracts. In any such contracts, NASA would be required to adhere to a transparent bidding process to award contracts, pursuant to United States law.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H6B7723B71E324E2C00917106D8003BEF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit the plan to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="HC50EF1C129FD42C0ACE586B3004EA52"><enum>408.</enum><header>Science and exploration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that NASA’s scientific and human exploration activities are synergistic, i.e. science enables exploration and human exploration enables science. The Congress encourages the Administrator to coordinate, where practical, NASA’s science and exploration activities with the goal of maximizing the success of human exploration initiatives and furthering our understanding of the Universe that we explore.</text> </section>
<section id="H463F862D36424D18A472E3EB83CE79D6"><enum>409.</enum><header>Congressional Budget Office report update</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Congressional Budget Office shall update its report from 2004 on the budgetary analysis of NASA’s Vision for the Nation’s Space Exploration Program, including new estimates for Project Constellation, NASA’s new generation of spacecraft designed for human spaceflight that will replace the Space Shuttle program.</text></section>
<enum>V</enum><header>Space Science </header>
<section id="HE3C0BC1953CD455C8D4D71301EED53F"><enum>501.</enum><header>Technology development</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall establish a cross-Directorate long-term technology development program for space and Earth science within the Science Mission Directorate for the development of new technology. The program shall be independent of the flight projects under development. NASA shall have a goal of funding the cross-Directorate technology development program at a level of 5 percent of the total Science Mission Directorate annual budget. The program shall be structured to include competitively awarded grants and contracts.</text> </section>
<section id="H4E6DD0BA353745A283EF8B2936ED1090"><enum>502.</enum><header>Provision for future servicing of observatory-class scientific spacecraft</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall take all necessary steps to ensure that provision is made in the design and construction of all future observatory-class scientific spacecraft intended to be deployed in Earth orbit or at a Lagrangian point in space for robotic or human servicing and repair.</text> </section>
<section id="H4055CB5B2F734862BDB63452DBD77829"><enum>503.</enum><header>Mars exploration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress reaffirms its support for a systematic, integrated program of exploration of the Martian surface to examine the planet whose surface is most like Earth’s, to search for evidence of past or present life, and to examine Mars for future habitability and as a long-term goal for future human exploration. To the extent affordable and practical, the program should pursue the goal of launches at every Mars launch opportunity, leading to an eventual robotic sample return.</text> </section>
<section id="HE20D440F30B14168B9E3EF4DB45CCC00"><enum>504.</enum><header>Importance of a balanced science program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that a balanced and adequately funded set of activities, consisting of NASA's research and analysis grants programs, technology development, small, medium-sized, and large space science missions, and suborbital research activities, contributes to a robust and productive science program and serves as a catalyst for innovation. It is further the sense of Congress that suborbital flight activities, including the use of sounding rockets, aircraft, and high-altitude balloons, and suborbital reusable launch vehicles, offer valuable opportunities to advance science, train the next generation of scientists and engineers, and provide opportunities for participants in the programs to acquire skills in systems engineering and systems integration that are critical to maintaining the Nation’s leadership in space programs. The Congress believes that it is in the national interest to expand the size of NASA’s suborbital research program.</text> </section>
<section id="H789A38D8E0004EDCB1218900CBD6B21B"><enum>505.</enum><header>Restoration of radioisotope thermoelectric generator material production</header>
<subsection id="HB6B1A5A7BB1D4B75982C63561B45245B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plan</header><text>The Director of OSTP shall develop a plan for restarting and sustaining the domestic production of radioisotope thermoelectric generator material for deep space and other space science missions.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H3C77C166E55349CA9694B464F3F87C6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The plan developed under subsection (a) shall be transmitted to Congress not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H253CEA438C804AE7B823A82943269900"><enum>506.</enum><header>Assessment of impediments to interagency cooperation on space and Earth science missions</header>
<subsection id="H3735972950714388B1D1C37DA04320B7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assessment</header><text>The Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academies to assess impediments to the successful conduct of interagency cooperation on space and Earth science missions, to provide lessons learned and best practices, and to recommend steps to help facilitate successful interagency collaborations on space and Earth science missions.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HF5D7F0BE518D4F68B303BAB4D46620A8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The report of the assessment carried out under subsection (a) shall be transmitted to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 15 months after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="HFC775B0C42E0473496065C4C76B56500"><enum>507.</enum><header>Assessment of cost growth</header>
<subsection id="H8DC6278F9E4A4EBDA3DB57F96EAC1AE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study</header><text>The Administrator shall enter into an arrangement for an independent external assessment to identify the primary causes of cost growth in the large, medium-sized, and small space and Earth science spacecraft mission classes, and make recommendations as to what changes, if any, should be made to contain costs and ensure frequent mission opportunities in NASA’s science spacecraft mission programs.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H91A2D7ED4D8D47A3B3D5B9BB0617521C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The report of the assessment conducted under subsection (a) shall be submitted to Congress not later than 15 months after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1A0D66ACEDB54A4BADD342AE98ECD02F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>508.</enum><header>Outer planets exploration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that the outer solar system planets and their satellites can offer important knowledge about the formation and evolution of the solar system, the nature and diversity of these solar system bodies, and the potential for conditions conducive to life beyond Earth. NASA should move forward with plans for an Outer Planets flagship mission to the Europa-Jupiter system or the Titan-Saturn system as soon as practicable within a balanced Planetary Science program.</text> </section>
<enum>VI</enum><header>Space Operations</header>
