111 
on current and continuing efforts by the Administration 
to reduce impediments, bureaucracy, redundancy, and 
burdens to ensure the fullest commercial use of space as 
required by section 20102(c) of title 51, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 715. ORBITAL DEBRIS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that orbital debris 
poses serious risks to the operational space capabilities of 
the United States and that an international commitment 
and integrated strategic plan are needed to mitigate the 
growth of orbital debris wherever possible. Congress finds 
the delay in the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s 
submission of a report on the status of international co-
ordination and development of mitigation strategies to be 
inconsistent with such risks. 
(b) REPORTS.— 
(1) COORDINATION.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall provide the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate with a report on the 
status of efforts to coordinate with countries within 
the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Com-
mittee to mitigate the effects and growth of orbital
112 
debris as required by section 1202(b)(1) of the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration Au-
thorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18441(b)(1)). 
(2) MITIGATION STRATEGY.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Di-
rector of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
shall provide the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate with a report on the status of 
the orbital debris mitigation strategy required under 
section 1202(b)(2) of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 
U.S.C. 18441(b)(2)). 
SEC. 716. REVIEW OF ORBITAL DEBRIS REMOVAL CON-
CEPTS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the amount of orbital debris in low-Earth orbit 
poses risks for human activities and robotic spacecraft and 
that this debris may increase due to collisions between ex-
isting debris objects. Understanding options to address 
and remove orbital debris is important for ensuring safe 
and effective spacecraft operations in low-Earth orbit. 
(b) REVIEW.—The Administrator, in collaboration 
with other relevant Federal agencies, shall solicit and re-
113 
view concepts and technological options for removing or-
bital debris from low-Earth orbit. The solicitation and re-
view shall also address the requirements for and feasibility 
of developing and implementing each of the options. 
(c) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 270 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
provide a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate on the solicitation and review required under sub-
section (b). 
SEC. 
717. 
USE 
OF 
OPERATIONAL 
COMMERCIAL 
SUB-
ORBITAL VEHICLES FOR RESEARCH, DEVEL-
OPMENT, AND EDUCATION. 
(a) POLICY.—The Administrator shall develop a pol-
icy on the use of operational commercial reusable sub-
orbital flight vehicles for carrying out scientific and engi-
neering investigations and educational activities. 
(b) PLAN.—The Administrator shall prepare a plan 
on the Administration’s use of operational commercial re-
usable suborbital flight vehicles for carrying out scientific 
and engineering investigations and educational activities. 
The plan shall— 
(1) describe the purposes for which the Admin-
istration intends to use such vehicles;
114 
(2) describe the processes required to support 
such use, including the criteria used to determine 
which scientific and engineering investigations and 
educational activities are selected for a suborbital 
flight; 
(3) describe Administration, space flight oper-
ator, and supporting contractor responsibilities for 
developing standard payload interfaces and con-
ducting payload safety analyses, payload integration 
and processing, payload operations, and safety as-
surance for Administration-sponsored space flight 
participants, among other functions required to fly 
Administration-sponsored payloads and space flight 
participants on operational commercial suborbital ve-
hicles; 
(4) identify Administration-provided hardware, 
software, or services that may be provided to com-
mercial reusable suborbital space flight operators on 
a cost-reimbursable basis, through agreements or 
contracts entered into under section 20113(e) of 
title 51, United States Code; and 
(5) describe the United States Government and 
space flight operator responsibilities for liability and 
indemnification with respect to commercial sub-
orbital vehicle flights that involve Administration-
115 
sponsored payloads or activities, Administration-sup-
ported space flight participants, or other Adminis-
tration-related contributions. 
(c) ASSESSMENT OF CAPABILITIES AND RISKS.—The 
Administrator shall assess and characterize the potential 
capabilities and performance of commercial reusable sub-
orbital vehicles for addressing scientific research, includ-
ing research requiring access to low-gravity and micro-
gravity environments, for carrying out technology dem-
onstrations related to science, exploration, or space oper-
ations requirements, and for providing opportunities for 
educating and training space scientists and engineers, 
once those vehicles become operational. The assessment 
shall also characterize the risks of using potential commer-
cial reusable suborbital flights to Administration-spon-
sored researchers and scientific investigations and flight 
hardware. 
(d) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
transmit the plan and assessment described in subsections 
(b) and (c) to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
(e) ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTS.—In conjunction 
with the Administration’s annual budget request justifica-
116 
tion for each fiscal year, the Administrator shall transmit 
a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
describing progress in carrying out the Commercial Reus-
able Suborbital Research Program, including the number 
and type of suborbital missions planned in each fiscal 
year. 
