I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6063 
To authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 15, 2008 
Mr. UDALL of Colorado (for himself, Mr. GORDON of Tennessee, Mr. HALL 
of Texas, and Mr. FEENEY) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Science and Technology 
A BILL 
To authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘National Aeronautics and Space Administration Author-
ization Act of 2008’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
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TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL 
YEAR 2009 
Sec. 101. Fiscal year 2009. 
TITLE II—EARTH SCIENCE 
Sec. 201. Goal. 
Sec. 202. Governance of United States Earth observations activities. 
Sec. 203. Decadal survey missions. 
Sec. 204. Transitioning experimental research into operational services. 
Sec. 205. Landsat thermal infrared data continuity. 
Sec. 206. Reauthorization of Glory Mission. 
Sec. 207. Plan for disposition of Deep Space Climate Observatory. 
TITLE III—AERONAUTICS 
Sec. 301. Environmentally friendly aircraft research and development initiative. 
Sec. 302. Research alignment. 
Sec. 303. Research program to determine perceived impact of sonic booms. 
Sec. 304. External review of NASA’s aviation safety-related research programs. 
Sec. 305. Interagency research initiative on the impact of aviation on the cli-
mate. 
Sec. 306. Research program on design for certification. 
Sec. 307. Aviation weather research. 
Sec. 308. Joint Aeronautics Research and Development Advisory Committee. 
Sec. 309. Funding for research and development activities in support of other 
mission directorates. 
Sec. 310. University-based centers for research on aviation training. 
TITLE IV—INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATION INITIATIVE 
Sec. 401. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 402. Stepping stone approach to exploration. 
Sec. 403. Lunar outpost. 
Sec. 404. Exploration technology development. 
Sec. 405. Exploration risk mitigation plan. 
Sec. 406. Exploration crew rescue. 
Sec. 407. Participatory exploration. 
Sec. 408. Science and exploration. 
TITLE V—SPACE SCIENCE 
Sec. 501. Technology development. 
Sec. 502. Provision for future servicing of observatory-class scientific space-
craft. 
Sec. 503. Mars exploration. 
Sec. 504. Importance of a balanced science program. 
Sec. 505. Restoration of radioisotope thermoelectric generator material produc-
tion. 
Sec. 506. Assessment of impediments to interagency cooperation on space and 
Earth science missions. 
Sec. 507. Assessment of cost growth. 
TITLE VI—SPACE OPERATIONS 
Subtitle A—International Space Station 
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Sec. 601. Utilization. 
Sec. 602. Research management plan. 
Sec. 603. Contingency plan for cargo resupply. 
Subtitle B—Space Shuttle 
Sec. 611. Flight manifest. 
Sec. 612. Disposition of shuttle-related assets. 
Sec. 613. Space Shuttle transition liaison office. 
Subtitle C—Launch Services 
Sec. 621. Launch services strategy. 
TITLE VII—EDUCATION 
Sec. 701. Response to review. 
Sec. 702. External review of Explorer Schools program. 
TITLE VIII—NEAR-EARTH OBJECTS 
Sec. 801. In general. 
Sec. 802. Findings. 
Sec. 803. Requests for information. 
Sec. 804. Establishment of policy. 
Sec. 805. Planetary radar capability. 
Sec. 806. Arecibo Observatory. 
TITLE IX—COMMERCIAL INITIATIVES 
Sec. 901. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 902. Commercial crew initiative. 
TITLE X—REVITALIZATION OF NASA INSTITUTIONAL 
CAPABILITIES 
Sec. 1001. Review of information security controls. 
Sec. 1002. Maintenance and upgrade of Center facilities. 
Sec. 1003. Assessment of NASA laboratory capabilities. 
TITLE XI—OTHER PROVISIONS 
Sec. 1101. Space weather. 
Sec. 1102. Space traffic management. 
Sec. 1103. Study of export control policies related to civil and commercial space 
activities. 
Sec. 1104. Astronaut health care. 
Sec. 1105. National Academies decadal surveys. 
Sec. 1106. Innovation prizes. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds, on this, the 50th anniversary of 
the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, the following: 
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(1) NASA is and should remain a multimission 
agency with a balanced and robust set of core mis-
sions in science, aeronautics, and human space flight 
and exploration. 