<subtitle id="HA5D08685C16E4BC0A958C4164DDCE828"><enum>A</enum><header>International Space Station</header>
<section id="H7C4898196EFF4FE781405CB46B0B45C"><enum>601.</enum><header>Utilization</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the International Space Station remains a viable and productive facility capable of potential United States utilization through at least 2020 and shall take no steps that would preclude its continued operation and utilization by the United States after 2016.</text> </section>
<section id="H61076234BEF448D7A80965E75630606C"><enum>602.</enum><header>Research management plan</header>
<subsection id="H6FA978A596B14535A29086071C4FB092"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Research management plan</header><text>The Administrator shall develop a research management plan for the International Space Station. The plan shall include a process for selecting and prioritizing research activities (including fundamental, applied, commercial, and other research) for flight on the International Space Station. This plan shall be used to prioritize resources such as crew time, racks and equipment, and United States access to international research facilities and equipment. The plan shall also identify the organization to be responsible for managing United States research on the International Space Station, including a description of the relationship of the management institution with NASA (e.g., internal NASA office, contract, cooperative agreement, or grant), the estimated length of time for the arrangement, and the budget required to support the management institution. The plan shall be developed in consultation with other Federal agencies, academia, industry, and other relevant stakeholders. The plan shall be transmitted to Congress not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H5FDDD1DBDBF24EE197FE40316555BB1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Access to national laboratory</header><text>The Administrator shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H786E45CBA5824448A0D4132EA5F49C3F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish a process by which to support International Space Station National Laboratory users in identifying their requirements for transportation of research supplies to and from the International Space Station, and for communicating those requirements to NASA and International Space Station transportation services providers; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H556015CF6CF04160B5D0D115F0D50045"><enum>(2)</enum><text>develop an estimate of the transportation requirements needed to support users of the International Space Station National Laboratory and develop a plan for satisfying those requirements by dedicating a portion of volume on NASA supply missions to the International Space Station and missions returning from the International Space Station to Earth.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HAEE14753099C4959AE7482F83CD56C6C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Assessment</header><text>The Administrator shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HE4322C7B95044E0182F3ED2D69A8E554"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identify existing research equipment and racks and support equipment that are manifested for flight;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H53888455A90948BBB8692F30B0B3F24"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provide a detailed description of the status of research equipment and facilities that were completed or in development prior to being cancelled, and provide the budget and milestones for completing and preparing the equipment for flight on the International Space Station; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC667620B86AF457CBC409807BFCC52E8"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide the results of the assessment to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H5528D50BFDC44CB3B0E100D1043D5ECD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Advisory committee</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish an advisory panel under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to monitor the activities and management of the International Space Station National Laboratory.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H9786AEC5411548A088DBCC171BF5C500"><enum>603.</enum><header>Contingency plan for cargo resupply</header>
<subsection id="HD5B49DFB67CB475E00C7D0D5509D55E8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The International Space Station represents a significant investment of national resources, and it is a facility that embodies a cooperative international approach to the exploration and utilization of space. As such, it is important that its continued viability and productivity be ensured, to the maximum extent possible, after the Space Shuttle is retired.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H441D8CCDF24B47EF9094AA9CCDAF6B06"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contingency plan</header><text>The Administrator shall develop a contingency plan and arrangements, including use of International Space Station international partner cargo resupply capabilities, to ensure the continued viability and productivity of the International Space Station in the event that United States commercial cargo resupply services are not available during any extended period after the date that the Space Shuttle is retired. The plan shall be delivered to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section></subtitle>
<subtitle id="HC231294D2E6644D79EB7CAB8CDD7F200"><enum>B</enum><header>Space Shuttle</header>
<section id="H72E3DC1EBB474409B19B76F0D8C0843D"><enum>611.</enum><header>Flight manifest</header>
<subsection id="H36FDA2817D6740A9B73451DF336B33F6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Baseline manifest</header><text>In addition to the Space Shuttle flights listed as part of the baseline flight manifest as of January 1, 2008, the Utilization flights ULF–4 and ULF–5 shall be considered part of the Space Shuttle baseline flight manifest and shall be flown prior to the retirement of the Space Shuttle.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H9A455548EF8B4FB4BA3DC4CA5FA2273D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Additional flight To deliver the alpha magnetic spectrometer to the international space station</header><text>In addition to the flying of the baseline manifest as described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall take all necessary steps to fly one additional Space Shuttle flight to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station prior to the retirement of the Space Shuttle.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H0AAC962586194258B151D0E61E8FC466"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Space Shuttle retirement date</header><text>The Space Shuttle shall be retired following the completion of the baseline flight manifest and the flight of the additional flight specified in subsection (b), events that are anticipated to occur in 2010.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H9C8E2AB08B0B4E60006B73B661D65898"><enum>612.</enum><header>Disposition of shuttle-related assets</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide a plan to Congress for the disposition of the remaining Space Shuttle orbiters and other Space Shuttle program-related hardware and facilities after the retirement of the Space Shuttle fleet. The plan shall include a process by which educational institutions and science museums and other appropriate organizations may acquire, through loan or disposal by the Federal Government, Space Shuttle program-related hardware. The Administrator shall not dispose of any Space Shuttle-related hardware prior to the completion of the plan.</text> </section>
