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SEC. 433. AVIATION SAFETY AND SECURITY RESEARCH. 
(a) OBJECTIVE.—The Aviation Safety and Security 
Research program shall pursue research and development 
activities that directly address the safety and security 
needs of the National Airspace System and the aircraft 
that fly in it. The program shall develop prevention, inter-
vention, and mitigation technologies aimed at causal, con-
tributory, or circumstantial factors of aviation accidents. 
(b) PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit 
to Congress a 5-year prioritized plan for the research to 
be conducted within the Aviation Safety and Security Re-
search program. The plan shall be aligned with the objec-
tives of the Joint Planning and Development Office’s Next 
Generation Air Transportation System Integrated Plan. 
SEC. 434. ZERO-EMISSIONS AIRCRAFT RESEARCH. 
(a) OBJECTIVE.—The Administrator may establish a 
zero-emissions aircraft research program whose objective 
shall be to develop and test concepts to enable a hydrogen 
fuel cell-powered aircraft that would have no hydrocarbon 
or nitrogen oxide emissions into the environment. 
(b) APPROACH.—The Administrator may establish a 
program of competitively awarded grants available to 
teams of researchers that may include the participation 
of individuals from universities, industry, and government 
for the conduct of this research.
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SEC. 435. MARS AIRCRAFT RESEARCH. 
(a) OBJECTIVE.—The Administrator may establish a 
Mars Aircraft project whose objective shall be to develop 
and test concepts for an uncrewed aircraft that could oper-
ate for sustained periods in the atmosphere of Mars. 
(b) APPROACH.—The Administrator may establish a 
program of competitively awarded grants available to 
teams of researchers that may include the participation 
of individuals from universities, industry, and government 
for the conduct of this research. 
SEC. 436. HYPERSONICS RESEARCH. 
The Administrator may establish a hypersonics re-
search program whose objective shall be to explore the 
science and technology of hypersonic flight using air- 
breathing propulsion concepts, through a mix of theo-
retical work, basic and applied research, and development 
of flight research demonstration vehicles. 
SEC. 437. NASA AERONAUTICS SCHOLARSHIPS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish a program of scholarships for full-time graduate 
students who are United States citizens and are enrolled 
in, or have been accepted by and have indicated their in-
tention to enroll in, accredited Masters degree programs 
in aeronautical engineering at institutions of higher edu-
cation. Each such scholarship shall cover the costs of
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room, board, tuition, and fees, and may be provided for 
a maximum of 2 years. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall publish regulations governing the scholarship pro-
gram under this section. 
(c) COOPERATIVE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.—Stu-
dents who have been awarded a scholarship under this sec-
tion shall have the opportunity for paid employment at 
one of the NASA Centers engaged in aeronautics research 
and development during the summer prior to the first year 
of the student’s Masters program, and between the first 
and second year, if applicable. 
SEC. 438. AVIATION WEATHER RESEARCH. 
The Administrator may carry out a program of col-
laborative research with the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration on convective weather events, with 
the goal of significantly improving the reliability of 2-hour 
to 6-hour aviation weather forecasts. 
SEC. 439. ASSESSMENT OF WAKE TURBULENCE RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Administrator may enter 
into an arrangement with the National Research Council 
for an assessment of Federal wake turbulence research
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and development programs. The assessment shall address 
at least the following questions: 
(1) Are the Federal research and development 
goals and objectives well defined? 
(2) Are there any deficiencies in the Federal re-
search and development goals and objectives? 
(3) What roles should be played by each of the 
relevant Federal agencies, such as NASA, the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration, and the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration, in wake tur-
bulence research and development? 
(b) REPORT.—A report containing the results of the 
assessment conducted pursuant to subsection (a) shall be 
provided to Congress not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 440. UNIVERSITY-BASED CENTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may award 
grants to institutions of higher education (or consortia 
thereof) to establish one or more centers for the purpose 
described in subsection (b). 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the centers is to con-
duct basic and applied research on the impact of new tech-
nologies and procedures, particularly those related to aero-
nautical navigation and control.
