[Senate Report 116-171]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                      Calendar No. 322
116th Congress      }                                   {       Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session        }                                   {      116-171
_______________________________________________________________________

                                     

               SPACE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING ACT

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 of the

           COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

                                   on

                                 S. 881







              [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]







               December 11, 2019.--Ordered to be printed 
               
                               __________

                      U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
                      
99-010                     WASHINGTON : 2019 
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
       SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
                     one hundred sixteenth congress
                             first session

                 ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi, Chairman
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota             MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
ROY BLUNT, Missouri                  AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
TED CRUZ, Texas                      RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska                BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
JERRY MORAN, Kansas                  EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska                 TOM UDALL, New Mexico
CORY GARDNER, Colorado               GARY PETERS, Michigan
MARSHA BLACKBURN, Tennessee          TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia  TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois
MIKE LEE, Utah                       JON TESTER, Montana
RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin               KYRSTEN SINEMA, Arizona
TODD C. YOUNG, Indiana               JACKY ROSEN, Nevada
RICK SCOTT, Florida
                     John P. Keast, Staff Director
               David Strickland, Minority Staff Director

















                                                      Calendar No. 322
116th Congress      }                                   {       Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session        }                                   {      116-171
======================================================================



 
               SPACE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING ACT

                                _______
                                

               December 11, 2019.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

       Mr. Wicker, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 881]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to 
which was referred the bill (S. 881) to improve understanding 
and forecasting of space weather events, and for other 
purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon 
without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.

                          Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of S. 881, as reported, is to improve 
understanding and forecasting of space weather events, and for 
other purposes.

                          Background and Needs

    Space weather refers to naturally occurring variations in 
the space environment between the Sun and the Earth, including 
solar flares, solar energetic particles, solar wind, and 
coronal mass ejections.\1\ These solar events can interact with 
Earth and its surrounding space, including the Earth's magnetic 
field.\2\ Space weather is relevant to U.S. economic and social 
well-being because these naturally occurring variations could 
cause disruption to electrical power grids, navigation systems, 
communications networks, and satellite and aircraft operations. 
Therefore, space weather has economic, safety, health, and 
national security implications. As the United States becomes 
more and more dependent on communication networks, navigation 
systems, and electrical power grid technologies, the impact of 
space weather poses an increasing risk to infrastructure.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\National Science and Technology Council, National Space Weather 
Strategy, October 2015.
    \2\Department of Homeland Security, The Strategic National Risk 
Assessment (SNRA) in Support of PPD 8: A Comprehensive Risk-Based 
Approach toward a Secure and Resilient Nation, December 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Historical records indicate that space weather events of 
great severity have occurred within the last 150 years. 
Notably, in March 1989, a large geomagnetic storm caused a 
power outage in Quebec, Canada, impacting 6 million people for 
9 hours. The Great Geomagnetic Storm of May 1921, which 
produced ground currents as much as 10 times stronger than the 
1989 Quebec storm, was used as a case study to model its effect 
on the modern power grid. The National Academy of Sciences 
(NAS) found there would be more than 350 transformers at risk 
of permanent damage and 130 million people without power if the 
1921 storm happened today. The strongest geomagnetic storm on 
record is the Carrington Event of August-September 1859, which 
was ranked over 50 percent stronger than the storm of May 1921. 
A contemporary repetition of the Carrington Event would cause 
extensive social and economic disruptions,\3\ including power 
outages, radio blackouts, and satellite malfunctions, and 
impacts to telecommunications, GPS navigation, banking and 
finance, and transportation. According to the NAS estimates, 
the total economic impact in the first year alone could reach 
up to $2 trillion, approximately 20 times greater than the 
costs of Hurricane Katrina.\4\ Scientists do not know the 
likelihood of such an event recurring, or whether such an event 
is even the worst case scenario.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Severe Space 
Weather--Social and Economic Impacts (http://science.nasa.gov/science-
news/science-at-nasa/2009/21jan_
severespaceweather/) (accessed April 20, 2016).
    \4\National Academy of Sciences, Severe Space Weather Events--
Understanding Societal and Economic Impacts: A Workshop Report, 2008.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In October 2015, the National Science and Technology 
Council (NSTC) released both the National Space Weather 
Strategy and the National Space Weather Action Plan, the result 
of a multi-agency task force led by the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy (OSTP), the Department of Commerce's National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeking to enhance the 
integration of existing national efforts to understand, 
predict, prepare for, and mitigate space weather. In March 
2019, NSTC released a follow on National Space Weather Strategy 
and Action Plan produced by its Space Weather Operations, 
Research, and Mitigation Working Group also co-chaired by OSTP, 
NOAA, and DHS.
    S. 881 would help implement the National Space Weather 
Strategy and Action Plan by setting national priorities to 
increase and improve space weather observations, science, and 
forecasting abilities. If utility and satellite operators know 
a geomagnetic storm is coming, they could take measures to 
reduce damage, such as disconnecting wires, shielding 
vulnerable electronics, and powering down critical hardware.
    Currently, the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration's (NASA) Solar and Heliospheric Observatory 
(SOHO) spacecraft includes the Large Angle and Spectrometric 
Coronagraph (LASCO) instrument that provides data with an 
advanced warning of incoming solar flares of 24 hours to 72 
hours depending on the energy emitted. However, SOHO/LASCO was 
launched over 20 years ago on December 2, 1995, and has already 
exceeded its design life. Therefore, this bill would require 
NASA and NOAA to consider additional capabilities for solar 
imaging to provide continuous space weather forecasting in the 
event of a SOHO/LASCO failure. The Committee is pleased to see 
that the President's fiscal year 2020 budget includes funding 
for the Space Weather Follow-On, including funds for two 
compact coronagraphs.