<section id="HBE4E4291EC8B4F068D1833D4DAC200ED"><enum>613.</enum><header>Space Shuttle transition liaison office</header>
<subsection id="HC8CBE81F1A274E85BFAD124082B8B13C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Administrator shall establish an office within NASA’s Office of Human Capital Management that shall assist local communities affected by the termination of the Space Shuttle program. The office shall offer technical assistance and serve as a clearinghouse to assist communities in identifying services available from other Federal agencies.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HB865B54A1CD74D4EA7B15850557B0368"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The Office established under subsection (a) shall cease operations 24 months after the last Space Shuttle flight.</text> </subsection></section></subtitle>
<subtitle id="HD5A4B194E03C4BB9BFFFD958D61D229"><enum>C</enum><header>Launch Services</header>
<section id="H9E8FB74CC97D4DA68D9EFED0A742D1F2"><enum>621.</enum><header>Launch services strategy</header>
<subsection id="H70665F63BE5D4D6F9FA5199BF5E63B1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In preparation for the award of contracts to follow up on the current NASA Launch Services (NLS) contracts, the Administrator shall develop a strategy for providing domestic commercial launch services in support of NASA’s small and medium-sized Science, Space Operations, and Exploration missions, consistent with current law and policy.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H879B0486EFE046C4A6581727D2FBD6E0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall transmit a report to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate describing the strategy developed under subsection (a) not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. The report shall provide, at a minimum—</text>
<paragraph id="H0483EEDF37994D31B42EC467837BDDB8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the results of the Request for Information on small to medium-sized launch services released on April 22, 2008;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8F8A9A8257DF40D9A2ECC15879577DF1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an analysis of possible alternatives to maintain small and medium-sized lift capabilities after June 30, 2010, including the use of the Department of Defense’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV);</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5DBBFD2953714D28B07DD7813FAC9400"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the recommended alternatives, and associated 5-year budget plans starting in October 2010 that would enable their implementation; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H541F0ADB49E24FBE8C2349A549A700B"><enum>(4)</enum><text>a contingency plan in the event the recommended alternatives described in paragraph (3) are not available when needed.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle>
<enum>VII</enum><header>Education</header>
<section id="H46B27C252D1E42D3B55D8516023883E9"><enum>701.</enum><header>Response to review</header>
<subsection id="H99276D690DD3434FB984DA13B1D71778"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plan</header><text>The Administrator shall prepare a plan identifying actions taken or planned in response to the recommendations of the National Academies report, <quote>NASA’s Elementary and Secondary Education Program: Review and Critique</quote>. For those actions that have not been implemented, the plan shall include a schedule and budget required to support the actions.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H0931F420A90B4B18BE0303E67900D1F3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The plan prepared under subsection (a) shall be transmitted to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H36DBB46A13A247E99F98F67CE2BCA9F0"><enum>702.</enum><header>External review of Explorer Schools program</header>
<subsection id="H1567903A5D804934B058EE5F004F3D87"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Review</header><text>The Administrator shall make arrangements for an independent external review of the Explorer Schools program to evaluate its goals, status, plans, and accomplishments.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H89722E4A17D046F88CE8CFAC7E0045BF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The report of the independent external review shall be transmitted to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HE4B63ACF52DA4467905D754384F67568"><enum>703.</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that NASA’s educational programs are important sources of inspiration and hands-on learning for the next generation of engineers and scientists and should be supported. In that regard, programs such as EarthKAM, which brings NASA directly into American classrooms by enabling students to talk directly with Astronauts aboard International Space Station and take photographs of Earth from space, and NASA involvement in robotics competitions for students of all levels, are particularly worthy undertakings and NASA should support them and look for additional opportunities to engage students through NASA’s space and aeronautics activities.</text> </section>
<enum>VIII</enum><header>Near-Earth Objects</header>
<section id="H68EC7E5C37654B93B7F009D6176157DF"><enum>801.</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Congress reaffirms the policy direction established in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/109/155">Public Law 109–155</external-xref>) for NASA to detect, track, catalogue, and characterize the physical characteristics of near-Earth objects equal to or greater than 140 meters in diameter. NASA’s Near-Earth Object program activities will also provide benefits to NASA’s scientific and exploration activities.</text> </section>
<section id="H06E032FD7AFE404BA800A9FBAA87A749"><enum>802.</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress makes the following findings:</text>
<paragraph id="H14B2792169844E1FA675A0D52BC381FE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Near-Earth objects pose a serious and credible threat to humankind, as many scientists believe that a major asteroid or comet was responsible for the mass extinction of the majority of the Earth's species, including the dinosaurs, nearly 65,000,000 years ago.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF6E66E3250724DC5AFCB54B21063CF00"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Several such near-Earth objects have only been discovered within days of the objects’ closest approach to Earth and recent discoveries of such large objects indicate that many large near-Earth objects remain undiscovered.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF8FF2E6D06EF485DADB225BDA7D8EEB0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Asteroid and comet collisions rank as one of the most costly natural disasters that can occur.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H963488313DF04A369560BCDBBB620020"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The time needed to eliminate or mitigate the threat of a collision of a potentially hazardous near-Earth object with Earth is measured in decades.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7C7A87B6319B4AAEB3F5166BA2A4BB5"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Unlike earthquakes and hurricanes, asteroids and comets can provide adequate collision information, enabling the United States to include both asteroid-collision and comet-collision disaster recovery and disaster avoidance in its public-safety structure.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFF818E1B9A1D42D69EC2C7F72DA687F"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Basic information is needed for technical and policy decisionmaking for the United States to create a comprehensive program in order to be ready to eliminate and mitigate the serious and credible threats to humankind posed by potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids and comets.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H57B98D2BA71A4C26A4BE2B3485BECBF3"><enum>(7)</enum><text>As a first step to eliminate and to mitigate the risk of such collisions, situation and decision analysis processes, as well as procedures and system resources, must be in place well before a collision threat becomes known.</text> </paragraph></section>