(f) INDEMNIFICATION AND LIABILITY.—The Admin-
istrator shall not proceed with a request for proposals, 
award any contract, commit any United States Govern-
ment funds, or enter into any other agreement for the pro-
vision of a commercial reusable suborbital vehicle launch 
service for an Administration-sponsored spaceflight partic-
ipant until transmittal of the plan and assessment speci-
fied in subsections (b) and (c), the liability issues associ-
ated with the use of such systems by the United States 
Government have been addressed, and the liability and in-
demnification provisions that are planned to be included 
in such contracts or agreements have been provided to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
117 
SEC. 718. FUNDAMENTAL SPACE LIFE AND PHYSICAL 
SCIENCES RESEARCH. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It the sense of Congress 
that fundamental, discovery-based space life and physical 
sciences research is critical for enabling space exploration, 
protecting humans in space, and providing societal bene-
fits, and that the space environment facilitates the ad-
vancement of understanding of the life sciences and phys-
ical sciences. Space life and physical science research con-
tributes to advancing science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics research, and provides careers and training 
opportunities in academia, Federal laboratories, and com-
mercial industry. Congress encourages the Administrator 
to augment discovery-based fundamental research and to 
establish requirements reflecting the importance of such 
research in keeping with the priorities established in the 
National Academies’ decadal survey entitled ‘‘Recapturing 
a Future for Space Exploration: Life and Physical 
Sciences Research for a New Era’’. 
(b) BUDGET REQUEST.—The Administrator shall in-
clude as part of the Administration’s annual budget re-
quest for each fiscal year a budget line for fundamental 
space life and physical sciences research, devoted to com-
petitive, peer-reviewed grants, that is separate from the 
International Space Station Operations account. 
(c) STRATEGIC PLAN.—
118 
(1) DEVELOPMENT.—The Administrator, in 
consultation with academia, other Federal agencies, 
and other potential stakeholders, shall develop a 
strategic plan for carrying out competitive, peer-re-
viewed fundamental space life science and physical 
sciences and related technology research, among 
other activities, consistent with the priorities in the 
National Academies’ decadal survey described in 
subsection (a). 
(2) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 270 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall transmit the strategic plan developed 
under paragraph (1) to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 719. RESTORING COMMITMENT TO ENGINEERING RE-
SEARCH. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that engineering excellence has long been a hallmark 
of the Administration’s ability to make significant ad-
vances in aeronautics and space exploration. However, as 
has been noted in recent National Academies reports, in-
creasingly constrained funding and competing priorities 
have led to an erosion of the Administration’s commitment
119 
to basic engineering research. This research provides the 
basis for the technology development that enables the Ad-
ministration’s many challenging missions to succeed. If 
current trends continue, the Administration’s ability to at-
tract and maintain the best and brightest engineering 
workforce at its Centers as well as its ability to remain 
on the cutting edge of aeronautical and space technology 
will continue to erode and will threaten the Administra-
tion’s ability to be a world leader in aeronautics research 
and development and space exploration. 
(b) PLAN.—The Administrator shall develop a plan 
for restoring a meaningful basic engineering research pro-
gram at the Administration’s Centers, including, as appro-
priate, collaborations with industry, universities, and other 
relevant organizations. The plan shall identify the organi-
zational approach to be followed, an initial set of basic 
research priorities, and a proposed budget. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit 
the plan specified in subsection (b) to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate.
120 
SEC. 720. LIQUID ROCKET ENGINE DEVELOPMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
The Administrator shall consult with the Secretary 
of Defense to ensure that any next generation liquid rock-
et engine made in the United States for national security 
space launch objectives can contribute, to the extent prac-
ticable, to the space programs and missions carried out 
by the Administration. 
SEC. 721. REMOTE SATELLITE SERVICING DEMONSTRA-
TIONS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the Administration plays a key role in dem-
onstrating the feasibility of using robotic tech-
nologies for a spacecraft that could autonomously 
access, inspect, repair, and refuel satellites; 
(2) demonstrating this feasibility would both as-
sist the Administration in its future missions and 
provide other Federal agencies and private sector en-
tities with enhanced confidence in the feasibility to 
robotically refuel, inspect, repair, and maintain their 
satellites in both near and distant orbits; and 
(3) the capability to refuel, inspect, repair, and 
maintain satellites robotically could add years of 
functional life to satellites.
121 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit 
a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
describing the Administration’s— 
(1) activities, tools, and techniques associated 
with the ultimate goal of autonomously servicing sat-
ellites using robotic spacecraft; 
(2) efforts to coordinate its technology develop-
ment and demonstrations with other Federal agen-
cies and private sector entities that conduct pro-
grams, projects, or activities on on-orbit satellite in-
spection and servicing capabilities; 
(3) efforts to leverage the work of these Federal 
agencies and private sector entities into the Admin-
istration’s plans; 
(4) accomplishments to date in demonstrating 
various servicing technologies; 
(5) major technical and operational challenges 
encountered and mitigation measures taken; and 
(6) demonstrations needed to increase con-
fidence in the use of the technologies for operational 
missions, and the timeframe for these demonstra-
tions.
122 
SEC. 722. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GOVERNANCE. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that information security is central to the Adminis-
tration’s ability to protect information and information 
systems vital to its mission. 
(b) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study to assess the effectiveness of 
the Administration’s Information Technology Governance. 