                         Summary of Provisions

    If enacted, S. 881 would provide clear roles and 
responsibilities for Federal agencies, including NASA, NOAA, 
the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), and the Department of Defense (DOD) to 
better understand, predict, and forecast space weather. 
Specifically, the bill would direct NOAA and DOD to provide 
operational space weather forecasts and would direct NASA and 
NSF to conduct heliophysics research, develop next-generation 
technologies, and transfer scientific research findings, data, 
and models to operational forecasters.
    The bill also would direct NOAA and NASA to immediately 
begin planning for back-up solar observations to prevent a 
single point of failure in the current satellite fleet and 
would direct the agencies to develop space weather benchmarks 
to characterize the nature, frequency, and intensity of 
expected space weather events. Additionally, the bill would 
direct DHS and national security agencies to assess the 
vulnerability of critical infrastructure and national security 
assets to space weather events and manage associated risks and 
impacts, and would direct FAA to assess safety implications and 
methods to mitigate the safety implications of space weather 
events to civil aviation.

                          Legislative History

    S. 881, the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act, was 
introduced on March 26, 2019, by Senator Peters (for himself 
and Senator Gardner) and was referred to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. On April 
3, 2019, the Committee met in open Executive Session and, by 
voice vote, ordered S. 881 reported favorably without 
amendment.
    Similar legislation, S. 141, the Space Weather Research and 
Forecasting Act, was introduced in the 115th Congress on 
January 12, 2017, by Senator Peters (for himself and Senators 
Gardner, Booker, and Wicker) and was referred to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
Senators Klobuchar and Nelson were additional cosponsors. On 
January 24, 2017, the Committee met in Executive Session and, 
by voice vote, ordered S. 141 reported favorably with an 
amendment (in the nature of a substitute). On May 2, 2017, S. 
141 passed the Senate with an amendment by unanimous consent, 
and on May 3, 2017, that bill was referred to five Committees 
of the House of Representatives (Science, Space, and 
Technology; Armed Services; Transportation and Infrastructure; 
Foreign Affairs; and Intelligence (Permanent Select)), and the 
short title as reported to the House of Representatives was the 
Space Weather Coordination Act. On January 3, 2019, the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives reported S. 141 favorably, as amended. On 
January 3, 2019, S. 141 was also discharged by the Committees 
on Armed Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Foreign 
Affairs, and Intelligence (Permanent Select) of the House of 
Representatives, and placed on the Union Calendar.

                            Estimated Costs

    In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate and section 403 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the 
following cost estimate, prepared by the Congressional Budget 
Office:

              [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


    The bill would
           Require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration to maintain the capability to observe 
        space weather by building and deploying at least one 
        instrument to capture imagery of coronal mass ejections
           Codify existing multi-agency efforts under 
        the National Space Weather Program
    Estimated budgetary effects would primarily stem from
           The costs to acquire a coronagraph, 
        spacecraft, and related equipment
    Areas of significant uncertainty include
           The number of spacecraft and coronagraphs 
        required to adequately capture coronal mass ejection 
        imagery
           When the spacecraft and coronagraph would 
        launch and what it could cost
    Summary: S. 881 would require the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to capture imagery of coronal 
mass ejections (CMEs). A CME is a release of a large quantity 
of matter and electromagnetic radiation from the sun. 
Currently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA) operates several spacecraft that provide imagery of 
CMEs; however, those vehicles are outdated. S. 881 would 
require NOAA to assume that responsibility from NASA to ensure 
that the United States continues to capture images of CMEs.
    The bill also would codify existing multi-agency efforts 
under the National Space Weather Program.
    Estimated Federal cost: The estimated budgetary effect of 
S. 881 is shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall 
within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment).