<section id="HE767E25D0DA840378B2EC595FDA2374D"><enum>803.</enum><header>Requests for information</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall issue requests for information on—</text>
<paragraph id="H04D6759ABF4F436EAA2EA790FD51BAAA"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a low-cost space mission with the purpose of rendezvousing with, attaching a tracking device, and characterizing the Apophis asteroid, which scientists estimate will in 2029 pass at a distance from Earth that is closer than geostationary satellites; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H33E2CADF5FB94FFF91FA776D00015C2D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a medium-sized space mission with the purpose of detecting near-Earth objects equal to or greater than 140 meters in diameter.</text> </paragraph></section>
<section id="H131E779BCB3C44B4A34C478169B1484"><enum>804.</enum><header>Establishment of policy</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of OSTP shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H54AE5511BAF54A8C873B0075A5BEB502"><enum>(1)</enum><text>develop a policy for notifying Federal agencies and relevant emergency response institutions of an impending near-Earth object threat, if near term public safety is at stake; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H21F25DE8CB514FEF871EAF6F5339796"><enum>(2)</enum><text>recommend a Federal agency or agencies to be responsible for protecting the Nation from a near-Earth object that is anticipated to collide with Earth and implementing a deflection campaign, in consultation with international bodies, should one be required.</text> </paragraph></section>
<section id="H92E4E4B675864253AC46B16FE48EE510"><enum>805.</enum><header>Planetary radar capability</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall maintain a planetary radar that is, at minimum, comparable to the capability provided through the NASA Deep Space Network Goldstone facility.</text> </section>
<section id="H0EDD93A20EDA42738B5C2EEAEC17CE7C"><enum>806.</enum><header>Arecibo Observatory</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress reiterates its support for the use of the Arecibo Observatory for NASA-funded near-Earth object-related activities. The Administrator shall ensure the availability of the Arecibo Observatory’s planetary radar to support these activities until the National Academies’ review of NASA’s approach for the survey and deflection of near-Earth objects, including a determination of the role of Arecibo, that was directed to be undertaken by the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act, is completed.</text> </section>
<section id="H33F4B5B2E16C40DA8BEB72EF38F2977"><enum>807.</enum><header>International resources</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that, since an estimated 25,000 asteroids of concern have yet to be discovered and monitored, the United States should seek to obtain commitments for cooperation from other nations with significant resources for contributing to a thorough and timely search for such objects and an identification of their characteristics. </text></section>
<enum>IX</enum><header>Commercial Initiatives</header>
<section id="H92D18F943EC8480DA2344DE45582859"><enum>901.</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that a healthy and robust commercial sector can make significant contributions to the successful conduct of NASA’s space exploration program. While some activities are inherently governmental in nature, there are many other activities, such as routine supply of water, fuel, and other consumables to low Earth orbit or to destinations beyond low Earth orbit, and provision of power or communications services to lunar outposts, that potentially could be carried out effectively and efficiently by the commercial sector at some point in the future. Congress encourages NASA to look for such service opportunities and, to the maximum extent practicable, make use of the commercial sector to provide those services. It is further the sense of Congress that United States entrepreneurial space companies have the potential to develop and deliver innovative technology solutions at affordable costs. NASA is encouraged to use United States entrepreneurial space companies to conduct appropriate research and development activities. NASA is further encouraged to seek ways to ensure that firms that rely on fixed-price proposals are not disadvantaged when NASA seeks to procure technology development.</text> </section>
<section id="HB1C0CB2F8F1F492183A00D671CF58A0"><enum>902.</enum><header>Commercial crew initiative</header>
<subsection id="H5CB5FFEC25CF479B97E24D04C6B70A5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In order to stimulate commercial use of space, help maximize the utility and productivity of the International Space Station, and enable a commercial means of providing crew transfer and crew rescue services for the International Space Station, NASA shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H41E324CC020A4CBB9CCACB3891D90562"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">make use of United States commercially provided International Space Station crew transfer and crew rescue services to the maximum extent practicable, if those commercial services have demonstrated the capability to meet NASA-specified ascent, entry, and International Space Station proximity operations safety requirements;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H28DE3EE82FC0447E929283ABA4DEB316"><enum>(2)</enum><text>limit, to the maximum extent practicable, the use of the Crew Exploration Vehicle to missions carrying astronauts beyond low Earth orbit once commercial crew transfer and crew rescue services that meet safety requirements become operational;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFF9C1C06005C4440B52FA83BE27111E4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>facilitate, to the maximum extent practicable, the transfer of NASA-developed technologies to potential United States commercial crew transfer and rescue service providers, consistent with United States law; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFD8A137523AB421D8F004B8300DE44F5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>issue a notice of intent, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, to enter into a funded, competitively awarded Space Act Agreement with two or more commercial entities for a Phase 1 Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) crewed vehicle demonstration program.