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(c) APPLICATION.—An institution of higher edu-
cation (or a consortium of such institutions) seeking fund-
ing under this section shall submit an application to the 
Administrator at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Administrator may re-
quire, including, at a minimum, a 5-year research plan. 
(d) AWARD DURATION.—An award made by the Ad-
ministrator under this section shall be for a period of 5 
years and may be renewed on the basis of— 
(1) satisfactory performance in meeting the 
goals of the research plan proposed by the Center in 
its application under subsection (c); and 
(2) other requirements as specified by the Ad-
ministrator. 
TITLE V—HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT 
SEC. 501. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION COMPLETION. 
(a) ELEMENTS, CAPABILITIES, AND CONFIGURATION 
CRITERIA.—The Administrator shall ensure that the ISS 
will be able to— 
(1) be used for a diverse range of microgravity 
research, including fundamental, applied, and com-
mercial research; 
(2) have an ability to support crew size of at 
least 6 persons, unless the Administrator transmits 
a report to the Committee on Science of the House
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of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate prior to 
awarding a development contract for the Crew Ex-
ploration Vehicle, explaining why such a requirement 
should not be met and the impact of not meeting the 
requirement on the ISS research agenda and oper-
ations; 
(3) support Crew Exploration Vehicle docking 
and automated docking of cargo vehicles or modules 
launched by either heavy-lift or commercially-devel-
oped launch vehicles; and 
(4) be operated at an appropriate risk level. 
(b) CONTINGENCY PLAN.—The transportation plan 
to support ISS shall include contingency options to ensure 
sufficient logistics and on-orbit capabilities to support any 
potential period during which the Space Shuttle or its fol-
low-on crew and cargo systems is unavailable, and require 
sufficient surge delivery capability or prepositioning of 
spares and other supplies needed to accommodate any 
such hiatus. 
(c) CERTIFICATION.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and before making any 
change in the ISS assembly sequence in effect on the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall certify 
in writing to the Committee on Science of the House of
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Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate NASA’s plan 
to meet the requirements of subsections (a) and (b). 
(d) CENTRIFUGE.—Nothing in this Act shall be con-
strued to prohibit the installation of the centrifuge on the 
ISS. 
SEC. 502. HUMAN EXPLORATION PRIORITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall— 
(1) construct an architecture and implementa-
tion plan for NASA’s human exploration program 
that is not critically dependent on the achievement 
of milestones by fixed dates; and 
(2) determine the relative priority of each of the 
potential elements of NASA’s implementation plan 
for its human exploration program in case funding 
shortfalls or cost growth necessitate the adjustment 
of NASA’s implementation plan. 
(b) PRIORITIES.—Development of a Crew Explo-
ration Vehicle with a robust crew escape system, develop-
ment of a launch system for the Crew Exploration Vehicle, 
and definition of an overall architecture and prioritized 
implementation plan shall be the highest priorities of the 
human exploration program over the period governed by 
this Act.
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SEC. 503. GAO ASSESSMENT. 
Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit to the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate an assessment of the milestones and 
estimated costs of the plans submitted under section 
102(a)(7). 
TITLE VI—OTHER PROGRAM 
AREAS 
Subtitle A—Space and Flight 
Support 
SEC. 601. ORBITAL DEBRIS. 
The Administrator, in conjunction with the heads of 
other Federal agencies, shall take steps to develop or ac-
quire technologies that will enable NASA to decrease the 
risks associated with orbital debris. 
SEC. 602. SECONDARY PAYLOAD CAPABILITY. 
The Administrator is encouraged to provide the capa-
bilities to support secondary payloads on United States 
launch vehicles, including freeflyers, for satellites or sci-
entific payloads.
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Subtitle B—Education 
SEC. 611. INSTITUTIONS IN NASA’S MINORITY INSTITU-
TIONS PROGRAM. 