                 TABLE 1.--ESTIMATED INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION UNDER S. 881
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       By fiscal year, millions of dollars--
                                                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                                                   2019  2020  2021  2022  2023  2024  2019-2024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Authorization..........................................    0    20    70   120    25    10        245
Estimated Outlays Basis..........................................    0    15    50    95    60    15        235
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that S. 
881 will be enacted near the end of fiscal year 2019 and that 
the estimated amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year 
beginning in 2020.
    Background: Under current law, NOAA is implementing a 
program that would meet the requirements outlined in S. 881. 
The Space Weather Follow On (SWFO) program plans to launch two 
spacecraft in 2024. One will include a coronagraph (a telescope 
that can capture CME imagery by blocking glare from the sun's 
surface), and an instrument that can measure solar wind 
properties. The second spacecraft will include an additional 
coronagraph. In NOAA's plan, those spacecraft would be launched 
in 2024 as secondary payloads on two currently scheduled 
launches to minimize launch costs. In 2019, NOAA allocated $27 
million to continue implementing the SWFO. Prior to 2019, The 
agency spent nearly $14 million for the SWFO program.
    Spending subject to appropriation: Because NOAA has begun 
to implement the SWFO program, CBO's estimate of the amounts 
authorized to be appropriated under S. 881 is consistent with 
the amounts necessary to complete the SWFO program. Using 
information from NOAA, CBO estimates that securing that 
capability would cost $235 million over the 2019-2024 period 
(see Table 1). Those amounts would be used to:
           Acquire one coronagraph and one spacecraft 
        at a cost of $105 million over the 20201-2024 period, 
        and
           Develop, operate, and maintain the ground 
        services that would be used to monitor CME imagery 
        received from the coronagraph at a cost of $130 million 
        over the 2020-2024 period.
    CBO expects that acquisition and development of the 
equipment and necessary ground services would be completed by 
2024 and that the coronagraph and spacecraft would be launched 
as a secondary payload on NASA's currently planned Interstellar 
Mapping and Acceleration Probe mission in that year.
    CBO expects that most of that spending would occur in the 
years leading up to the launch as NOAA would need to acquire 
and establish the flight and ground systems necessary to 
operate the spacecraft well in advance of the launch. CBO also 
expects that spending prior to the 2024 launch would include 
amounts for testing the spacecraft and coronagraph to ensure 
they will function properly once launched. Additional amounts 
would be necessary in 2024 and beyond in order to operate and 
maintain the spacecraft, coronagraph, and ground services.
    Other provisions in the bill would codify ongoing 
activities being carried out by several agencies under the 
National Space Weather Program and the Space Weather 
Operations, Research and Mitigation Working Group. In 2019, 
those agencies allocated a combined total of nearly $350 
million to activities related to space weather. Because the 
activities could be conducted under existing authorities, CBO 
estimates that those provisions would not authorize additional 
appropriations.
    Uncertainty: The uncertainty in this estimate stems largely 
from the number of space-based and ground-based instruments 
that would be necessary to provide real-time CME imagery and 
when spacecraft would be launched. S. 881 requires that NOAA 
deploy at least one instrument to capture CME imagery. For this 
estimate, CBO expects that one coronagraph would be sufficient 
to capture such CME imagery along with one spacecraft to house 
the coronagraph and one ground-based observation site to record 
and analyze the images. However, if additional equipment were 
required to adequately capture CME imagery then the costs of 
implementing S. 881 would be higher.
    Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None.
    Increase in long-Term deficits: None.
    Mandates: None.
    Estimate prepare by: Federal Costs: Robert Reeses; 
Mandates: Susan Willie.
    Estimate reviewed by: Kim P. Cawley, Chief, Natural and 
Physical Resources Cost Estimates Unit; Theresa Gullo, 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                      Regulatory Impact Statement

    In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the 
following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the 
legislation, as reported:

                       number of persons covered

    S. 881, as reported, would not create any new programs or 
impose any new regulatory requirements, and therefore would not 
subject any individuals or businesses to new regulations.