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H5DD26E0FED3B49F283504506E44D8302"><enum>(b)</enum><header>COTS Crewed Vehicle Demonstration Program authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to NASA for the program described in subsection (a)(4) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, to remain available until expended.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H5B13951CD41C4C8B99F7C31E62C2D6C1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Congressional intent</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It is the intent of Congress that funding for the program described in subsection (a)(4) shall not come at the expense of full funding of the amounts authorized under section 101(a)(3), and for future fiscal years, for Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle development, Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle development, or International Space Station cargo delivery.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HF91EEF2BB92B4907B1C4D2F67FF506FB"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Additional technologies authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to NASA for the provision of International Space Station-compatible docking adaptors and other relevant technologies to be made available to the commercial crew providers selected to service the International Space Station $50,000,000, to remain available until expended.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H23211602C22C4EFEB2D38600F490B5F9"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Crew transfer and crew rescue services contract</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a commercial provider demonstrates the capability to provide International Space Station crew transfer and crew rescue services and to satisfy NASA ascent, entry, and International Space Station proximity operations safety requirements, NASA shall enter into an International Space Station crew transfer and crew rescue services contract with that commercial provider for a portion of NASA’s anticipated International Space Station crew transfer and crew rescue requirements from the time the commercial provider commences operations under contract with NASA through calendar year 2016, with an option to extend the period of performance through calendar year 2020.</text> </subsection></section>
<enum>X</enum><header>Revitalization of NASA Institutional Capabilities</header>
<section id="H88B936342C14466D9542D1D683397D2E"><enum>1001.</enum><header>Review of information security controls</header>
<subsection id="H3D2B4194E25348EB94DFC01C6C6395DC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Report on controls</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a review of information security controls that protect NASA’s information technology resources and information from inadvertent or deliberate misuse, fraudulent use, disclosure, modification, or destruction. The review shall focus on networks servicing NASA’s mission directorates. In assessing these controls, the review shall evaluate—</text>
<paragraph id="H3E3A013505954DFA99D918CA3AA0092"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the network’s ability to limit, detect, and monitor access to resources and information, thereby safeguarding and protecting them from unauthorized access;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2E8D8873FE58413D97005EDDFB9BFDB2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the physical access to network resources; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4763CD6C877C4B6CABEB90CC7048AAC6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the extent to which sensitive research and mission data is encrypted.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HCECD6AEB49F347909B75E53FE113B371"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Restricted report on intrusions</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, and in conjunction with the report described in subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall transmit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a restricted report detailing results of vulnerability assessments conducted by the Government Accountability Office on NASA’s network resources. Intrusion attempts during such vulnerability assessments shall be divulged to NASA senior management prior to their application. The report shall put vulnerability assessment results in the context of unauthorized accesses or attempts during the prior two years and the corrective actions, recent or ongoing, that NASA has implemented in conjunction with other Federal authorities to prevent such intrusions.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="HF078A412D30448FAADAFC1F30917A31B"><enum>1002.</enum><header>Maintenance and upgrade of Center facilities</header>
<subsection id="H11D2B48B4FA647588700C364FE13BE52"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In order to sustain healthy Centers that are capable of carrying out NASA’s missions, the Administrator shall ensure that adequate maintenance and upgrading of those Center facilities is performed on a regular basis.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H6079265F3FCC4B27B625D580915C489B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Review</header><text>The Administrator shall determine and prioritize the maintenance and upgrade backlog at each of NASA’s Centers and associated facilities, and shall develop a strategy and budget plan to reduce that maintenance and upgrade backlog by 50 percent over the next five years.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HAFE206A69CD847FCA51909496323D151"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall deliver a report to Congress on the results of the activities undertaken in subsection (b) concurrently with the delivery of the fiscal year 2011 budget request.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H96A09E3C90EC46BCB0A0BA05EE696C1E"><enum>1003.</enum><header>Assessment of NASA laboratory capabilities</header>
<subsection id="H71EBC71DADEE479EB5B936360074E862"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>NASA’s laboratories are a critical component of NASA’s research capabilities, and the Administrator shall ensure that those laboratories remain productive.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H7EB36D35112D4F9CBB66AEADF9A43FD0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall enter into an arrangement for an independent external review of NASA’s laboratories, including laboratory equipment, facilities, and support services, to determine whether they are equipped and maintained at a level adequate to support NASA’s research activities. The assessment shall also include an assessment of the relative quality of NASA’s in-house laboratory equipment and facilities compared to comparable laboratories elsewhere. The results of the review shall be provided to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section>
<enum>XI</enum><header>Other Provisions</header>
<section id="H4B3F752ADD7C4759AF144C00F6B30058"><enum>1101.</enum><header>Space weather</header>
<subsection id="HE38B297E5A834B0DA2B100402C5724CB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plan for replacement of advanced composition explorer at <enum-in-header>L–1</enum-in-header> Lagrangian point</header>
