NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

CHARTER OF THE

PLANETARY SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1. Official Designation: Planetary Science Advisory Committee (PAC).

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 PAC, pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA),

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

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

provide advice and make recommendations to the Director, Planetary Science Division, Science

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

planetary science programs, policies, plans, and priorities. The PAC’s recommendations and

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

implementation of planetary science programs. In addition, the PAC will provide a regular forum

for broad discussion of planetary science and the role of planetary science within and outside of

NASA.

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

provisions of the FACA. The PAC shall be supported by subordinate groups, as needed, to cover

the breadth and depth of scope as determined by the Director, Planetary Science Division.

5. Official to Whom the Committee Reports: The PAC reports to the Director, Planetary Science

Division.

6. Support: The Planetary Science Division will provide staff support for the PAC and, in

consultation with the NASA Advisory Committee Management Officer, is responsible for fulfilling

the reporting requirements of Section 7(b) of FACA.

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

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

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

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

year or as required by the Director, Planetary 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 PAC is envisioned to be a continuing entity with charter renewals.

11. Termination: The PAC 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,

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

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

be selected by the Director, Planetary 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, Planetary

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 PAC shall consist of

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

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

Science Division, shall designate the Chair of the PAC after consultation with the Associate

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

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

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

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

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

Director, Planetary Science Division.

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

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

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

chairs and members shall be appointed by the Director, Planetary Science Division. Any

subordinate group will report back to the PAC and will not provide advice or work products

directly to NASA.

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