[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.
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\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.
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\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
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By fiscal year, millions of dollars--
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2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2019-2024
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Estimated Authorization.......................................... 0 20 70 120 25 10 245
Estimated Outlays Basis.......................................... 0 15 50 95 60 15 235
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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.]
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