NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

CHARTER OF THE

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

NATIONAL LABORATORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1. Official Designation: The International Space Station National Laboratory Advisory

Committee (INLAC, the “Committee”).

2. Authority: This Committee is established under Section 602 of the National Aeronautics

and Space Administration (NASA) Authorization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-422 codified at 51

U.S.C. §70906). The NASA Administrator hereby renews the Committee’s charter, pursuant to

the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. App.

3. Scope and Objectives: In accordance with 51 U.S.C.§70906, the Committee shall monitor,

assess, and make recommendations regarding effective utilization of the International Space

Station (ISS) as a national laboratory and platform for research.

4. Description of Duties: The Committee will function in an advisory capacity to the NASA

Administrator and will comply with the provisions of FACA.

5. Official to Whom the Committee Reports: The Committee reports to the NASA

Administrator. In accordance with 51 U.S.C.§70906, the Committee shall submit to the NASA

Administrator, on an annual basis or more frequently as considered necessary by a majority of

the members of the Committee, a report containing the assessments and recommendations

required by Section 3.

6. Support: NASA shall provide staff support and operating funds for the Committee.

Specifically, the Space Operations Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, will provide

administrative support and the NASA Johnson Space Center will provide staff support to the

Committee.

7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years: The estimated annual operating

costs will be approximately $150,000, including 0.5 full-time equivalent for NASA civil servant

staff support, technical report writing, travel, and meeting logistics support. In addition,

contractor support may be utilized as appropriate.

8. Designated Federal Officer (DFO): The DFO of the Committee shall be appointed by the

NASA Administrator and shall also serve as the Executive Director. The DFO must be either a

full-time or a permanent part-time employee who must call, attend, and adjourn committee and

subcommittee meetings; approve agendas; maintain all required records; ensure efficient

operations; and provide copies of the Committee reports to the NASA Committee Management

Officer for forwarding to the Congress. The DFO shall work closely with the NASA Office of

the General Counsel (OGC) to ensure that any Government ethics requirements that apply to the

committee members are met in a timely manner.
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9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings: There will be approximately two

Committee meetings held each year to perform the duties as described in Section 3. Meetings

shall be open to the public unless it is determined that the meeting, or a portion of the meeting,

will be closed in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act.

10. Duration: In accordance with 51 U.S.C. §70906, the Committee shall exist for the life of

the ISS.

11. Termination: The Committee shall terminate at the end of the life of the ISS. The charter

for the Committee will terminate two years from the filing date.

12. Membership and Designation: In accordance with 51 U.S.C. §70906, the Committee (and

subcommittees thereof, if any) shall be composed of the individuals representing organizations

who have formal agreements with NASA to utilize the United States (U.S.) portion of the ISS,

including allocations within partner elements. The Administrator shall appoint a Chair from

among the members of the Committee. All members will serve as Representatives for a twoyear term.

13. Subcommittees: Subcommittees, task forces, and/or work groups may be established by

NASA to conduct studies and/or fact-finding requiring an effort of limited duration. Such

subcommittees, task forces, and work groups will report their findings and recommendations

directly to the Committee and must not report directly to the agency.

14. Recordkeeping: The records of the Committee, subcommittees, or other subgroups of the

Committee shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2, or other approved

Agency records disposition schedule. These records shall be available for public inspection and

copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C.552.

15. Filing Date: This charter shall become effective upon the filing of this charter with the

appropriate U.S. Senate and House of Representatives oversight committees.

________________________ 

Signature Date 

______________________________________ 

Bill Nelson

Administrator

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

_______9/28/2021_______________________

Congressional Filing Date 

9/27/2021