<paragraph id="H0538EC53000F48F8812EE2DF00EFB8CE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Plan</header><text>The Director of OSTP shall develop a plan for sustaining space-based measurements of solar wind from the L–1 Lagrangian point in space and for the dissemination of the data for operational purposes. OSTP shall consult with NASA, NOAA, and other Federal agencies, and with industry, in developing the plan.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0DBD316669804276ABF84B00B8D517A9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Director shall transmit the plan to Congress not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H790D3CD844464D4BB8BE8E3344F9FBED"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Research program on space weather and aviation</header>
<paragraph id="HE944DCBCD6284329B89CB88F76F7A216"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Administrator shall, in coordination with the National Science Foundation, NOAA, and other relevant agencies, initiate a research program to—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA3D4A054749E4CF997B0B9E4B7CB9954"><enum>(A)</enum><text>conduct or supervise research projects on impacts of space weather to aviation, including impacts on communication, navigation, avionic systems, and airline passengers and personnel; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HCEF68B5FE4BC4095A36F2203D6984023"><enum>(B)</enum><text>facilitate the transfer of technology from space weather research programs to Federal agencies with operational responsibilities and to the private sector.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HEC956E4A86DB496D86BA21DD33D5E4A7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of Grants or Cooperative Agreements</header><text>The Administrator may use grants or cooperative agreements in carrying out this subsection.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H1CBF622BF9FA40CEB173A7B85FA2563"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Assessment of the impact of space weather on aviation</header>
<paragraph id="H66F61CE4F4F64DAE940059573E3794BB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Study</header><text>The Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council for a study of the impacts of space weather on the current and future United States aviation industry, and in particular to examine the risks for Over-The-Pole (OTP) and Ultra-Long-Range (ULR) operations. The study shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H60E7662791FC4F50B18FEB9CE008266"><enum>(A)</enum><text>examine space weather impacts on at least communications, navigation, avionics, and human health in flight;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H58C032945AFB4B9FA6C0D53E60995088"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assess the benefits of space weather information and services to reduce aviation costs and maintain safety;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HDF3F95974BAE4CB4B8F8549968D18778"><enum>(C)</enum><text>provide recommendations on how NASA, NOAA, and the National Science Foundation can most effectively carry out research and monitoring activities related to space weather and aviation; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF04C726ED27543F6BEAF43429CCFF01"><enum>(D)</enum><text>provide recommendations on how to integrate space weather information into the Next Generation Air Transportation System.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H87574B87C02B46FB94171BEA5219321"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text>A report containing the results of the study shall be provided to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H956C22B1371743B299C097CA50885927"><enum>1102.</enum><header>Space traffic management</header>
<subsection id="HB6FD3CCE1BE14423991792F41475ED93"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>As more nations acquire the capabilities for launching payloads into outer space, there is an increasing need for a framework under which information intended to promote safe access into outer space, operations in outer space, and return from outer space to Earth free from physical or radio-frequency interference can be shared among those nations.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H831262A70DAB4D7A91FBA5C9BA305C8F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Discussions</header><text>The Administrator, in consultation with other appropriate agencies of the Federal Government, shall initiate discussions with the appropriate representatives of other spacefaring nations with the goal of determining an appropriate framework under which information intended to promote safe access into outer space, operations in outer space, and return from outer space to Earth free from physical or radio-frequency interference can be shared among those nations.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H25CBE8248E7B4F9C912219EE83E7A67B"><enum>1103.</enum><header>Study of export control policies related to civil and commercial space activities</header>
<subsection id="H87B2D8823EC24920AACC5B53F0CB3989"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Review</header><text>The Director of OSTP shall carry out a study of the impact of current export control policies and implementation directives on the United States aerospace industry and its competitiveness in global markets, and on the ability of United States Government agencies to carry out cooperative activities in science and technology and human space flight, including the impact on research carried out under the sponsorship of those agencies.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H159D010BCD18477B80E2ED0620C44300"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In carrying out the study, the Director shall seek input from industry, academia, representatives of the science community, all affected United States Government agencies, and any other appropriate organizations and individuals.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HECE3C0BF8BD94A198EB0EA86AAD62387"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Director shall provide a report detailing the findings and recommendations of the study to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="H92B625C4A81E42C6BE90CBE36B58EAB2"><enum>1104.</enum><header>Astronaut health care</header>
<subsection id="H2A5D5DE70333432CAA614F83E0989B17"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Survey</header><text>The Administrator shall administer an anonymous survey of astronauts and flight surgeons to evaluate communication, relationships, and the effectiveness of policies. The survey questions and the analysis of results shall be evaluated by experts independent of NASA. The survey shall be administered on at least a biennial basis.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H4840F12C92604413A47373BE6183515C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall transmit a report of the results of the survey to Congress not later than 90 days following completion of the survey.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="HED25336722224DF2A659004152538062"><enum>1105.</enum><header>National Academies decadal surveys</header>
<subsection id="HEAD1F8BA50374FE296EE6660A7CAB5BA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall enter into agreements on a periodic basis with the National Academies for independent assessments, also known as decadal surveys, to take stock of the status and opportunities for Earth and space science discipline fields and Aeronautics research and to recommend priorities for research and programmatic areas over the next decade.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H0D9DB678B1BB46B38FED883EC3A2AD88"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Independent cost estimates</header><text>The agreements described in subsection(a) shall include independent estimates of the life cycle costs and technical readiness of missions assessed in the decadal surveys whenever possible.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H8A57A8E476674BD887F58804B300B2A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reexamination</header><text>The Administrator shall request that each National Academies decadal survey committee identify any conditions or events, such as significant cost growth or scientific or technological advances, that would warrant NASA asking the National Academies to reexamine the priorities that the decadal survey had established.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="HFDCA51C49FED429A94B4FB895F1E9F45"><enum>1106.</enum><header>Innovation prizes</header>
