U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1 

69–010 

" ! SENATE 115TH CONGRESS

1st Session 

REPORT

2017

115–21 

Calendar No. 29 

SPACE WEATHER RESEARCH AND 

FORECASTING ACT 

R E P O R T 

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND 

TRANSPORTATION 

ON

S. 141 

MARCH 30, 2017.—Ordered to be printed 


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(II) 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION 

ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

JOHN THUNE, South Dakota, Chairman 

ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi BILL NELSON, Florida 

ROY BLUNT, Missouri MARIA CANTWELL, Washington 

TED CRUZ, Texas AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota 

DEB FISCHER, Nebraska RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut 

JERRY MORAN, Kansas BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii 

DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts 

DEAN HELLER, Nevada CORY A. BOOKER, New Jersey 

JIM INHOFE, Oklahoma TOM UDALL, New Mexico 

MIKE LEE, Utah GARY PETERS, Michigan 

RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin 

SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois 

CORY GARDNER, Colorado MARGARET WOOD HASSAN, New Hampshire 

TODD C. YOUNG, Indiana CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, Nevada 

NICK ROSSI, Staff Director 

ADRIAN ARNAKIS, Deputy Staff Director 

JASON VAN BEEK, General Counsel 

KIM LIPSKY, Democratic Staff Director 

CHRISTOPHER DAY, Democratic Deputy Staff Director 


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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. 

Calendar No. 29 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 115–21 

SPACE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING ACT 

MARCH 30, 2017.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. THUNE, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 141] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to 

which was referred the bill (S. 141) to improve understanding and 

forecasting of space weather events, and for other purposes, having 

considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment 

(in the nature of a substitute) and recommends that the bill (as 

amended) do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of S. 141, as reported, is to improve the 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 


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3 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Severe Space Weather - Social and Economic Impacts, accessed April 20, 2016, at http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/ 

2009/21jan—severespaceweather/. 4 National Academy of Sciences, Severe Space Weather Events - Understanding Societal and 

Economic Impacts: A Workshop Report, 2008. 

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. 

Historical records indicate that space weather events of great severity have occurred within the last 150 years. The most famous 

geomagnetic power outage happened during a space storm in 

March 1989 when 6 million people in Quebec, Canada lost power 

for 9 hours. The Great Geomagnetic Storm of May 1921, which produced ground currents as much as ten 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. 

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 multiagency 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. 

S. 141 would help implement the National Space Weather Strategy and the National Space Weather Action Plan by setting national priorities to increase and improve space weather observations, science, and forecasting abilities. If utility and satellite operators know a 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 20 years ago on 


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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. 

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS

If enacted, S. 141, as amended, 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 the DOD to provide operational space 

weather forecasts and would direct NASA and the 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 the 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 the FAA to assess safety 

implications and methods to mitigate the safety implications of 

space weather events to civil aviation. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

Senator Gary Peters, who served as the Space, Science, and Competitiveness Subcommittee Ranking Member, introduced S. 141, 

the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act, on January 12, 

2017, and the bill was referred to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate. Senators Cory Gardner, 

Cory Booker, Roger Wicker, Bill Nelson, and Amy Klobuchar are 

cosponsors. 

No hearings were held on the bill in the 115th Congress. However, the Committee’s Subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness held a hearing in the 113th Congress entitled, ‘‘Assessing the Risks, Impacts, and Solutions for Space Threats,’’ which included testimony on threats posed by space weather. 

On January 24, 2016, the Committee met in open Executive Session to consider S. 141. Senator Peters offered an amendment that 

made a technical modification striking the reference to the legacy 

National Space Weather Program and replacing it with the current 

interagency working group on space weather. The amendment was 

approved by the Committee by voice vote. 

The bill, by voice vote, was ordered to be reported favorably with 

an amendment (in the nature of a substitute). 

No similar legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives. 


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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: 

S. 141—Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act 

Summary: S. 141 would require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to capture imagery of coronal mass 

ejections (CMEs). A CME is the release of large quantities of matter and electromagnetic radiation from the sun. The bill also would 

largely codify existing multi-agency efforts under the National 

Space Weather Program. 

Based on an analysis of information provided by NOAA and assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates 

that acquiring and launching into space the equipment necessary 

to capture imagery of CMEs would cost $227 million over the 

2018–2022 period. 

Enacting S. 141 would not affect direct spending or revenues; 

therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

CBO estimates that enacting the legislation would not increase 

net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028. 

S. 141 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates 

as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and 

would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary effect of S. 141 is shown in the following table. The costs of 

this legislation fall within budget functions 300 (natural resources 

and environment). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2018– 

2022 

INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Estimated Authorization Level ...................................................... 25 90 75 50 10 250 

Estimated Outlays ........................................................................ 13 55 75 68 16 227 

Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that S. 141 

will be enacted late in fiscal year 2017 and that the necessary 

amounts will be appropriated each fiscal year beginning in 2018. 

Currently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

(NASA) operates several spacecraft that provide imagery of CMEs; 

however, those vehicles are outdated. S. 141 would require NOAA 

to assume that responsibility and to ensure that the United States 

continues to capture images of earth-directed CMEs. Based on an 

analysis of information provided by NOAA, CBO estimates that securing that capability would cost $227 million over the 2018–2022 

period. Those amounts would be used to: 

Acquire a coronagraph, a spacecraft, and a launch vehicle at 

a cost of $200 million over the 2018–2022 period, 

Launch the equipment at a cost of $2 million over the 2018– 

2022 period, and 

Operate and maintain the equipment at a cost of $25 million 

over the 2018–2022 period. 


