[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19947-19948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10002]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

14 CFR Part 1214

[Notice: (03-043)]
RIN 2700-AC56


Recruitment and Selection of Astronaut Candidates

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is 
amending its regulations setting forth its procedures for recruitment 
and selection of astronaut candidates. NASA's astronaut candidate 
selection process was developed to select highly qualified individuals 
to perform in mission specialist and pilot astronaut positions in human 
space programs. The activities currently are conducted by the Astronaut 
Selection Office at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). NASA proposes to 
amend the rules to permit some of these recruitment and selection 
activities to be performed by NASA organizational elements that are not 
part of JSC. This change is necessary to conduct efficient and 
effective recruitment of a new component of the Astronaut Program, the 
Educator Astronauts.

DATES: This rule is effective July 22, 2003, without further action, 
unless adverse comment is received by May 23, 2003. If adverse comment 
is received, NASA will publish a timely withdrawal of the rule in the 
Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to NASA Headquarters, 
Code FPP, 300 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20546.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candace Irwin, NASA Headquarters, Code 
FPP, 300 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20546; telephone (202) 358-1206.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This direct final rule amends the NASA 
regulations governing the NASA Astronaut Candidate Recruitment and 
Selection Program. NASA is amending its regulations to address the 
addition of a new component of the Astronaut corps: Educator 
Astronauts. The Educator Astronaut Program is designed to motivate U.S. 
students and educators to recognize the value of science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics; attract more people to the teaching, 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics professions; enhance 
the public's understanding of the value of America's educators; and 
share the diverse people and opportunities that advance our Nation's 
achievements in science, technology, and exploration. NASA will recruit 
educators to join NASA's Astronaut Corps to perform educator as well as 
mission specialist duties that will support NASA's education outreach 
program. Involvement of appropriate elements of the education community 
is integral to conduct activities associated with the recruitment and 
selection of Educator Astronauts. The current rule, assigning 
responsibility to JSC for individual activities such as announcing 
astronaut candidate opportunities, implementing the application 
process, reviewing applications, establishing cutoff dates for 
accepting applications, and appointing the rating panel, supports the 
historical Astronaut Candidate Program but does not enable enhancements 
to the program that necessarily require activities outside of JSC. The 
Educator Astronaut positions, which will be integral to the Astronaut 
Candidate Program, offer an education component, necessitating 
involvement by NASA's Office of Education at NASA Headquarters, in 
activities leading to identification of candidates who meet the 
educator requirements of the position. Accordingly, the rule is being 
amended so that a specific NASA Center is not assigned responsibility 
for conducting an activity that could be performed by, or in 
conjunction with, another NASA Center or Headquarters.

[[Page 19948]]

Matters of Regulatory Procedure

Executive Order 12866 Determination

    This rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under section 
3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulation, Planning and Reviews, and 
does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under 
section 6(a)(3) of that Order. The Office of Management and Budget has 
not reviewed it under that Order.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), NASA has 
considered whether this rule would have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities. The term ``small entities'' 
comprises small businesses, not-for-profit organizations that are 
independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their fields, 
and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 50,000. 
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), NASA certifies that this rule will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities because the rule affects the operations of NASA and its 
employees. Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required.

Collection of Information

    This rule calls for no new collection of information under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Federalism

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, 
Federalism, if it has a substantial direct affect on State or local 
governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial 
direct cost of compliance on them. NASA has analyzed this rule under 
that Order and has determined that it does not have implications for 
federalism.

Indian Tribal Governments

    This rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 
13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, 
because it does not have a substantial direct affect on one or more 
Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal government and 
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities 
between the Federal government and Indian tribes.

Taking of Private Property

    This rule would not affect a taking of private property or 
otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, 
Governmental Action and Interference with Constitutionally Protected 
Property Rights.

Civil Justice Reform

    This rule meets applicable standards in section 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of 
Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, 
eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 
1531-1538) requires Federal agencies to assess the effectiveness of 
their discretionary regulatory actions. NASA has determined that the 
rule will not result in expenditures of $100 million or more by State, 
local, or tribal governments or by the private sector. The rule affects 
only the internal organization of NASA. Accordingly, NASA has not 
prepared a budgetary impact statement or specifically addressed 
regulatory alternatives.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 1214

    Government employees, Security measures, Space transportation and 
exploration.

PART 1214--SPACE FLIGHT

0
14 CFR part 1214 is amended as follows:
0
1. The authority citation for part 1214 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: Section 203(c)(1), National Aeronautics and Space Act 
of 1958, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2473(c)).

Subpart 1214.11--NASA Astronaut Candidate Recruitment and Selection 
Program


Sec.  1214.1101  [Amended]

0
2. In Sec.  1214.1101, remove the words ``by the Johnson Space Center 
(JSC)'' in paragraph (a), remove paragraph (c), and redesignate 
paragraphs (d) and (e) as paragraphs (c) and (d), respectively.


Sec.  1214.1102  [Amended]

0
3. In Sec.  1214.1102, in the first sentence of paragraph (a), remove 
the words ``by the JSC Human Resources Office,'' and in the second 
sentence, remove the words ``in writing;''
    In paragraph (d) remove the words ``by JSC.'' and
    Revise paragraphs (b) and (c) and the last sentence of paragraph 
(d) to read as follows:


Sec.  1214.1102  Evaluation of applications.

* * * * *
    (b) A rating panel composed of discipline experts will review and 
rate qualified applicants as ``Qualified'' or ``Highly Qualified.''
    (c) Efforts will be made to ensure that minorities and females are 
included among these discipline experts on the rating panel.
    (d) * * * This evaluation process will be monitored to ensure 
adherence to applicable policy, laws, and regulations.
* * * * *


Sec.  1214.1103  [Amended]

0
4. In Sec.  1214.1103, remove the last sentence of paragraph (b) and 
revise the first sentence in paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  1214.1103  Application cutoff date.

* * * * *
    (b) Once such approval has been obtained, a cutoff date for the 
acceptance of applications will be established. * * *


Sec.  1214.1104  [Amended]

0
5. In Sec.  1214.1104, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  1214.1104  Evaluation and ranking of highly qualified candidates.

    (a) A selection board consisting of discipline experts, and such 
other persons as appropriate, will further evaluate and rank the 
``Highly Qualified'' applicants.
* * * * *

    Dated: April 14, 2003.
Sean O'Keefe,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-10002 Filed 4-22-03; 8:45 am]
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