<subsection id="H340A526CEE6943BC8E1D87EB83E5E220"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Prizes can play a useful role in encouraging innovation in the development of technologies and products that can assist NASA in its aeronautics and space activities, and the use of such prizes by NASA should be encouraged.</text> </subsection>
<subsection commented="no" id="HC142635A6CE846C4B8245EBCD67DFA70"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amendments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 314 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H8A629379231749A298CB8CDB943F32E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5102887A765A4D928FB6E1063DE8547D" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H6C19D15FE1BF4B2D997900B4669691A6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Topics</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In selecting topics for prize competitions, the Administrator shall consult widely both within and outside the Federal Government, and may empanel advisory committees. The Administrator shall give consideration to prize goals such as the demonstration of the ability to provide energy to the lunar surface from space-based solar power systems, demonstration of innovative near-Earth object survey and deflection strategies, and innovative approaches to improving the safety and efficiency of aviation systems.</text> </subsection> <after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H9479B6DD66AA4A8F92A9A8244D7679E4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (i)(4) by striking <quote>$10,000,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$50,000,000</quote>.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF62E6D521DC34BA3A44E8C7B26FE58FE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1107.</enum><header>Commercial space launch range study</header>
<subsection id="HD1D81D04D3544D0EB0F2A2238919FEDA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study by interagency committee</header><text>The Director of OSTP shall work with other appropriate Federal agencies to establish an interagency committee to conduct a study to—</text>
<paragraph id="H81266F9113574059A7B9F3AA186C31CE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identify the issues and challenges associated with establishing a space launch range and facilities that are fully dedicated to commercial space missions in close proximity to Federal launch ranges or other Federal facilities; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H243591453D6A4408ACFD81A305B93FB3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>develop a coordinating mechanism such that States seeking to establish such commercial space launch ranges will be able to effectively and efficiently interface with the Federal Government concerning issues related to the establishment of such commercial launch ranges in close proximity to Federal launch ranges or other Federal facilities.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H777DCCCECA3E49EC9743C37F04A7A835"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Director shall, not later than May 31, 2010, submit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).</text> </subsection></section>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB1BA68E8B2A14ED0B82540BAE566E1CF" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1108.</enum><header>NASA outreach and technology assistance program</header>
<subsection id="H4E20512C6B654102A5ED8074470030C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">NASA shall contract with an organization that has demonstrated the ability to partner with NASA centers, aerospace contractors, and academic institutions to carry out a program to transfer the knowledge and technology of the space and aeronautics programs to small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses in communities across the United States. The program shall support the mission of NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program to provide technical assistance through joint partnerships with industry, academia, government agencies, and national laboratories.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HA4021817C06945BCB5EBB62FD8078F3D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Program structure</header><text>In carrying out the program described in subsection (a), the organization shall support the mission of NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program by undertaking the following activities:</text>
<paragraph id="HD2E0A84975B74403987CC0049BF479"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Facilitating technology transfer to the private sector to produce viable commercial products.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4BEE6C6586BE4760A6A53F6638C50900"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Creating a network of academic institutions, aerospace contractors, and NASA centers that will commit to donating technical assistance to small businesses, giving preference to socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and HUBZone small business concerns. This paragraph shall not apply to any contracting actions entered into or taken by the Agency.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9A31561E686A46E5844114EEEA632038"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Creating a network of economic development organizations to increase the awareness and enhance the effectiveness of the program nationwide.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HD7DE570B29A04B2FBE33B2118520AFB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit a report to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate describing the efforts and accomplishments of the program established under subsection (a) in support of NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program. As part of the report, the Administrator shall provide—</text>
<paragraph id="H6FF3C9C06081467CBC8880DCA2CFE00"><enum>(1)</enum><text>data on the number of small businesses receiving assistance, jobs created and retained, and volunteer hours donated by NASA, contractors, and academic institutions nationwide;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7BA52CD2C468486C95E7C199EDD221C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an estimate of the total dollar value of the economic impact made by small businesses that received technical assistance through the program; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H55513CA8CE0749819BF9BC8BB7961372"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an accounting of the use of funds appropriated for the program.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HE31849C7E1D44831B0C4CC22EAB5FE0"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to NASA for the program established under subsection (a), $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 from the funding available for the Innovative Partnerships Program, to remain available until expended.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="HBD914E511A6540B196F388A8B4ACB811" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1109.</enum><header>Reduction-in-force moratorium</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">NASA shall not initiate or implement a reduction-in-force, or conduct any other involuntary separations of permanent, non-Senior Executive Service, civil servant employees except for cause on charges of misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency prior to December 31, 2010.</text></section>