                            economic impact

    The legislation is not expected to have a negative impact 
on the Nation's economy. On the contrary, it will likely reduce 
adverse economic impacts if space weather events occur by 
increasing preparedness.

                                privacy

    The reported bill is not expected to impact the personal 
privacy of individuals.

                               paperwork

    S. 881 would require the Director of the OSTP to submit a 
report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives regarding 
the integrated strategy for solar and solar wind observations 
beyond the lifetime of current Federal assets. S. 881 also 
would direct the Space Weather Interagency Working Group to 
develop preliminary benchmarks to describe the nature, 
frequency, and intensity of space weather disturbances. The 
Space Weather Interagency Working Group would be directed to 
publish the final benchmarks not later than 18 months after the 
preliminary benchmarks are developed.

                   Congressionally Directed Spending

    In compliance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides that no 
provisions contained in the bill, as reported, meet the 
definition of congressionally directed spending items under the 
rule.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis


Section 1. Short title.

    This section would provide that the bill may be cited as 
the ``Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act''.

Section 2. Space weather.

    This section would amend subtitle VI of title 51, United 
States Code, to add a new chapter 607. A new section 60701 of 
that chapter would include the findings of Congress and the 
Federal agency roles regarding space weather. NSTC, under OSTP, 
would be directed to establish an interagency working group on 
space weather to improve the ability of the United States to 
prepare for, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from 
potentially devastating impacts of space weather events. The 
new section 60701 also would direct OSTP to coordinate 
responsibilities of the space weather interagency group based 
on agency capabilities. The new section 60701 also would direct 
OSTP, in coordination with NOAA, NASA, NSF, and DOD, and in 
consultation with academic and commercial communities, to 
develop an integrated strategy for solar and solar wind 
observations beyond the lifetime of current assets.
    A new section 60702 of that chapter would direct NASA to 
maintain SOHO/LASCO operations for as long as the satellite 
continues to deliver quality observations. It would also direct 
NOAA to secure reliable secondary capability for near real-time 
coronal mass ejection imagery, prioritizing a cost-effective 
solution and considering options such as commercial solutions, 
prize authority, academic, and international partnerships. NOAA 
would be directed to develop an operational contingency plan to 
provide continuous space weather forecasting in the event of a 
SOHO/LASCO failure, and develop requirements and a plan for 
follow-on space-based observations for operational purposes.
    The new section 60702 would direct NSF, the Air Force, and 
where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Navy to 
maintain and improve, as necessary and advisable, ground-based 
observations of the Sun in order to help meet identified 
priorities, and provide space weather data. It also would 
require NSF to provide key data streams for research and space 
weather model development, to develop experimental models for 
scientific purposes, and to support the transition of 
experimental models to operations.
    A new section 60703 of that chapter would direct NOAA, the 
Air Force, and, where practicable in support of the Air Force, 
the Navy to conduct and publish a survey to identify and 
prioritize the needs of space weather forecast users. It also 
would require NSF, NASA, and DOD to continue to carry out basic 
research activities on heliophysics, geospace science, and 
space weather, and require NSF, NOAA, and NASA to pursue 
multidisciplinary research in subjects that further our 
understanding of solar physics, space physics, and space 
weather.
    The new section 60703 also would direct NASA to implement 
missions that meet the science objectives identified by NAS 
decadal surveys, and direct NASA, NSF, NOAA, the Air Force, 
and, where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Navy to 
develop a formal mechanism to transition research to operations 
and enhance coordination between modeling and forecasting 
centers. The new section 60703 would require NASA and NSF to 
support the development of technologies and instrumentation to 
improve space weather forecasting lead-time and accuracy.
    Last, a new section 60704 of that chapter would direct NASA 
and NSF to make space weather data obtained for scientific 
research purposes available to space weather forecasters and 
operations centers. Additionally, NOAA would be required to 
make space weather obtained from operational forecasting 
available for scientific research.

Section 3. Space weather metrics.

    This section would define ``space weather disturbance'' and 
``space weather benchmark.'' It also would direct the Space 
Weather Interagency Working Group to assess existing data, 
historical records, models, and peer-reviewed studies on space 
weather and develop preliminary benchmarks for measuring solar 
disturbances, and update those benchmarks as necessary. This 
section would require the Space Weather Interagency Working 
Group to publish final benchmarks, and require NAS to review 
those benchmarks.