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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 2022 launch would include amounts for testing the spacecraft and coronagraph to ensure they will function 

properly once launched. Additional amounts would be necessary in 

2023 and beyond in order to operate and maintain the spacecraft 

and coronagraph. 

Other provisions in the bill would codify ongoing activities being 

carried out by several agencies under the National Space Weather 

Program. In 2016, those agencies spent a total of $160 million on 

activities related to space weather. Because the activities could be 

carried under that separate authority, CBO estimates that implementing those provisions would not authorize additional appropriations. 

Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None. 

Increase in long–term direct spending and deficits: CBO estimates that enacting S. 141 would not increase net direct spending 

or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods 

beginning in 2028. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 141 contains no 

intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA 

and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Robert Reese; Impact on 

state, local, and tribal governments: Jon Sperl; Impact on the private sector: Paige Piper/Bach. 

Estimate approved by: H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant 

Director for Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT

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. 141 as reported does not create any new programs or impose 

any new regulatory requirements; therefore, it 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. 141 would require the Director of the OSTP to submit a report 

to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 


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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 the current assets. S. 141 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 the short title of the bill, 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. The NSTC, under the 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 the OSTP to coordinate responsibilities of the 

space weather interagency group based on agency capabilities. The 

new section 60701 also would direct the OSTP, in coordination with 

NOAA, NASA, the NSF, and the 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. It also would direct NASA to maintain SOHO/ 

LASCO operations for as long as the satellite continues to deliver 

quality observations. 

A new section 60702 of that chapter would 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 the 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 the NSF to provide 

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ment, 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 the NSF, 

NASA, and the DOD to continue to carry out basic research activities on heliophysics, geospace science, and space weather, and require the 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 the NAS 

decadal surveys, and direct NASA, the 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 the NSF to support the development of technologies and instrumentation to improve space weather forecasting lead-time and accuracy. Lastly, a 

new section 60704 of that chapter would direct NASA and the NSF 

to make space weather data obtained for scientific research purposes available to space weather forecasters and operations centers. 

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 the 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 the 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. 


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Section 6. Ensuring the safety of civil aviation. 

This section would direct the 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 the 

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 

CHAPTER 607—SPACE WEATHER 

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 humans 

working in the space environment and to modern technological 

systems. 

(2) The effects of severe space weather events on the electric 

power grid, satellites and satellite communications and information, airline 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) 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 finds that— 

(A) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides operational space weather forecasting and 

monitoring for civil applications, maintains ground and 

space-based assets to provide observations needed for forecasting, prediction, and warnings, and develops requirements for space weather forecasting technologies and 

science; 


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(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 groundbased 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, and 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; and 

(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, and conducts real-time monitoring of the charged particle radiation environment to protect the health and safety of crew and passengers during 

space weather events. 

(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 Nation’s ability 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.—In order to 

continue coordination of executive branch efforts to understand, prepare, coordinate, and plan for space weather, the National Science 

and Technology Council shall establish an interagency working 

group on space weather. 

(d) MEMBERSHIP.—In order to understand and respond to the adverse effects of space weather, the interagency working group established under subsection (c) 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 


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(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 1 or more interagency agreements providing for cooperation and collaboration in the development of 

space weather spacecraft, instruments, and technologies in accordance with this chapter. 

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 

and commercial communities, shall develop an integrated strategy for solar and solar wind observations beyond the lifetime of 

current assets, that considers— 

(A) the provision of solar wind measurements and other 

measurements essential to space weather forecasting; and 

(B) the provision of solar and space weather measurements important for scientific purposes. 

(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the strategy under paragraph (1), the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 

Policy shall consider small satellite options, hosted payloads, 

commercial options, international options, and prize authority. 

(c) CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS.—In order to sustain current spacebased observational capabilities, the Administrator of the National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration shall— 

(1) in cooperation with the European Space Agency, 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 

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retary 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 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 in order to help meet the 

priorities identified in section 60703(a); and 

(2) provide space weather data by means of its set of groundbased 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— 


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(1) provide 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 enactment of the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act, 

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, Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration, and Secretary of Defense shall continue 

to carry out basic research activities on heliophysics, geospace 

science, and space weather and support competitive, meritbased, 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. 


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(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 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.— 

(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, 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 and advanced instrumentation 

would provide for more advanced warning of space weather disturbances (as defined in section 3 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 accuVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:34 Apr 01, 2017 Jkt 069010 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6603 E:\HR\OC\SR021.XXX SR021

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racy 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] 

øSEC. 809. SPACE WEATHER. 

[42 U.S.C. 18388] 

ø(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 

ø(1) Space weather events pose a significant threat to modern technological systems. 

ø(2) The effects of severe space weather events on the electric power grid, telecommunications and entertainment satellites, airline communications during polar routes, and spacebased position, navigation and timing systems could have significant societal, economic, national security, and health impacts. 

ø(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. 

ø(b) ACTION REQUIRED.—The Director of OSTP shall— 

ø(1) improve the Nation’s ability to prepare, avoid, mitigate, 

respond to, and recover from potentially devastating impacts of 

space weather events; 

ø(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 

ø(3) submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act 

that— 

ø(A) details the current data sources, both space- and 

ground-based, that are necessary for space weather forecasting; and 


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ø(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.¿ 

Æ 


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