H.R. 4412 — what changed
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2014
From Engrossed in House to Referred in Senate. 6 sections amended between Engrossed in House and Referred in Senate.
Sec. 101 Fiscal year 2014
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administration for fiscal year 2014 $17,646,500,000 as follows:
For Space Exploration, $4,113,200,000, of which—
$1,918,200,000 shall be for the Space Launch System, of which $318,200,000 shall be for Exploration Ground Systems;
$1,197,000,000 shall be for the Orion crew capsule;
$302,000,000 shall be for Exploration Research and Development; and
$696,000,000 shall be for Commercial Crew Development activities.
For Space Operations, $3,778,000,000, of which $2,984,100,000 shall be for the International Space Station Program.
For Science, $5,151,200,000, of which—
$1,826,000,000 shall be for Earth Science;
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$1,345,000,000 shall be for Planetary Science, with up to of which $30,000,000 shall be for the Astrobiology Institute;
$668,000,000 shall be for Astrophysics;
$658,200,000 shall be for the James Webb Space Telescope; and
$654,000,000 shall be for Heliophysics.
For Aeronautics, $566,000,000.
For Space Technology, $576,000,000.
For Education, $116,600,000.
For Cross-Agency Support, $2,793,000,000.
For Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration, $515,000,000.
For Inspector General, $37,500,000.
Sec. 211 International Space Station
Findings— Congress finds the following:
The International Space Station is an ideal testbed for future exploration systems development, including long-duration space travel.
The use of the private market to provide cargo and crew transportation services is currently the most expeditious process to restore domestic access to the International Space Station and low-Earth orbit.
Government access to low-Earth orbit is paramount to the continued success of the International Space Station and National Laboratory.
In general— The following is the policy of the United States:
The United States International Space Station program shall have two primary objectives: supporting achievement of the goal established in section 201 of this Act and pursuing a research program that advances knowledge and provides benefits to the Nation. It shall continue to be the policy of the United States to, in consultation with its international partners in the International Space Station program, support full and complete utilization of the International Space Station.
The International Space Station shall be utilized to the maximum extent practicable for the development of capabilities and technologies needed for the future of human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and shall be considered in the development of the Human Exploration Roadmap developed under section 70504 of title 51, United States Code.
The Administrator shall, in consultation with the International Space Station partners—
take all necessary measures to support the operation and full utilization of the International Space Station; and
seek to minimize, to the extent practicable, the operating costs of the International Space Station.
Reliance on foreign carriers for crew transfer is unacceptable, and the Nation’s human space flight program must acquire the capability to launch United States astronauts on United States rockets from United States soil as soon as is safe and practically possible, whether on Government-owned and operated space transportation systems or privately owned systems that have been certified for flight by the appropriate Federal agencies.
Reaffirmation of policy— Congress reaffirms—
its commitment to the development of a commercially developed launch and delivery system to the International Space Station for crew missions as expressed in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–155), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–422), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–267);
that the Administration shall make use of United States commercially provided International Space Station crew transfer and crew rescue services to the maximum extent practicable;
that the Orion crew capsule shall provide an alternative means of delivery of crew and cargo to the International Space Station, in the event other vehicles, whether commercial vehicles or partner-supplied vehicles, are unable to perform that function; and
the policy stated in section 501(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18351(b)) that the Administration shall pursue international, commercial, and intragovernmental means to maximize International Space Station logistics supply, maintenance, and operational capabilities, reduce risks to International Space Station systems sustainability, and offset and minimize United States operations costs relating to the International Space Station.
changed
Assured access to low-earth low-Earth orbit— Section 70501(a) of title 51, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
“(a) Policy statement—It is the policy of the United States to maintain an uninterrupted capability for human space flight and operations in low-Earth orbit, and beyond, as an essential instrument of national security and the capability to ensure continued United States participation and leadership in the exploration and utilization of space.”
Repeals—
Use of space shuttle or alternatives— Chapter 701 of title 51, United States Code, and the item relating to such chapter in the table of chapters for such title, are repealed.
Shuttle pricing policy for commercial and foreign users— Chapter 703 of title 51, United States Code, and the item relating to such chapter in the table of chapters for such title, are repealed.
Shuttle privatization— Section 50133 of title 51, United States Code, and the item relating to such section in the table of sections for chapter 501 of such title, are repealed.
Extension criteria report— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the feasibility of extending the operation of the International Space Station that includes—
criteria for defining the International Space Station as a research success;
any necessary contributions to enabling execution of the Human Exploration Roadmap developed under section 70504 of title 51, United States Code;
cost estimates for operating the International Space Station to achieve the criteria required under paragraph (1);
cost estimates for extending operations to 2024 and 2030;
an assessment of how the defined criteria under paragraph (1) respond to the National Academies Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space; and
an identification of the actions and cost estimate needed to deorbit the International Space Station once a decision is made to deorbit the laboratory.
Strategic plan for international space station research—
In general— The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with the Administrator, academia, other Federal agencies, the International Space Station National Laboratory Advisory Committee, and other potential stakeholders, shall develop and transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a strategic plan for conducting competitive, peer-reviewed research in physical and life sciences and related technologies on the International Space Station through at least 2020.