Section 4. Protection of critical infrastructure.

    This section would direct NOAA, in consultation with the 
heads of other relevant Federal agencies, to provide 
information about space weather hazards to the DHS. It would 
direct DHS, in consultation with NOAA and the heads of other 
relevant agencies, to include an assessment of the 
vulnerability of critical infrastructure to space weather 
events and support critical infrastructure providers in 
managing risks and impacts associated with space weather.

Section 5. Protection of national security assets.

    This section would direct the National Security Council, in 
consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, the 
Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal 
agencies, to assess the vulnerability of the national security 
community to space weather events and develop mechanisms to 
protect national security assets from space weather threats.

Section 6. Ensuring the safety of civil aviation.

    This section would direct FAA, in consultation with the 
heads of other relevant Federal agencies, to assess safety 
implications and methods to mitigate the safety implications of 
space weather events to civil aviation. This section also would 
direct FAA, in consultation with the heads of other relevant 
Federal agencies, to develop methods to increase interaction 
between the aviation, space weather research, and service 
provider communities.

                        Changes in Existing Law

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
material is printed in italic, existing law in which no change 
is proposed is shown in roman):

            TITLE 51--NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS


Subtitle VI--Earth Observations

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



                       CHAPTER 607--SPACE WEATHER

Sec.
60701. Space weather.
60702. Observations and forecasting.
60703. Research and technology.
60704. Space weather data.

Sec. 60701. Space weather

  (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
          (1) Space weather events pose a significant threat to 
        ground-based and space-based critical infrastructure, 
        modern technological systems, and humans working in 
        space.
          (2) The effects of severe space weather events on the 
        electric power grid, satellites and satellite 
        communications and information, aviation operations, 
        astronauts living and working in space, and space-based 
        position, navigation, and timing systems could have 
        significant societal, economic, national security, and 
        health impacts.
          (3) Earth and space observations provide crucial data 
        necessary to predict and warn about space weather 
        events.
          (4) Clear roles and accountability of Federal 
        departments and agencies are critical for an efficient 
        and effective response to threats posed by space 
        weather.
          (5) Space weather observation and forecasting are 
        essential for the success of space exploration.
          (6) In October 2015, the National Science and 
        Technology Council published a National Space Weather 
        Strategy and a National Space Weather Action Plan 
        seeking to integrate national space weather efforts and 
        add new capabilities to meet increasing demand for 
        space weather information.
  (b) Federal Agency Roles.--
          (1) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
                  (A) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration--
                          (i) provides operational space 
                        weather forecasting and monitoring for 
                        civil applications;
                          (ii) maintains ground and space-based 
                        assets to provide observations needed 
                        for forecasting, prediction, and 
                        warnings;
                          (iii) provides research to support 
                        operation responsibilities; and
                          (iv) develops requirements for space 
                        weather forecasting technologies and 
                        science.
                  (B) The Department of Defense provides 
                operational space weather forecasting, 
                monitoring, and research for the department's 
                unique missions and applications.
                  (C) The National Aeronautics and Space 
                Administration provides increased understanding 
                of the fundamental physics of the Sun-Earth 
                system through space-based observations and 
                modeling, develops new space-based technologies 
                and missions, and monitors space weather for 
                NASA's space missions.
                  (D) The National Science Foundation provides 
                increased understanding of the Sun-Earth system 
                through ground-based measurements, 
                technologies, and modeling.
                  (E) The Department of the Interior collects, 
                distributes, and archives operational ground-
                based magnetometer data in the United States 
                and its territories, works with the 
                international community to improve global 
                geophysical monitoring, and develops crustal 
                conductivity models to assess and mitigate risk 
                from space weather induced electric ground 
                currents.
                  (F) The Federal Aviation Administration 
                provides operational requirements for space 
                weather services in support of aviation and for 
                coordination of these requirements with the 
                International Civil Aviation Organization, 
                integrates space weather data and products into 
                the Next Generation Air Transportation System.
          (2) Office of science and technology policy.--The 
        Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
        shall--
                  (A) coordinate the development and 
                implementation of Federal Government activities 
                to improve the ability of the United States to 
                prepare, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and 
                recover from potentially devastating impacts of 
                space weather events; and
                  (B) coordinate the activities of the space 
                weather interagency working group established 
                under subsection (c).
  (c) Space Weather Interagency Working Group.--The National 
Science and Technology Council shall establish an interagency 
working group on space weather (referred to in this section as 
the ``interagency working group'') to continue coordination of 
executive branch efforts to understand, prepare, coordinate, 
and plan for space weather.
  (d) Membership.--In order to understand and respond to the 
adverse effects of space weather, the interagency working group 
shall leverage capabilities across participating Federal 
agencies, including--
          (1) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration;
          (2) the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration;
          (3) the National Science Foundation;
          (4) the Department of Defense;
          (5) the Department of the Interior;
          (6) the Department of Homeland Security;
          (7) the Department of Energy;
          (8) the Department of Transportation, including the 
        Federal Aviation Administration; and
          (9) the Department of State.
  (e) Interagency Agreements.--
          (1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress 
        that the interagency collaboration between the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on terrestrial 
        weather observations provides--
                  (A) an effective mechanism for improving 
                weather and climate data collection while 
                avoiding unnecessary duplication of 
                capabilities across Federal agencies; and
                  (B) an agency collaboration model that could 
                benefit space weather observations.
          (2) Interagency agreements.--The Administrator of the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration shall enter into one or more interagency 
        agreements providing for cooperation and collaboration 
        in the development of space weather spacecraft, 
        instruments, and technologies in accordance with this 
        chapter.
  (f) Space Weather Advisory Group.--
          (1) Establishment.--The interagency working group 
        shall establish a space weather advisory group (in this 
        chapter referred to as the ``advisory group'') to 
        facilitate communication and knowledge transfer among 
        Federal Government agencies, the academic community, 
        the commercial sector, and space weather end users.
          (2) Composition.--The advisory group shall be 
        composed of not more than 15 members appointed by the 
        interagency working group, of whom--
                  (A) 5 members shall be representatives of the 
                academic community;
                  (B) 5 members shall be representatives of the 
                commercial sector; and
                  (C) 5 members shall be nongovernmental 
                representatives of the space weather end user 
                community.
          (3) Chair.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
        which the last member of the advisory group is 
        appointed under paragraph (2), the interagency working 
        group shall appoint 1 member as the Chair of the 
        advisory group.
          (4) Terms.--The length of the term of each member of 
        the advisory group shall be 3 years beginning on the 
        date on which the member is appointed.
          (5) Term limits.--
                  (A) In general.--A member of the advisory 
                group may not serve on the advisory group for 
                more than 2 consecutive terms.
                  (B) Chair.--A member of the advisory group 
                may not serve as the Chair of the advisory 
                group for more than 2 terms, regardless of 
                whether the terms are consecutive.
          (6) Duties.--The duties of the advisory group shall 
        be as follows:
                  (A) To facilitate advances in the space 
                weather enterprise of the United States.
                  (B) To improve the ability of the United 
                States to prepare for, avoid, mitigate, respond 
                to, and recover from space weather events.
                  (C) To enable the coordination of research to 
                operations and operations to research, as 
                described in section 60703(d).
                  (D) To advise the interagency working group 
                with respect to the development and 
                implementation of the integrated strategy 
                developed under section 60702(b) and subsequent 
                updates and reevaluations.

