NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

CHARTER OF THE

HELIOPHYSICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1. Official Designation: Heliophysics Advisory Committee (HPAC).

2. Authority: Having determined that it isin the public interest in connection with the performance

of Agency duties under the law, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Administrator hereby renews the HPAC, pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA),

as amended, 5 U.S.C. 10.

3. Objectives and Scope of Activities: The HPAC shall draw on the expertise of its members to

provide advice and make recommendations to the Director, Heliophysics Division, Science Mission

Directorate, NASA Headquarters (hereinafter, “Director, Heliophysics Division”) on heliophysics

programs, policies, plans, and priorities. The HPAC’s recommendations and analysis can be used to

inform decisions on the programmatic scope and priorities, as well as the implementation of

heliophysics programs. In addition, the HPAC will provide a regular forum for broad discussion of

heliophysics and the role of heliophysics within and outside of NASA.

4. Description of Duties: The HPAC shall function solely as an advisory body and comply

with the provisions of the FACA. The HPAC shall be supported by subcommittees/subordinate

groups, as needed, to cover the breadth and depth of scope as determined by the Director,

Heliophysics Division.

5. Official to Whom the Committee Reports: The HPAC reports to the Director,

Heliophysics Division.

6. Support: The Heliophysics Division will provide staff support for the HPAC.

7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years: The Science Mission Directorate will

provide the budget for operation of the HPAC. The total estimated annual operating cost for the

HPAC is approximately $250,000, including 1.0 full time equivalent for NASA staff support.

8. Designated Federal Officer: The Executive Secretary of the HPAC shall be appointed by the

Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, and shall serve as the Designated Federal

Officer (DFO). The DFO will be either a full-time or a permanent part-time employee, who will:

call, attend, and adjourn committee and subcommittee/subordinate group meetings; approve agendas;

maintain required records on costs and membership; ensure efficient operations; maintain records for

availability to the public; and provide copies of the HPAC reports to the NASA Advisory Committee

Management Officer for forwarding to the Library of Congress. The DFO will also coordinate with 

the members and subordinate group members, if any, and NASA’s Office of the General Counsel 

(OGC) to ensure that all legal/ethics requirements are met.
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With regard to Special Government Employees (SGEs) and Regular Government Employees 

(RGEs), these include, though are not limited to, timely filing of annual financial disclosure reports 

and annual ethics training by a representative of OGC and seeking advice from the NASA OGC 

Ethics Team for any questions concerning Government ethics requirements that may arise.

9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings: The HPAC shall meet two to four times a

year or as required by the Director, Heliophysics Division. Meetings shall be open to the public

unless it is determined in advance that the meeting, or a portion of the meeting, is not covered by

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

10. Duration: The HPAC is envisioned to be a continuing entity with charter renewals.

11. Termination: The HPAC terminates two years from the date of the filing of this charter unless

renewed or terminated earlier by the NASA Administrator, after consultation with the Director,

Heliophysics Division, and the Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate.

12. Membership and Designation: The HPAC shall consist of members without compensation to

be selected by the Director, Heliophysics Division, following the Associate Administrator, Science

Mission Directorate’s written consultation, per delegation of the NASA Administrator.

Appointment letter(s) and reappointment letter(s) will be signed by the Associate Administrator,

Science Mission Directorate, per delegation of the NASA Administrator. The Director,

Heliophysics Division, shall ensure a balanced representation in terms of the points of view

represented and the functions to be performed. Diversity shall be considered as well. The HPAC

shall consist of 13-15 members for up to a three-year term, renewable at the discretion of the

Director, Heliophysics Division; members may be SGEs, RGEs, or Representatives. The Director,

Heliophysics Division, shall designate the Chair of the HPAC after consultation with the Associate

Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, and the NASA Administrator, and this will be

documented in the appointment letter or reappointment letter. The HPAC Chair also will serve as a

member of the Science Committee, NASA Advisory Council, and will be formally appointed to

this position. The Director, Heliophysics Division, shall also select a Vice-Chair from among the

members, in consultation with the HPAC Chair. All HPAC members serve at the pleasure of the

Director, Heliophysics Division.

13. Subcommittees: HPAC subcommittees, ad hoc task forces, and other subordinate groups as

needed may be established or discontinued at the discretion of the Director, Heliophysics

Division, following consultation with the Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate.

No formal amendment(s) to this charter will be required to effect such change(s). The terms of

reference for a subordinate group shall be subject to the approval of the Director, Heliophysics

Division, and members may be SGEs, RGEs, or Representatives. Subordinate group chairs and

members shall be appointed by the Director, Heliophysics Division. Any subordinate group will

report back to the HPAC and will not provide advice or work products directly to NASA.

14. Recordkeeping: The records of the HPAC, or other subordinate groups of the HPAC, shall

be handled in accordance with the 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.
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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.

Filing Date: August 30, 2023

____________________________________ ____________________________

Bill Nelson Signature Date

Administrator

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

August 30, 2023