In the Senate of the United States,
September 25 (legislative day, September 17), 2008.
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representa-
tives (H.R. 6063) entitled ‘‘An Act to authorize the programs
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and
for other purposes.’’, do pass with the following
AMENDMENT:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration Authoriza-
tion 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.
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.
Sec. 208. Tornadoes and other severe storms.
TITLE III—AERONAUTICS
Sec. 301. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 302. Environmentally friendly aircraft research and development initiative.
Sec. 303. Research alignment.
Sec. 304. Research program to determine perceived impact of sonic booms.
Sec. 305. External review of NASA’s aviation safety-related research programs.
Sec. 306. Aviation weather research plan.
Sec. 307. Funding for research and development activities in support of other
mission directorates.
Sec. 308. Enhancement of grant program on establishment of university-based
centers for research on aviation training.
TITLE IV—EXPLORATION INITIATIVE
Sec. 401. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 402. Reaffirmation of exploration policy.
Sec. 403. Stepping stone approach to exploration.
Sec. 404. Lunar outpost.
Sec. 405. Exploration technology development.
Sec. 406. Exploration risk mitigation plan.
Sec. 407. Exploration crew rescue.
Sec. 408. Participatory exploration.
Sec. 409. Science and exploration.
Sec. 410. Congressional Budget Office report update.
TITLE V—SPACE SCIENCE
Sec. 501. Technology development.
Sec. 502. Provision for future servicing of observatory-class scientific spacecraft.
Sec. 503. Mars exploration.
Sec. 504. Importance of a balanced science program.
Sec. 505. Suborbital research activities.
Sec. 506. Restoration of radioisotope thermoelectric generator material produc-
tion.
Sec. 507. Assessment of impediments to interagency cooperation on space and
Earth science missions.
Sec. 508. Assessment of cost growth.
Sec. 509. Outer planets exploration.
TITLE VI—SPACE OPERATIONS
Subtitle A—International Space Station
Sec. 601. Plan to support operation and utilization of the ISS beyond fiscal year
2015.
Sec. 602. International Space Station National Laboratory Advisory Committee.
Sec. 603. Contingency plan for cargo resupply.
†
Sec. 604. Sense of Congress on use of Space Life Sciences Laboratory at Kennedy
Space Center.
Subtitle B—Space Shuttle
Sec. 611. Space Shuttle flight requirements.
Sec. 612. United States commercial cargo capability status.
Sec. 613. Space Shuttle transition.
Sec. 614. Aerospace skills retention and investment reutilization report.
Sec. 615. Temporary continuation of coverage of health benefits.
Sec. 616. Accounting report.
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.
Sec. 703. Sense of Congress on EarthKAM and robotics competitions.
Sec. 704. Enhancement of educational role of NASA.
TITLE VIII—NEAR-EARTH OBJECTS
Sec. 801. Reaffirmation of policy.
Sec. 802. Findings.
Sec. 803. Requests for information.
Sec. 804. Establishment of policy with respect to threats posed by near-earth ob-
jects.
Sec. 805. Planetary radar capability.
Sec. 806. Arecibo observatory.
Sec. 807. International resources.
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.
Sec. 1004. Study and report on project assignment and work allocation of field
centers.
TITLE XI—OTHER PROVISIONS
Sec. 1101. Space weather.
Sec. 1102. Initiation of discussions on development of framework for space traffic
management.
Sec. 1103. Astronaut health care.
Sec. 1104. National Academies decadal surveys.
Sec. 1105. Innovation prizes.
Sec. 1106. Commercial space launch range study.
Sec. 1107. NASA outreach program.
Sec. 1108. Reduction-in-force moratorium.
†
Sec. 1109. Protection of scientific credibility, integrity, and communication with-
in NASA.
Sec. 1110. Sense of Congress regarding the need for a robust workforce.
Sec. 1111. Methane inventory.
Sec. 1112. Exception to alternative fuel procurement requirement.
Sec. 1113. Sense of Congress on the importance of the NASA Office of Program
Analysis and Evaluation.