Sec. 60702. Observations and forecasting

  (a) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to 
establish and sustain a baseline capability for space weather 
observations.
  (b) Integrated Strategy.--
          (1) In general.--The Director of the Office of 
        Science and Technology Policy, in coordination with the 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration, the Administrator of the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation, and the Secretary of 
        Defense, and in consultation with the academic 
        community, the commercial sector, and the advisory 
        group shall develop an integrated strategy for solar, 
        solar wind, and geospace observations beyond the 
        lifetime of current assets that considers the provision 
        of solar, solar wind, and geospace measurements and 
        other space weather measurements--
                  (A) essential to space weather forecasting; 
                and
                  (B) important for scientific purposes.
          (2) Considerations.--In developing the strategy under 
        paragraph (1), the Director of the Office of Science 
        and Technology Policy shall--
                  (A) consider small satellite options, hosted 
                payloads, commercial options, international 
                options, and prize authority; and
                  (B) leverage and build on work conducted 
                before the date of the enactment of this 
                chapter by the National Science and Technology 
                Council with respect to space weather.
  (c) Critical Observations.--In order to sustain current 
space-based observational capabilities, the Administrator of 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall--
          (1) in cooperation with the European Space Agency and 
        other international and interagency partners, maintain 
        operations of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/
        Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (referred to 
        in this section as ``SOHO/LASCO'') for as long as the 
        satellite continues to deliver quality observations; 
        and
          (2) prioritize the reception of LASCO data.
  (d) Additional Capability for Solar Imaging.--
          (1) In general.--The Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall secure 
        reliable secondary capability for near real-time 
        coronal mass ejection imagery.
          (2) Options.--The Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination 
        with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of 
        the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
        shall develop options to build and deploy one or more 
        instruments for near real-time coronal mass ejection 
        imagery.
          (3) Considerations.--In developing options under 
        paragraph (2), the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall consider 
        commercial solutions, prize authority, academic and 
        international partnerships, microsatellites, ground-
        based instruments, and opportunities to deploy the 
        instrument or instruments as a secondary payload on an 
        upcoming planned launch.
          (4) Costs.--In implementing paragraph (1), the 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration shall prioritize a cost-effective 
        solution.
          (5) Operational planning.--The Administrator of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall 
        develop an operational contingency plan to provide 
        continuous space weather forecasting in the event of a 
        SOHO/LASCO failure.
          (6) Briefing.--Not later than 120 days after the date 
        of enactment of the Space Weather Research and 
        Forecasting Act, the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall provide a 
        briefing to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives on the options for building and 
        deploying the instrument or instruments described in 
        paragraph (2) and the operational contingency plan 
        developed under paragraph (5).
  (e) Follow-On Space-Based Observations.--The Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall develop 
requirements and a plan for follow-on space-based observations 
for operational purposes, in accordance with the integrated 
strategy developed under subsection (b).
  (f) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act, 
the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report 
on the integrated strategy under subsection (b), including the 
plans for follow-on space-based observations under subsection 
(e).
  (g) Ground-Based Observations.--The National Science 
Foundation, the United States Geological Survey, the Air Force, 
and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Navy 
shall each--
          (1) maintain and improve, as necessary and advisable, 
        ground-based observations of the Sun to help meet the 
        priorities identified in section 60703(a); and
          (2) provide space weather data by means of its set of 
        ground-based facilities, including radars, lidars, 
        magnetometers, radio receivers, aurora and airglow 
        imagers, spectrometers, interferometers, and solar 
        observatories.
  (h) Ground-Based Observations Data.--The National Science 
Foundation shall--
          (1) make available to the public key data streams 
        from the platforms described in subsection (g) for 
        research and to support space weather model 
        development;
          (2) develop experimental models for scientific 
        purposes; and
          (3) support the transition of the experimental models 
        to operations where appropriate.

Sec. 60703. Research and technology

  (a) User Needs.--
          (1) In general.--The Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary 
        of the Air Force, and where practicable in support of 
        the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, in 
        conjunction with the heads of other relevant Federal 
        agencies, shall conduct a comprehensive survey to 
        identify and prioritize the needs of space weather 
        forecast users, including space weather data and space 