The matter appearing under the heading ‘‘NATIONAL 
AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, SMALL AND 
DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS’’ in title III of the Depart-
ments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Devel-
opment, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 2473b; 103 Stat. 863) is amended by 
striking ‘‘Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
and’’ and inserting ‘‘Historically Black Colleges and Uni-
versities that are part B institutions (as defined in section 
322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1061(2))), Hispanic-serving institutions (as defined in sec-
tion 502(a)(5) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5))), Trib-
al Colleges or Universities (as defined in section 316(b)(3) 
of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3))), Alaskan Native- 
serving institutions (as defined in section 317(b)(2) of 
that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d)(b)(2))), Native Hawaiian- 
serving institutions (as defined in section 317(b)(4) of 
that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)(4))), and’’. 
SEC. 612. PROGRAM TO EXPAND DISTANCE LEARNING IN 
RURAL UNDERSERVED AREAS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall develop 
or expand programs to extend science and space edu-
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cational outreach to rural communities and schools 
through video conferencing, interpretive exhibits, teacher 
education, classroom presentations, and student field 
trips. 
(b) PRIORITIES.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall give priority to existing programs— 
(1) that utilize community-based partnerships 
in the field; 
(2) that build and maintain video conference 
and exhibit capacity; 
(3) that travel directly to rural communities 
and serve low-income populations; and 
(4) with a special emphasis on increasing the 
number of women and minorities in the science and 
engineering professions. 
SEC. 613. CHARLES ‘‘PETE’’ CONRAD ASTRONOMY AWARDS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Charles ‘Pete’ Conrad Astronomy Awards Act’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this sec-
tion— 
(1) the term ‘‘amateur astronomer’’ means an 
individual whose employer does not provide any 
funding, payment, or compensation to the individual 
for the observation of asteroids and other celestial
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bodies, and does not include any individual employed 
as a professional astronomer; 
(2) the term ‘‘Minor Planet Center’’ means the 
Minor Planet Center of the Smithsonian Astro-
physical Observatory; 
(3) the term ‘‘near-Earth asteroid’’ means an 
asteroid with a perihelion distance of less than 1.3 
Astronomical Units from the Sun; and 
(4) the term ‘‘Program’’ means the Charles 
‘‘Pete’’ Conrad Astronomy Awards Program estab-
lished under subsection (c). 
(c) PETE CONRAD ASTRONOMY AWARD PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish the Charles ‘‘Pete’’ Conrad Astronomy 
Awards Program. 
(2) AWARDS.—The Administrator shall make 
awards under the Program based on the rec-
ommendations of the Minor Planet Center. 
(3) AWARD
CATEGORIES.—The Administrator 
shall make one annual award, unless there are no el-
igible discoveries or contributions, for each of the 
following categories: 
(A) The amateur astronomer or group of 
amateur astronomers who in the preceding cal-
endar year discovered the intrinsically brightest
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near-Earth asteroid among the near-Earth as-
teroids that were discovered during that year by 
amateur astronomers or groups of amateur as-
tronomers. 
(B) The amateur astronomer or group of 
amateur astronomers who made the greatest 
contribution to the Minor Planet Center’s mis-
sion of cataloguing near-Earth asteroids during 
the preceding year. 
(4) AWARD
AMOUNT.—An award under the 
Program shall be in the amount of $3,000. 
(5) GUIDELINES.—(A) No individual who is not 
a citizen or permanent resident of the United States 
at the time of his discovery or contribution may re-
ceive an award under this section. 
(B) The decisions of the Administrator in mak-
ing awards under this section are final. 
SEC. 614. REVIEW OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall enter 
into an arrangement with the National Research Council 
of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a review 
and evaluation of NASA’s science, technology, engineer-
ing, and mathematics education program. The review and 
evaluation shall be documented in a report to the Adminis-
trator and shall include such recommendations as the Na-
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tional Research Council determines will improve the effec-
tiveness of the program. 
