NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

CHARTER OF THE 

APPLIED SCIENCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1. Official Designation: Applied Sciences Advisory Committee (ASAC).

2. Authority: Pursuant to Section 314(a) (“Program Evaluation-Advisory Committee”)

of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Authorization Act of

2005 (hereafter the Act; Public Law 109-155), the NASA Administrator hereby renews

the ASAC in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended,

5 U.S.C. 10.

3. Objectives and Scope of Activities: The ASAC 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 Applied Sciences programs, policies, plans, and priorities.

Pursuant to Section 314(a), the ASAC shall monitor the program established under

Section 313 of the Act (“Pilot Projects to Encourage Public Sector Applications”). The

ASAC’s recommendations and analysis can be used to inform decisions on the

programmatic scope and priorities, as well as the implementation of Applied Sciences

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

Earth Sciences within and outside of NASA.

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

comply with the provisions of the FACA. The ASAC shall be supported by

subcommittee/task forces, as needed, to cover the breadth and depth of scope as

determined by the Director, Earth Science Division. The advisory committee shall

consult with the Federal Geographic Data Committee and other appropriate industry

representatives and organizations.

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

Earth Science Division, Science Mission Directorate.

6. Support: The Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, will provide staff

support and operating funds for the ASAC and is responsible for fulfilling the reporting

requirements of 5 U.S.C. § 1006(b).

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

Directorate, NASA Headquarters, will provide the budget for operation of the ASAC.

The total estimated annual operating cost for the ASAC is approximately $40,000,

including 0.2 work years for staff support.
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8. Designated Federal Officer: The Executive Secretary of the ASAC shall be

appointed by the Director, Earth Science Division, 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, subcommittee, and task

forces 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 ASAC reports to the NASA Committee Management

Officer for forwarding to the Library of Congress. The Executive Secretary will also

coordinate with the members to ensure that all legal/ethics requirements are met. The

requirements include, though are not limited to, timely filing of annual financial

disclosure reports and annual ethics training by a representative of the Office of

General Counsel (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 ASAC shall meet

approximately one to two 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, will be closed in accordance with the

Government in the Sunshine Act.

10. Duration: The ASAC is a nondiscretionary Federal advisory committee required by

statute and will be a continuing entity until the termination of the program established

under Section 313 of the Act.

11. Termination: As noted above, the ASAC shall remain in effect until the termination

of the program established under Section 313 of the Act. Unless renewed by appropriate

action prior to its expiration, the charter of the ASAC will expire two years from the date

it is filed.

12. Membership and Designation: ASAC membership shall consist of individuals

with appropriate expertise in state, local, regional, tribal, and territorial governments;

university research communities; philanthropies; foundations; remote sensing and other

geospatial information industries; and other relevant private-sector and public-sector

organizations. The ASAC shall consist of members to be appointed by the Director,

Earth Science Division, after consultation with the Associate Administrator for the

Science Mission Directorate. 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 ASAC shall consist of seven to

ten members who will serve for a two-year term, renewable at the discretion of the

Director, Earth Science Division. Members may be Special Government Employees,

Regular Government Employees, or Representatives. All ASAC members serve at the

pleasure of the Director, Earth Science Division. The Director, Earth Science Division,

shall designate the Chair of the ASAC.
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13. Subcommittees and Task Forces: ASAC subcommittees and ad hoc task forces

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

Division. No formal amendment(s) to this charter will be required to effect such

change(s). The terms of reference for subcommittees and task forces shall be subject to

the approval of the Director, Earth Science Division. Subcommittee and task force

chairs and members shall be appointed by the Director, Earth Science Division, in

consultation with the ASAC Chair. Any subcommittees and task forces will report back

to the ASAC and not provide advice or work products directly to NASA.

14. Recordkeeping: The records of the ASAC, or other subcommittees and task forces

of the ASAC, 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. Section 552.

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

the appropriate United States Senate and House of Representative oversight committees,

the General Services Administration’s Committee Management Secretariat, and the

Library of Congress.

Filing Date: July 6, 2023

 ______________________________________ ______________

 Bill Nelson Signature Date

 Administrator

 National Aeronautics and Space Administration

07/06/2023