(2) Investment in NASA’s programs will pro-
mote innovation through research and development, 
and will improve the competitiveness of the United 
States. 
(3) Investment in NASA’s programs, like in-
vestments in other Federal science and technology 
activities, is an investment in our future. 
(4) Properly structured, NASA’s activities can 
contribute to an improved quality of life, economic 
vitality, United States leadership in peaceful co-
operation with other nations on challenging under-
takings in science and technology, national security, 
and the advancement of knowledge. 
(5) NASA should assume a leadership role in a 
cooperative international Earth observations and re-
search effort to address key research issues associ-
ated with climate change and its impacts on the 
Earth system. 
(6) NASA should undertake a program of aero-
nautical research, development, and where appro-
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priate demonstration activities with the overarching 
goals of— 
(A) ensuring that the Nation’s future air 
transportation system can handle up to 3 times 
the current travel demand and incorporate new 
vehicle types with no degradation in safety or 
adverse environmental impact on local commu-
nities; 
(B) protecting the environment; 
(C) promoting the security of the Nation; 
and 
(D) retaining the leadership of the United 
States in global aviation. 
(7) Human and robotic exploration of the solar 
system will be a significant long term undertaking of 
humanity in the 21st century and beyond, and it is 
in the national interest that the United States 
should assume a leadership role in a cooperative 
international exploration initiative. 
(8) Developing United States human space 
flight capabilities to allow independent American ac-
cess to the International Space Station, and to ex-
plore beyond low Earth orbit, is a strategically im-
portant national imperative, and all prudent steps 
should thus be taken to bring the Orion Crew Explo-
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ration Vehicle and Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle to 
full operational capability as soon as practicable. 
(9) NASA’s scientific research activities have 
contributed much to the advancement of knowledge, 
provided societal benefits, and helped train the next 
generation of scientists and engineers, and those ac-
tivities should continue to be an important priority. 
(10) NASA should make a sustained commit-
ment to a robust long-term technology development 
activity. Such investments represent the critically 
important ‘‘seed corn’’ on which NASA’s ability to 
carry out challenging and productive missions in the 
future will depend. 
(11) NASA, through its pursuit of challenging 
and relevant activities, can provide an important 
stimulus to the next generation to pursue careers in 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 
(12) Commercial activities have substantially 
contributed to the strength of both the United 
States space program and the national economy, and 
the development of a healthy and robust United 
States commercial space sector should continue to be 
encouraged. 
(13) It is in the national interest for the United 
States to have an export control policy that protects 
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the national security while also enabling the United 
States aerospace industry to compete effectively in 
the global market place and the United States to un-
dertake cooperative programs in science and human 
space flight in an effective and efficient manner. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of NASA. 
(2) NASA.—The term ‘‘NASA’’ means the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration. 
(3) NOAA.—The term ‘‘NOAA’’ means the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
(4) OSTP.—The term ‘‘OSTP’’ means the Of-
fice of Science and Technology Policy. 
TITLE 
I—AUTHORIZATION 
OF 
APPROPRIATIONS 
FOR 
FIS-
CAL YEAR 2009 
SEC. 101. FISCAL YEAR 2009. 
(a) BASELINE AUTHORIZATION.—There are author-
ized to be appropriated to NASA for fiscal year 2009 
$19,210,000,000, as follows: 
(1) For Science, $4,932,200,000, of which— 
(A) $1,518,000,000 shall be for Earth 
Science, including $29,200,000 for Suborbital 
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activities and $2,500,000 for carrying out sec-
tion 313 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Authorization Act of 2005 
(Public Law 109–155); 
(B) $1,483,000,000 shall be for Planetary 
Science, including $486,500,000 for the Mars 
Exploration program, $2,000,000 to continue 
planetary radar operations at the Arecibo Ob-
servatory in support of the Near-Earth Object 
program, and $5,000,000 for radioisotope ma-
terial production, to remain available until ex-
pended; 
(C) $1,290,400,000 shall be for Astro-
physics, including $27,300,000 for Suborbital 
activities; 
(D) 
$640,800,000 
shall 
be 
for 
Heliophysics, including $50,000,000 for Sub-
orbital activities; and 
(E) $75,000,000 shall be for Cross-Science 
Mission Directorate Technology Development, 
to be taken on a proportional basis from the 
funding subtotals under subparagraphs (A), 
(B), (C), and (D). 
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