‘‘§ 60507. Reimbursable basis for development of sen-
sors and instruments 
‘‘Any work undertaken by the Administration for the 
benefit of another agency shall be conducted on a reimburs-
able basis that accounts for the full cost of the work, includ-
ing work undertaken for the development of operational 
Earth science systems, including satellite, sensor, or instru-
ment development, acquisition, and operations, as well as 
product development and data analysis.’’. 
(1) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 605 of title 51, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘60507. Reimbursable basis for development of sensors and instruments.’’. 
SEC. 302. EARTH OBSERVATIONS STUDY. 
Section 702 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
18371) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Director of’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) CONSIDERATION.—In carrying out the strategic 
implementation plan under subsection (a), the Director 
shall take into account and incorporate into such plan, as 
appropriate, purchasing Earth observation data and serv-
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ices from the private sector or through public-private part-
nerships to meet Earth observation requirements.’’. 
SEC. 303. LAND IMAGING. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) the continuous collection and utilization of 
land remote sensing data from space are of major 
benefit in studying and understanding human im-
pacts on the global environment, in managing the 
Earth’s natural resources, in carrying out national 
security functions, and in planning and conducting 
many other activities of scientific, economic, and so-
cial importance; and 
(2) to the greatest extent practicable, the United 
States should foster the development of U.S. private 
sector remote sensing capabilities and analyses that 
can satisfy the public interest in long-term continuous 
collection of medium-resolution land remote sensing 
data. 
(b) CONTINUOUS LAND REMOTE SENSING DATA COL-
LECTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter IV of chapter 601 
of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section: 
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‘‘§ 60135. Continuous land remote sensing data collec-
tion 
‘‘(a) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States 
to— 
‘‘(1) ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, the 
continuous collection of space-based, medium-resolu-
tion observations of the Earth’s land cover; 
‘‘(2) ensure that the collected data are made 
available in such ways as to facilitate the widest pos-
sible use; and 
‘‘(3) foster, to the greatest extent practicable the 
development of U.S. private sector remote sensing ca-
pabilities and analyses that can satisfy the public in-
terest in long-term continuous collection of medium- 
resolution land remote sensing data. 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—The National Space Council, in 
consultation with other relevant Federal agencies, shall co-
ordinate United States Government activities described 
under paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a).’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for subchapter IV of chapter 601 of title 51, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section: 
‘‘60135. Continuous land remote sensing data collection.’’. 
SEC. 304. LANDSAT DATA POLICY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
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(1) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—No funds 
may be obligated or expended for Landsat 11 or any 
other subsequent Landsat system until the Adminis-
trator has completed a study assessing which aspects 
of Landsat system observations and associated science 
requirements can be provided by purchasing data 
from the private sector or through public-private 
partnerships. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
transmit 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, a report containing the results 
of the study required under paragraph (1). 
(b) DEFINITION OF LANDSAT SYSTEM.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘Landsat system’’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 60101 of title 51, United States Code. 
SEC. 305. EARTH SCIENCE MISSIONS. 
The Administrator shall continue to restructure the 
Earth science portfolio of NASA to reduce overall costs, sup-
port innovative and sustainable programs and missions 
with commercial and international partners, and align 
with the recommendations of the National Academy of 
Sciences included in the publication published in 2018 ti-
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tled ‘‘Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strat-
egy for Earth Observation from Space’’ to ensure that the 
Earth science portfolio is focused on the highest priority 
missions for the science and applications communities 
within a balanced, comprehensive Earth science program. 
SEC. 306. GODDARD INSTITUTE FOR SPACE STUDIES IN-
SPECTOR GENERAL REPORT. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate, a report containing the 
results of NASA’s implementation of the recommendations 
identified in the report published by the NASA Office of 
Inspector General on April 5, 2018, titled ‘‘NASA’s Man-
agement of GISS: The Goddard Institute for Space Stud-
ies’’. 
Subtitle B—Astronomy and 
Astrophysics 
SEC. 311. SEARCH FOR THE ORIGIN, EVOLUTION, DISTRIBU-
TION, AND FUTURE OF LIFE IN THE UNI-
VERSE. 
(a) POLICY.—Section 20102(d)(10) of title 51, United 
States Code, includes the search for life’s origin, evolution, 
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