Plan requirements— The strategic plan shall—
be consistent with the priorities and recommendations established by the National Academies in its Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space;
provide a research timeline and identify resource requirements for its implementation, including the facilities and instrumentation necessary for the conduct of such research; and
identify—
criteria for the proposed research, including—
a justification for the research to be carried out in the space microgravity environment;
the use of model systems;
the testing of flight hardware to understand and ensure its functioning in the microgravity environment;
the use of controls to help distinguish among the direct and indirect effects of microgravity, among other effects of the flight or space environment;
approaches for facilitating data collection, analysis, and interpretation;
procedures to ensure repetition of experiments, as needed;
support for timely presentation of the peer-reviewed results of the research;
defined metrics for the success of each study; and
how these activities enable the Human Exploration Roadmap described in section 70504 of title 51, United States Code;
instrumentation required to support the measurements and analysis of the research to be carried out under the strategic plan;
the capabilities needed to support direct, real-time communications between astronauts working on research experiments onboard the International Space Station and the principal investigator on the ground;
a process for involving the external user community in research planning, including planning for relevant flight hardware and instrumentation, and for utilization of the International Space Station, free flyers, or other research platforms;
the acquisition strategy the Administration plans to use to acquire any new support capabilities which are not operational on the International Space Station as of the date of enactment of this Act, and the criteria the Administration will apply if less than full and open competition is selected; and
defined metrics for success of the research plan.
Report—
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the progress of the organization chosen for the management of the International Space Station National Laboratory as directed in section 504 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18354).
Specific requirements— The report shall assess the management, organization, and performance of such organization and shall include a review of the status of each of the 7 required activities listed in section 504(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 18354(c)).
Sec. 304 University class science missions
Sense of congress— It is the sense of Congress that principal investigator-led small orbital science missions, including CubeSat class, University Explorer (UNEX) class, Small Explorer (SMEX) class, and Venture class, offer valuable opportunities to advance science at low cost, train the next generation of scientists and engineers, and enable participants in the program to acquire skills in systems engineering and systems integration that are critical to maintaining the Nation’s leadership in space and to enhancing the United States innovation and competitiveness abroad.
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Review of principal investigator-led investigator-Led small orbital science missions— The Administrator shall conduct a review of the science missions described in subsection (a). The review shall include—
the status, capability, and availability of existing small orbital science mission programs and the extent to which each program enables the participation of university scientists and students;
the opportunities such mission programs provide for scientific research;
the opportunities such mission programs provide for training and education, including scientific and engineering workforce development, including for the Administration’s scientific and engineering workforce; and
the extent to which commercial applications such as hosted payloads, free flyers, and data buys could provide measurable benefits for such mission programs, while preserving the principle of independent peer review as the basis for mission selection.
Report— Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the review required under subsection (b) and on recommendations to enhance principal investigator-led small orbital science missions conducted by the Administration in accordance with the results of the review required by subsection (b).
Sec. 324 Research on near-Earth object tsunami effects
changed
Report on potential tsunami effects from near-earth near-Earth object impact— The Administrator, in collaboration with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other relevant agencies, shall prepare a report identifying and describing existing research activities and further research objectives that would increase our understanding of the nature of the effects of potential tsunamis that could occur if a near-Earth object were to impact an ocean of Earth.
Transmittal— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit the report required and prepared under subsection (a) to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
Sec. 602 Independent review of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program
Sense of congress— It is the sense of Congress that the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, which was established in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 2486 et seq.), has been an important program by which the Federal Government has partnered with State and local governments, universities, private industry, and other organizations to enhance the understanding and use of space and aeronautics activities and their benefits through education, fostering of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary space research and training, and supporting Federal funding for graduate fellowships in space-related fields, among other purposes.
Review— The Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academies for—
a review of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, including its structure and capabilities for supporting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and training consistent with the National Science and Technology Council’s Federal Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education 5-Year Strategic Plan; and
recommendations on measures, if needed, to enhance the Program’s effectiveness and mechanisms by which any increases in funding appropriated by Congress can be applied.
National space grant college and fellowship program amendments—
Purposes— Section 40301 of title 51, United States Code, is amended—
by striking “and” at the end of paragraph (5);
by striking the period at the end of paragraph (6) and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
changed
“(7) support outreach to primary and secondary schools to help support STEM engagement and learning at the K-12 K–12 level and to encourage K-12 K–12 students to pursue postsecondary degrees in fields related to space.”
Regional consortium— Section 40306 of title 51, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (a)—
by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph:
“(2) Inclusion of 2-year institutions—A space grant regional consortium designated in paragraph (1)(B) may include one or more 2-year institutions of higher education.”
in subsection (b)(1), by striking “paragraphs (2)(C) and (3)(D)” and inserting “paragraphs (3)(C) and (4)(D)”.
Sec. 727 Sense of Congress on access to observational data sets
changed
It is the sense of Congress that the Administration should prioritize the development of tools and interfaces that make publicly available observational data sets more easy to access, analyze, manipulate, and understand for students, teachers, and the American public at large, with a particular focus on K-12 K–12 and undergraduate STEM education settings.