        weather forecast data needed to improve services and 
        inform research priorities and technology needs.
          (2) Contents.--In conducting the comprehensive survey 
        under paragraph (1), the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary 
        of the Air Force, and where practicable in support of 
        the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, at a minimum, 
        shall--
                  (A) consider the goals for forecast lead 
                time, accuracy, coverage, timeliness, data 
                rate, and data quality for space weather 
                observations;
                  (B) identify opportunities to address the 
                needs identified under paragraph (1) through 
                collaborations with academia, the private 
                sector, and the international community;
                  (C) identify opportunities for new 
                technologies and instrumentation to address the 
                needs identified under paragraph (1); and
                  (D) publish a report on the findings under 
                subparagraphs (A) through (C).
          (3) Publication.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of the enactment of the Space Weather Research and 
        Forecasting Act, and every 3 years thereafter, the 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration, the Secretary of the Air Force, and 
        where practicable in support of the Air Force, the 
        Secretary of the Navy, shall--
                  (A) make the results of the comprehensive 
                survey publicly available; and
                  (B) notify the Committee on Commerce, 
                Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
                the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
                of the House of Representatives of the 
                publication under subparagraph (A).
  (b) Research Activities.--
          (1) Basic research.--The Director of the National 
        Science Foundation, the Administrator of the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Secretary 
        of Defense shall continue to carry out basic research 
        activities on heliophysics, geospace science, and space 
        weather and support competitive, merit-based, peer-
        reviewed proposals for research, modeling, and 
        monitoring of space weather and its impacts, including 
        science goals outlined in Solar and Space Physics 
        Decadal surveys conducted by the National Academy of 
        Sciences.
          (2) Multidisciplinary research.--
                  (A) Findings.--Congress finds that the 
                multidisciplinary nature of solar and space 
                physics creates funding challenges that require 
                coordination across scientific disciplines and 
                Federal agencies.
                  (B) Multidisciplinary research.--The Director 
                of the National Science Foundation, the 
                Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration, and the 
                Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
                Space Administration shall pursue 
                multidisciplinary research in subjects that 
                further our understanding of solar physics, 
                space physics, and space weather.
                  (C) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of 
                Congress that the Administrator of the National 
                Aeronautics and Space Administration and the 
                Director of the National Science Foundation 
                should support competitively awarded 
                Heliophysics Science Centers.
  (c) Science Missions.--The Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration shall seek to implement 
missions that meet the science objectives identified in Solar 
and Space Physics Decadal surveys conducted by the National 
Academy of Sciences.
  (d) Research to Operations; Operations to Research.--
          (1) In general.--The Administrator of the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation, the Administrator of 
        the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
        the Secretary of the Air Force, and where practicable 
        in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, 
        shall--
                  (A) develop a formal mechanism to transition 
                National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
                National Science Foundation, United States 
                Geological Survey, Air Force, and Navy research 
                findings, models, and capabilities, as 
                appropriate, to National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration and Department of 
                Defense space weather operational forecasting 
                centers; and
                  (B) enhance coordination between research 
                modeling centers and forecasting centers.
          (2) Operational needs.--The Administrator of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the 
        Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the 
        Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration and the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation, shall develop a formal mechanism to 
        communicate the operational needs of space weather 
        forecasters to the research community.
  (e) Technology Development.--
          (1) Findings.--Congress finds that observations and 
        measurements closer to the Sun or at the Sun-Earth 
        Lagrangian L5 point with advanced instrumentation would 
        provide for more advanced warning of space weather 
        disturbances (as defined in section 3(a) of the Space 
        Weather Research and Forecasting Act).
          (2) Technology and instrumentation development.--The 
        Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration and the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall support the development of 
        technologies and instrumentation to improve space 
        weather forecasting lead-time and accuracy to meet the 
        needs identified by the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Sec. 60704. Space weather data

