H.R. 6063: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008

October 16, 2008 at 8:32 am | Posted in Space Law | 1 Comment

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

H.R. 6063: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 was signed by President Bush on October 15, 2008. The act “authorizes appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for Fiscal Year 2009; requires NASA to add to its baseline flight manifest two Space Shuttle missions to the International Space Station and take all necessary steps to fly a third additional Shuttle mission; requires NASA to take steps to ensure that the International Space Station remains viable through at least 2020; and affirms congressional support for U.S. space exploration policy.”

The act’s table of contents:

An Act
To authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009
Sec. 101. Fiscal year 2009.
TITLE II—EARTH SCIENCE
Sec. 201. Goal.
Sec. 202. Governance of United States Earth Observations activities.
Sec. 203. Decadal survey missions.
Sec. 204. Transitioning experimental research into operational services.
Sec. 205. Landsat thermal infrared data continuity.
Sec. 206. Reauthorization of Glory Mission.
Sec. 207. Plan for disposition of Deep Space Climate Observatory.
Sec. 208. Tornadoes and other severe storms.
TITLE III—AERONAUTICS
Sec. 301. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 302. Environmentally friendly aircraft research and development initiative.
Sec. 303. Research alignment.
Sec. 304. Research program to determine perceived impact of sonic booms.
Sec. 305. External review of NASA’s aviation safety-related research programs.
Sec. 306. Aviation weather research plan.
Sec. 307. Funding for research and development activities in support of other mission directorates.
Sec. 308. Enhancement of grant program on establishment of university-based centers for research on aviation training.
TITLE IV—EXPLORATION INITIATIVE
Sec. 401. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 402. Reaffirmation of exploration policy.
Sec. 403. Stepping stone approach to exploration.
Sec. 404. Lunar outpost.
Sec. 405. Exploration technology development.
Sec. 406. Exploration risk mitigation plan.
Sec. 407. Exploration crew rescue.
Sec. 408. Participatory exploration.
Sec. 409. Science and exploration.
Sec. 410. Congressional Budget Office report update.
TITLE V—SPACE SCIENCE
Sec. 501. Technology development.
Sec. 502. Provision for future servicing of observatory-class scientific spacecraft.
Sec. 503. Mars exploration.
Sec. 504. Importance of a balanced science program.
Sec. 505. Suborbital research activities.
Sec. 506. Restoration of radioisotope thermoelectric generator material production.
Sec. 507. Assessment of impediments to interagency cooperation on space and Earth science missions.
Sec. 508. Assessment of cost growth.
Sec. 509. Outer planets exploration.
TITLE VI—SPACE OPERATIONS
Subtitle A—International Space Station
Sec. 601. Plan to support operation and utilization of the ISS beyond fiscal year 2015.
Sec. 602. International Space Station National Laboratory Advisory Committee.
Sec. 603. Contingency plan for cargo resupply.
Sec. 604. Sense of Congress on use of Space Life Sciences Laboratory at Kennedy Space Center.
Subtitle B—Space Shuttle
Sec. 611. Space Shuttle flight requirements.
Sec. 612. United States commercial cargo capability status.
Sec. 613. Space Shuttle transition.
Sec. 614. Aerospace skills retention and investment reutilization report.
Sec. 615. Temporary continuation of coverage of health benefits.
Sec. 616. Accounting report.
Subtitle C—Launch Services
Sec. 621. Launch services strategy.
TITLE VII—EDUCATION
Sec. 701. Response to review.
Sec. 702. External review of explorer schools program.
Sec. 703. Sense of Congress on EarthKAM and robotics competitions.
Sec. 704. Enhancement of educational role of NASA.
TITLE VIII—NEAR-EARTH OBJECTS
Sec. 801. Reaffirmation of policy.
Sec. 802. Findings.
Sec. 803. Requests for information.
Sec. 804. Establishment of policy with respect to threats posed by near-earth objects.
Sec. 805. Planetary radar capability.
Sec. 806. Arecibo observatory.
Sec. 807. International resources.
TITLE IX—COMMERCIAL INITIATIVES
Sec. 901. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 902. Commercial crew initiative.
TITLE X—REVITALIZATION OF NASA INSTITUTIONAL CAPABILITIES
Sec. 1001. Review of information security controls.
Sec. 1002. Maintenance and upgrade of Center facilities.
Sec. 1003. Assessment of NASA laboratory capabilities.
Sec. 1004. Study and report on project assignment and work allocation of field centers.
TITLE XI—OTHER PROVISIONS
Sec. 1101. Space weather.
Sec. 1102. Initiation of discussions on development of framework for space traffic management.
Sec. 1103. Astronaut health care.
Sec. 1104. National Academies decadal surveys.
Sec. 1105. Innovation prizes.
Sec. 1106. Commercial space launch range study.
Sec. 1107. NASA outreach program.
Sec. 1108. Reduction-in-force moratorium.
Sec. 1109. Protection of scientific credibility, integrity, and communication within NASA.
Sec. 1110. Sense of Congress regarding the need for a robust workforce.
Sec. 1111. Methane inventory.
Sec. 1112. Exception to alternative fuel procurement requirement.
Sec. 1113. Sense of Congress on the importance of the NASA Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation.
Sec. 1114. Sense of Congress on elevating the importance of space and aeronautics within the Executive Office of the President.
Sec. 1115. Study on leasing practices of field centers.
Sec. 1116. Cooperative unmanned aerial vehicle activities.
Sec. 1117. Development of enhanced-use lease policy.
Sec. 1118. Sense of Congress with respect to the Michoud Assembly Facility and NASA’s other centers and facilities.
Sec. 1119. Report on U.S. industrial base for launch vehicle engines.
Sec. 1120. Sense of Congress on precursor International Space Station research.
Sec. 1121. Limitation on funding for conferences.
Sec. 1122. Report on NASA efficiency and performance.