The study shall include an assessment of— 
(1) the resources available for overseeing Ad-
ministration-wide information technology operations, 
investments, and security measures and the Chief 
Information Officer’s visibility into and access to 
those resources; 
(2) the effectiveness of the Administration’s de-
centralized information technology structure, deci-
sionmaking processes and authorities and its ability 
to enforce information security; and 
(3) the impact of providing the Chief Informa-
tion Officer approval authority over information 
technology investments that exceed a defined mone-
tary threshold and any potential impacts of the 
Chief Information Officer having such authority on 
the Administration’s missions, flights programs and 
projects, research activities, and Center operations.
123 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
transmit a report detailing the results of the study con-
ducted under subsection (b) to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate. 
SEC. 723. STRENGTHENING ADMINISTRATION SECURITY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) Following the public disclosure of security 
and export control violations at its research centers, 
the Administration contracted with the National 
Academy of Public Administration to conduct an 
independent assessment of how the Administration 
carried out Foreign National Access Management 
practices and other security matters. 
(2) The assessment by the National Academy of 
Public Administration concluded that ‘‘NASA net-
works are compromised’’, that the Administration 
lacked a standardized and systematic approach to 
export compliance, and that individuals within the 
Administration were not held accountable when 
making serious, preventable errors in carrying out
124 
Foreign National Access Management practices and 
other security matters. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administration shall report 
to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on how 
it plans to address each of the recommendations made in 
the security assessment by the National Academy of Pub-
lic Administration and the recommendations made by the 
Government Accountability Office and the Administra-
tion’s Office of the Inspector General regarding security 
and safeguarding export control information. 
(c) REVIEW.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall report to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate its assessment of how the Administra-
tion has complied with the recommendations described in 
subsection (b).
125 
SEC. 724. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR CONTRAC-
TORS THAT HAVE COMMITTED FRAUD OR 
OTHER CRIMES. 
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or 
otherwise made available for fiscal year 2015 or any fiscal 
year thereafter for the Administration may be used to 
enter into a contract with any offeror or any of its prin-
cipals if the offeror certifies, pursuant to the Federal Ac-
quisition Regulation, that the offeror or any of its prin-
cipals— 
(1) within a 3-year period preceding the offer 
has been convicted of or had a civil judgment ren-
dered against it for— 
(A) commission of fraud or a criminal of-
fense in connection with obtaining, attempting 
to obtain, or performing a public (Federal, 
State, or local) contract or subcontract; 
(B) violation of Federal or State antitrust 
statutes relating to the submission of offers; or 
(C) commission of embezzlement, theft, 
forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of 
records, making false statements, tax evasion, 
violating Federal criminal tax laws, or receiving 
stolen property; 
(2) are presently indicted for, or otherwise 
criminally or civilly charged by a governmental enti-
126 
ty with, commission of any of the offenses enumer-
ated in paragraph (1); or 
(3) within a 3-year period preceding the offer, 
has been notified of any delinquent Federal taxes in 
an amount that exceeds $3,000 for which the liabil-
ity remains unsatisfied. 
SEC. 725. PROTECTION OF APOLLO LANDING SITES. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with all rel-
evant agencies of the Federal Government and other ap-
propriate entities and individuals, shall carry out a review 
and assessment of the issues involved in protecting and 
preserving historically important Apollo Program lunar 
landing sites and Apollo program artifacts residing on the 
lunar surface, including those pertaining to Apollo 11 and 
Apollo 17. The review and assessment shall, at a min-
imum, include determination of what risks to the protec-
tion and preservation of those sites and artifacts exist or 
may exist in the future, what measures are required to 
ensure such protection and preservation, the extent to 
which additional domestic legislation or international trea-
ties or agreements will be required, and specific rec-
ommendations for protecting and preserving those lunar 
landing sites and artifacts.
127 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director shall transmit to 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the re-
sults of the assessment required under subsection (a). 
SEC. 726. ASTRONAUT OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHCARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Academies’ Insti-
tute of Medicine report ‘‘Health Standards for Long Du-
ration and Exploration Spaceflight: Ethics Principles, Re-
sponsibilities, and Decision Framework’’ found that the 
Administration has ethical responsibilities for and should 
adopt policies and processes related to health standards 
for long duration and exploration spaceflights that recog-
nize those ethical responsibilities. In particular, the report 
recommended that the Administration ‘‘provide preventa-
tive long-term health screening and surveillance of astro-
nauts and lifetime health care to protect their health, sup-
port ongoing evaluation of health standards, improve mis-
sion safety, and reduce risks for current and future astro-
nauts’’. 
(b) RESPONSE.—The Administration shall prepare a 
response to the National Academies report recommenda-
tion described in subsection (a). The response shall include 
the estimated budgetary resources required for the imple-
128 
mentation of those recommendations, and any options that 
might be considered as part of the response. 
(c) TRANSMITTAL.—The response required under 
subsection (b) shall be transmitted to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 727. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ACCESS TO OBSERVA-
TIONAL DATA SETS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Administration 
should prioritize the development of tools and interfaces 
that make publicly available observational data sets more 
easy to access, analyze, manipulate, and understand for 
students, teachers, and the American public at large, with 
a particular focus on K–12 and undergraduate STEM 
education settings. 
Passed the House of Representatives February 10, 
2015. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 810 
AN ACT 
To authorize the programs of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration, and for other 
purposes.