Sec. 1114. Sense of Congress on elevating the importance of space and aeronautics
within the Executive Office of the President.
Sec. 1115. Study on leasing practices of field centers.
Sec. 1116. Cooperative unmanned aerial vehicle activities.
Sec. 1117. Development of enhanced-use lease policy.
Sec. 1118. Sense of Congress with respect to the Michoud Assembly Facility and
NASA’s other centers and facilities.
Sec. 1119. Report on U.S. industrial base for launch vehicle engines.
Sec. 1120. Sense of Congress on precursor International Space Station research.
Sec. 1121. Limitation on funding for conferences.
Sec. 1122. Report on NASA efficiency and performance.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds, on this, the 50th anniversary of
the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, the following:
(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 invest-
ments in other Federal science and technology activi-
ties, is an investment in our future.
(4) Properly structured, NASA’s activities can
contribute to an improved quality of life, economic vi-
†
tality, United States leadership in peaceful coopera-
tion with other nations on challenging undertakings
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 associated
with climate change and its impacts on the Earth
system.
(6) NASA should undertake a program of aero-
nautical research, development, and where appro-
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 inter-
national exploration initiative.
(8) Developing United States human space flight
capabilities to allow independent American access to
the International Space Station, and to explore be-
yond low Earth orbit, is a strategically important
national imperative, and all prudent steps should
thus be taken to bring the Orion Crew Exploration
Vehicle and Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle to full oper-
ational capability as soon as possible and to ensure
the effective development of a United States heavy lift
launch capability for missions beyond low Earth
orbit.
(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 im-
†
portant ‘‘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 de-
velopment of a healthy and robust United States com-
mercial 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
the national security while also enabling the United
States aerospace industry to compete effectively in the
global market place and the United States to under-
take 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 Office
of Science and Technology Policy.
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF AP-
PROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2009
SEC. 101. FISCAL YEAR 2009.
There are authorized to be appropriated to NASA for
fiscal year 2009 $20,210,000,000, 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 ac-
tivities and $2,500,000 for carrying out section
313 of the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration 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 mate-
rial production, to remain available until ex-
pended;
†
(C) $1,290,400,000 shall be for Astro-
physics, including $27,300,000 for suborbital ac-
tivities;
(D) $640,800,000 shall be for Heliophysics,
including $50,000,000 for suborbital activities;
and
(E) $75,000,000 shall be for Intra-Science
Mission Directorate Technology Development, to
be taken on a proportional basis from the fund-
ing subtotals under subparagraphs (A), (B), (C),
and (D).
(2) For Aeronautics, $853,400,000, of which
$406,900,000 shall be for system-level research, devel-
opment, and demonstration activities related to—
(A) aviation safety;
(B) environmental impact mitigation, in-
cluding noise, energy efficiency, and emissions;
(C) support of the Next Generation Air
Transportation System initiative; and
(D) investigation of new vehicle concepts
and flight regimes.
(3) For Exploration, $4,886,000,000, of which—
(A) $3,886,000,000 shall be for baseline ex-
ploration activities, of which $100,000,000 shall
be for the activities under sections 902(a)(4) and
†
902(d), such funds to remain available until ex-
pended; no less than $1,101,400,000 shall be for
the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle; no less than
$1,018,500,000 shall be for Ares I Crew Launch
Vehicle; and $737,800,000 shall be for Advanced
Capabilities, including $106,300,000 for the
Lunar Precursor Robotic Program (of which
$30,000,000 shall be for the lunar lander mis-
sion), $276,500,000 shall be for International
Space Station-related research and development
activities, and $355,000,000 shall be for research
and development activities not related to the
International Space Station; and
(B) $1,000,000,000 shall be available to be
used to accelerate the initial operating capability
of the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and the
Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle, to remain available
until expended.
(4) For Education, $128,300,000, of which
$14,200,000 shall be for the Experimental Program to
Stimulate Competitive Research and $32,000,000
shall be for the Space Grant program.
