NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

CHARTER OF THE

EARTH SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1. Official Designation: Earth Science Advisory Committee (ESAC).

2. Authority: Having determined that it is in 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 ESAC, pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA),

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

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

provide advice and make recommendationsto the Director, Earth Science Division, Science

Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters (hereinafter, “Director, Earth Science Division”) on

Earth science programs, policies, plans, and priorities. The ESAC’s recommendations and analysis

can be used to inform decisions on the programmatic scope and priorities, as well as the

implementation of Earth science programs. In addition, the ESAC will provide a regular forum for

broad discussion of Earth science and the role of Earth science within and outside of NASA.

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

with the provisions of the FACA. The ESAC shall be supported by subcommittee/subordinate

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

Science Division.

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

Science Division.

6. Support: The Earth Science Division will provide staff support for the ESAC.

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

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

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

8. Designated Federal Officer: The Executive Secretary of the ESAC 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 ESAC 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.
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 ESAC shall meet two to four times a

year or as required by the Director, Earth Science 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 ESAC is envisioned to be a continuing entity with charter renewals.

11. Termination: The ESAC 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,

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

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

be selected by the Director, Earth Science 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, Earth

Science 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 ESAC shall consist

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

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

Division, shall designate the Chair of the ESAC 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 ESAC Chair also will serve as a

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

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

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

Director, Earth Science Division.

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

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

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, Earth Science

Division. Subordinate group chairs and members shall be appointed by the Director, Earth

Science Division, and members may be SGEs, RGEs, or Representatives. Any subordinate group

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

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

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August 30, 2023