burgeoning culture of learning and safety that is emerging 
at NASA. 
(b) REQUIRED CONTENT.—The implementation plan 
shall contain at a minimum the lessons learned and best 
practices requirements for NASA, the organizations or po-
sitions responsible for enforcement of the requirements, 
the reporting structure, and the objective performance 
measures indicating the effectiveness of the activity. 
(c) INCENTIVES.—The Administrator shall provide 
incentives to encourage sharing and implementation of les-
sons learned and best practices by employees, projects, 
and programs, as well as penalties for programs and 
projects that are determined not to have demonstrated use 
of those resources. 
TITLE II—SCIENCE 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
SEC. 201. PRIORITIZATION OF SCIENCE PROJECTS AND AC-
TIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall—
(1) conduct a rich and vigorous set of science 
activities aimed at better comprehension of the uni-
verse, solar system, and Earth, as well as improving 
our understanding of the fundamental physical and 
biological sciences;
(2) ensure that the various areas within 
NASA’s science portfolio are developed and main-
tained in a balanced and healthy manner; and 
(3) determine priorities for each discipline in 
the Science account through consultation with the 
National Academies and based on the results of 
studies performed by the National Academies, which, 
at a minimum, shall set forth priorities within each 
discipline for the subsequent decade. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Science of the 
House of Representatives a report detailing—
(1) the findings and actions taken on NASA’s 
assessment of the balance within its science portfolio 
and any efforts to adjust that balance among the 
major program areas; and 
(2) the priorities determined for each discipline. 
SEC. 202. PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Performance of each discipline in 
the Science account of NASA shall be reviewed and as-
sessed by the National Academies at 5-year intervals. 
(b) REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter,
the Administrator shall transmit a report to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives—
(1) setting forth in detail the results of the ex-
ternal review under subsection (a); 
(2) setting forth in detail actions taken by 
NASA in response to that external review; and 
(3) including a summary of findings and rec-
ommendations from any other external reviews of 
NASA’s science mission priorities and programs. 
SEC. 203. STATUS REPORT ON HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE 
SERVICING MISSION. 
It is the sense of the Congress that the Hubble Space 
Telescope is an extraordinary instrument that has pro-
vided, and should continue to provide, with answers to pro-
found scientific questions. In accordance with the rec-
ommendations of the National Academy of Sciences, all 
appropriate efforts should be expended to complete the 
Space Shuttle servicing mission. Upon successful comple-
tion of the planned return-to-flight schedule of the Space 
Shuttle, the schedule for a Space Shuttle servicing mission 
to the Hubble Space Telescope shall be determined, unless 
such a mission would compromise astronaut safety. Not 
later than 60 days after the landing of the second Space
Shuttle mission for return-to-flight certification, the Ad-
ministrator shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Science of the House of Representatives a status 
report on plans for a Hubble Space Telescope servicing 
mission. 
SEC. 204. FUTURE OF THE DEEP SPACE NETWORK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In view of the importance of the 
Deep Space Network to the successful conduct of inter-
planetary spacecraft missions, the Administrator shall en-
sure that the capabilities of the Deep Space Network are 
maintained and upgraded as appropriate. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit 
a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Science of the House of Representatives that contains the 
following: 
(1) Projected Deep Space Network require-
ments for the next decade, including those in sup-
port of human space exploration missions. 
(2) Upgrades needed to support the require-
ments identified in subsection (a). 
(3) Cost estimates for the maintenance of exist-
ing Deep Space Network capabilities.
(4) Cost estimates and schedules for the up-
grades described in subsection (a). 
SEC. 205. EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in con-
sultation with the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration and the Director of the 
United States Geological Survey, shall submit a plan to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate and the Committee on Science of the House 
of Representatives to ensure the long-term vitality of the 
Earth observing system at NASA. 
(b) PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—The plan shall—
(1) address such issues as—
(A) out-year budgetary projections; 
(B) technical requirements for the system; 
and 
(C) integration into the Global Earth Ob-
serving System of Systems; and 
(2) evaluate—
(A) the need to proceed with any NASA 
missions that have been delayed or canceled; 
(B) plans for transferring needed capabili-
ties from some canceled or descoped missions to
the National Polar-Orbiting Environmental Sat-
ellite System; 
(C) the technical base for exploratory 
Earth observing systems, including new satellite 
architectures and instruments that enable glob-
al coverage, all-weather, day and night imaging 
of the Earth’s surface features; 
(D) the need to strengthen research and 
analysis programs; and 
(E) the need to strengthen the approach to 
obtaining important climate observations and 
data records. 
(c) EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘Earth observing system’’ means the se-
ries of satellites, a science component, and a data system 
for long-term global observations of the land surface, bio-
sphere, solid Earth, atmosphere, and oceans. 
SEC. 
206. 
INDEPENDENT 
ASSESSMENT 
OF 
LANDSAT-
NPOESS INTEGRATED MISSION. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—In view of the importance of en-
suring continuity of Landsat data and in view of the chal-
lenges facing the National Polar-Orbiting Environmental 
Satellite System program, the Administrator shall seek an 
independent assessment of the costs as well as the tech-
nical, cost, and schedule risks associated with incor-