(b) REVIEW.—The review and evaluation under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the 
overall program in meeting its defined goals and ob-
jectives; 
(2) an assessment of the quality and edu-
cational effectiveness of the major components of the 
program, including an evaluation of the adequacy of 
assessment metrics and data collection requirements 
available for determining the effectiveness of indi-
vidual projects; 
(3) an evaluation of the funding priorities in 
the program, including a review of the funding level 
and funding trend for each major component of the 
program and an assessment of whether the resources 
made available are consistent with meeting identified 
goals and priorities; and 
(4) a determination of the extent and the effec-
tiveness of coordination and collaboration between 
NASA and other Federal agencies that sponsor 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
education activities.
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(c) REPORT
TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator shall transmit to the Committee on Science 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the 
report required under subsection (a). 
SEC. 615. EQUAL ACCESS TO NASA’S EDUCATION PRO-
GRAMS. 
The Administrator shall strive to ensure equal access 
for minority and economically disadvantaged students to 
NASA’s Education programs. Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years there-
after, the Administrator shall submit a report to the Com-
mittee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate describing the efforts by the Administrator to 
ensure equal access for minority and economically dis-
advantaged students under this section, and the results 
of such efforts. As part of the report, the Administrator 
shall provide data on minority participation in NASA’s 
education programs, at a minimum in the following cat-
egories: elementary and secondary education, under-
graduate education, and graduate education.
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SEC. 616. MUSEUMS. 
The Administrator may provide grants to, and enter 
into cooperative agreements with museums and planetar-
iums to enable them to enhance programs related to space 
exploration, aeronautics, space science, earth science, or 
microgravity. 
SEC. 617. REVIEW OF MUST PROGRAM. 
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a report to 
Congress on the legal status of the Motivating Under-
graduates in Science and Technology program. If the re-
port concludes that the program is in compliance with the 
laws of the United States, NASA shall implement the pro-
gram, as planned in the July 5, 2005 National Research 
Announcement. 
TITLE VII—MISCELLANEOUS 
AMENDMENTS 
SEC. 701. RETROCESSION OF JURISDICTION. 
The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (42 
U.S.C. 2451 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
of title III the following new section: 
‘‘RETROCESSION OF JURISDICTION 
‘‘SEC. 316. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, the Administrator may relinquish to a State all 
or part of the legislative jurisdiction of the United States
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over lands or interests under the control of the Adminis-
trator in that State. 
‘‘(b) For purposes of this section, the term ‘State’ 
means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Vir-
gin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mar-
iana Islands, and any other commonwealth, territory, or 
possession of the United States.’’. 
SEC. 702. EXTENSION OF INDEMNIFICATION. 
Section 309 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2458c) is amended in subsection 
(f)(1) by striking ‘‘December 31, 2002’’ through ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2005’’ and inserting, ‘‘December 31, 2010, ex-
cept that the Administrator may extend the termination 
date to a date not later than September 30, 2015, if the 
Administrator has entered into an arrangement with the 
National Academy of Public Administration to determine 
the impact on private parties and the Federal Government 
of eliminating this section’’. 
SEC. 703. NASA SCHOLARSHIPS. 
(a) AMENDMENTS.—Section 9809 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2) by striking ‘‘Act.’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).’’;
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(2) in subsection (c) by striking ‘‘require.’’ and 
inserting ‘‘require to carry out this section.’’; 
(3) in subsection (f)(1) by striking the last sen-
tence; and 
(4) in subsection (g)(2) by striking ‘‘Treasurer 
of the’’ and all that follows through ‘‘by 3’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Treasurer of the United States’’. 
(b) REPEAL.—The Vision 100—Century of Aviation 
Reauthorization Act is amended by striking section 703 
(42 U.S.C. 2473e). 
SEC. 704. INDEPENDENT COST ANALYSIS. 
Section 301 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Authorization Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 
2459g) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Phase B’’ in subsection (a) and 
inserting ‘‘implementation’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘Chief Financial Officer’’ each 
place it appears in subsection (a) and inserting ‘‘Ad-
ministrator’’; 
(3) by inserting ‘‘and consider’’ in subsection 
(a) after ‘‘shall conduct’’; and 
(4) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(b) IMPLEMENTATION DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘implementation’ means all activity in the life