<section id="H53231BCC3BF5469BADA5E7D454ECFE74"><enum>1110.</enum><header>Limit on the use of term positions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">NASA shall limit the percentage of employees in term positions, excluding students and cooperatives, within NASA to less than or equal to ten percent of the total number of non-Senior Executive Service, civil servant employees in fiscal year 2009.</text></section>
<section id="H6E64F426A6EC48BCB8D90718E710C1EF"><enum>1111.</enum><header>Temporary continuation of coverage of health benefits</header>
<subsection id="H0B04A4054CA64C81B7F52CD217B279C2"><enum>(a)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/8905a">Section 8905a(d)</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: </text>
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<paragraph id="H798A50E268B5449796E406B2C79946C4"><enum>(6)</enum>
<subparagraph id="HC8E5A66C13044619001974917856A002" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text>If the basis for continued coverage under this section is, as a result of the termination of the Space Shuttle Program, an involuntary separation from a position due to a reduction-in-force or declination of a directed reassignment or transfer of function, or a voluntary separation from a surplus position in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration—</text>
<clause id="HD9CA5145E4B94122996B876B68F14758" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the individual shall be liable for not more than the employee contributions referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(i); and</text></clause>
<clause id="HBEF5DE9133C9426F9F9C1D7961219036" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall pay the remaining portion of the amount required under paragraph (1)(A).</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H6E0772B2B16F493BBBCAE5F3E0065F8" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>This paragraph shall only apply with respect to individuals whose continued coverage is based on a separation occurring on or after the date of enactment of this paragraph and before December 31, 2010.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HB29988A6BB87405DA3D7FCB86B48DD0" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>For purposes of this paragraph, “surplus position” means a position which is—</text>
<clause id="H636111C7D10C4C28B4A4AD8D6E9CBA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>identified in pre-reduction-in-force planning as no longer required, and which is expected to be eliminated under formal reduction-in-force procedures as a result of the termination of the Space Shuttle Program; or</text></clause>
<clause id="HDDCE67577BE94433803586F18E9D454C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>encumbered by an employee who has received official certification from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration consistent with the Administration’s career transition assistance program regulations that the position is being abolished as a result of the termination of the Space Shuttle Program.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection>
<subsection id="H2CCBB6AAC4124A65938E52652195B68"><enum>(b)</enum><text>Paragraph (1)(A) of such subsection (d) is amended by striking <quote>(4) and (5)</quote> and inserting <quote>(4), (5), and (6)</quote>.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H6C68337D95474BD39804CC131F4F1898" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1112.</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that NASA should not dilute, distort, suppress, or impede scientific research or the dissemination thereof.</text></section>
<section id="HCDB94FECD8A541178B2975178780FA7F"><enum>1113.</enum><header>Sense of Congress regarding the need for a robust workforce</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that—</text>
<paragraph id="HA64AB4DC6E6F44DC962C6C28A2B27905"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a robust and highly skilled workforce is critical to the success of NASA’s programs;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBF08BB6270824A00A112C100CD7700C8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>voluntary attrition, the retirement of many senior workers, and difficulties in recruiting could leave NASA without access to the intellectual capital necessary to compete with its global competitors; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8B0B38E9781A4F2D90082CB705A878C8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>NASA should work cooperatively with other agencies of the United States Government responsible for programs related to space and the aerospace industry to develop and implement policies, including those with an emphasis on improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education at all levels, to sustain and expand the diverse workforce available to NASA.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="HB9D1E23DFCEC409FA1F10000EE112D01" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1114.</enum><header>Exception to alternative fuel procurement requirement</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 526(a) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/17142">42 U.S.C. 17142(a)</external-xref>) does not prohibit NASA from entering into a contract to purchase a generally available fuel that is not an alternative or synthetic fuel or predominantly produced from a nonconventional petroleum source, if—</text>
<paragraph id="H9999A3FAD0D44C0BA3C2B49BE796003C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the contract does not specifically require the contractor to provide an alternative or synthetic fuel or fuel from a nonconventional petroleum source;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8C4AED50822F4821B38D62F76256007"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the purpose of the contract is not to obtain an alternative or synthetic fuel or fuel from a nonconventional petroleum source; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HDA77A3A08931434C9FDBF5E17C7174E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the contract does not provide incentives for a refinery upgrade or expansion to allow a refinery to use or increase its use of fuel from a nonconventional petroleum source.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="H23C0FC9517914CD0B7A80112A177949E" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1115.</enum><header>Christa McAuliffe scholarship program for fields related to the mission of NASA</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall establish a scholarship program in honor of Christa McAuliffe, who died in the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster. The scholarship fund would provide scholarships each year of $10,000 each to three women who are going to college to study in fields related to the mission of NASA, with the goal of seeking careers in space science, aeronautics, and other fields related to NASA.</text></section>
Passed the House of Representatives June 18, 2008.Lorraine C. Miller,Clerk.