  (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director of the 
National Science Foundation shall--
          (1) make space weather related data obtained for 
        scientific research purposes available to space weather 
        forecasters and operations centers; and
          (2) support model development and model applications 
        to space weather forecasting.
  (b) Research.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration shall make space weather related 
data obtained from operational forecasting available for 
scientific research.

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010


[Public Law 111-267; 124 Stat. 2805]

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

  (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
2010''.
  (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is 
as follows:

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                         TITLE VIII--SPACE SCIENCE

Sec. 801. Technology development.
Sec. 802. Suborbital research activities.
Sec. 803. Overall science portfolio-sense of the Congress.
Sec. 804. In-space servicing.
Sec. 805. Decadal results.
Sec. 806. On-going restoration of radioisotope thermoelectric generator 
          material production.
Sec. 807. Collaboration with ESMD and SOMD on robotic missions.
Sec. 808. Near-Earth object survey and policy with respect to threats 
          posed.
[Sec. 809. Space weather.]

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                           [42 U.S.C. 18388]

[SEC. 809. SPACE WEATHER.

  [(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
          [(1) Space weather events pose a significant threat 
        to modern technological systems.
          [(2) The effects of severe space weather events on 
        the electric power grid, telecommunications and 
        entertainment satellites, airline communications during 
        polar routes, and space-based position, navigation and 
        timing systems could have significant societal, 
        economic, national security, and health impacts.
          [(3) Earth and Space Observing satellites, such as 
        the Advanced Composition Explorer, Geostationary 
        Operational Environmental Satellites, Polar Operational 
        Environmental Satellites, and Defense Meteorological 
        Satellites, provide crucial data necessary to predict 
        space weather events.
  [(b) Action Required.--The Director of OSTP shall--
          [(1) improve the Nation's ability to prepare, avoid, 
        mitigate, respond to, and recover from potentially 
        devastating impacts of space weather events;
          [(2) coordinate the operational activities of the 
        National Space Weather Program Council members, 
        including the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center and 
        the U.S. Air Force Weather Agency; and
          [(3) submit a report to the appropriate committees of 
        Congress within 180 days after the date of enactment of 
        this Act that--
                  [(A) details the current data sources, both 
                space- and ground-based, that are necessary for 
                space weather forecasting; and
                  [(B) details the space- and ground-based 
                systems that will be required to gather data 
                necessary for space weather forecasting for the 
                next 10 years.]

                                  [all]