(5) For Space Operations, $6,074,700,000, of
which—
†
(A) $150,000,000 shall be for an additional
Space Shuttle flight to deliver the Alpha Mag-
netic Spectrometer to the International Space
Station;
(B) $100,000,000 shall be to augment fund-
ing for research utilization of the International
Space Station National Laboratory, to remain
available until expended; and
(C) $50,000,000 shall be to augment fund-
ing for Space Operations Mission Directorate re-
serves and Shuttle Transition and Retirement
activities.
(6) 
For 
Cross-Agency 
Support 
Programs,
$3,299,900,000, of which $4,000,000 shall be for the
program established under section 1107(a), to remain
available until expended.
(7) For Inspector General, $35,500,000.
TITLE II—EARTH SCIENCE
SEC. 201. GOAL.
The goal for NASA’s Earth Science program shall be
to pursue a program of Earth observations, research, and
applications activities to better understand the Earth, how
it supports life, and how human activities affect its ability
to do so in the future. In pursuit of this goal, NASA’s Earth
Science program shall ensure that securing practical bene-
†
fits for society will be an important measure of its success
in addition to securing new knowledge about the Earth sys-
tem and climate change. In further pursuit of this goal,
NASA shall, together with NOAA and other relevant agen-
cies, provide United States leadership in developing and
carrying out a cooperative international Earth observa-
tions-based research program.
SEC. 202. GOVERNANCE OF UNITED STATES EARTH OBSER-
VATIONS ACTIVITIES.
(a) STUDY.—The Director of OSTP shall consult with
NASA, NOAA, and other relevant agencies with an interest
in Earth observations and enter into an arrangement with
the National Academies for a study to determine the most
appropriate governance structure for United States Earth
Observations programs in order to meet evolving United
States Earth information needs and facilitate United States
participation in global Earth Observations initiatives.
(b) REPORT.—The Director shall transmit the study
to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than
18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and shall
provide OSTP’s plan for implementing the study’s rec-
ommendations not later than 24 months after the date of
enactment of this Act.
†
SEC. 203. DECADAL SURVEY MISSIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The missions recommended in the
National Academies’ decadal survey ‘‘Earth Science and
Applications from Space’’ provide the basis for a compel-
ling and relevant program of research and applications,
and the Administrator should work to establish an inter-
national cooperative effort to pursue those missions.
(b) PLAN.—The Administrator shall consult with all
agencies referenced in the survey as responsible for space-
craft missions and prepare a plan for submission to Con-
gress not later than 270 days after the date of enactment
of this Act that shall describe how NASA intends to imple-
ment the missions recommended for NASA to conduct as
described in subsection (a), whether by means of dedicated
NASA missions, multi-agency missions, international coop-
erative missions, data sharing, or commercial data buys,
or by means of long-term technology development to deter-
mine whether specific missions would be executable at a rea-
sonable cost and within a reasonable schedule.
SEC. 204. TRANSITIONING EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH INTO
OPERATIONAL SERVICES.
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Con-
gress that experimental NASA sensors and missions that
have the potential to benefit society if transitioned into
operational monitoring systems be transitioned into oper-
ational status whenever possible.
†
(b) INTERAGENCY PROCESS.—The Director of OSTP,
in consultation with the Administrator, the Administrator
of NOAA, and other relevant stakeholders, shall develop a
process to transition, when appropriate, NASA Earth
science and space weather missions or sensors into oper-
ational status. The process shall include coordination of an-
nual agency budget requests as required to execute the tran-
sitions.
(c) RESPONSIBLE AGENCY OFFICIAL.—The Adminis-
trator and the Administrator of NOAA shall each designate
an agency official who shall have the responsibility for and
authority to lead NASA’s and NOAA’s transition activities
and interagency coordination.
(d) PLAN.—For each mission or sensor that is deter-
mined to be appropriate for transition under subsection (b),
NASA and NOAA shall transmit to Congress a joint plan
for conducting the transition. The plan shall include the
strategy, milestones, and budget required to execute the
transition. The transition plan shall be transmitted to Con-
gress not later than 60 days after the successful completion
of the mission or sensor critical design review.
SEC. 
205. 
LANDSAT 
THERMAL 
INFRARED 
DATA 
CON-
TINUITY.
(a) PLAN.—In view of the importance of Landsat ther-
mal infrared data for both scientific research and water
†
management applications, the Administrator shall prepare
a plan for ensuring the continuity of Landsat thermal in-
frared data or its equivalent, including allocation of costs
and responsibility for the collection and distribution of the
data, and a budget plan. As part of the plan, the Adminis-
trator shall provide an option for developing a thermal in-
frared sensor at minimum cost to be flown on the Landsat
Data Continuity Mission with minimum delay to the sched-
ule of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission.
(b) DEADLINE.—The plan shall be provided to Con-
gress not later than 60 days after the date of enactment
of this Act.
SEC. 206. REAUTHORIZATION OF GLORY MISSION.
(a) REAUTHORIZATION.—Congress reauthorizes NASA
to continue with development of the Glory Mission, which
will examine how aerosols and solar energy affect the
Earth’s climate.
(b) BASELINE REPORT.—Pursuant to the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act
of 2005 (Public Law 109–155), not later than 90 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall
transmit a new baseline report consistent with section
103(b)(2) of such Act. The report shall include an analysis
of the factors contributing to cost growth and the steps taken
to address them.
†
SEC. 207. PLAN FOR DISPOSITION OF DEEP SPACE CLIMATE
OBSERVATORY.
(a) PLAN.—NASA shall develop a plan for the Deep
Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), including such op-
tions as using the parts of the spacecraft in the development
and assembly of other science missions, transferring the
spacecraft to another agency, reconfiguring the spacecraft
for another Earth science mission, establishing a public-pri-
vate partnership for the mission, and entering into an
international cooperative partnership to use the spacecraft
for its primary or other purposes. The plan shall include
an estimate of budgetary resources and schedules required
to implement each of the options.
(b) CONSULTATION.—NASA shall consult, as nec-
essary, with NOAA and other Federal agencies, industry,
academic institutions, and international space agencies in
developing the plan.
(c) REPORT.—The Administrator shall transmit the
plan required under subsection (a) to the Committee on
Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate not later than 180 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act.
SEC. 208. TORNADOES AND OTHER SEVERE STORMS.
The Administrator shall ensure that NASA gives high
priority to those parts of its existing cooperative activities
†
with NOAA that are related to the study of tornadoes and
other severe storms, tornado-force winds, and other factors
determined to influence the development of tornadoes and
other severe storms, with the goal of improving the Nation’s
ability to predict tornados and other severe storms. Further,
the Administrator shall examine whether there are addi-
tional cooperative activities with NOAA that should be un-
dertaken in the area of tornado and severe storm research.
TITLE III—AERONAUTICS
SEC. 301. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) aeronautics research continues to be an im-
portant core element of NASA’s mission and should be
supported;
(2) NASA aeronautics research should be guided
by and consistent with the national policy to guide
aeronautics research and development programs of the
United States developed in accordance with section
101(c) of the National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration Authorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16611); and
(3) technologies developed by NASA as described
in paragraph (2) would help to secure the leadership
role of the United States in global aviation and great-
†
ly enhance competitiveness of the United States in
aeronautics in the future.
SEC. 302. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT RE-
SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
The Administrator shall establish an initiative involv-
ing NASA, universities, industry, and other research orga-
nizations as appropriate, of research, development, and
demonstration, in a relevant environment, of technologies
to enable the following commercial aircraft performance
characteristics:
(1) Noise levels on takeoff and on airport ap-
proach and landing that do not exceed ambient noise
levels in the absence of flight operations in the vicin-
ity of airports from which such commercial aircraft
would normally operate, without increasing energy
consumption or nitrogen oxide emissions compared to
aircraft in commercial service as of the date of enact-
ment of this Act.
(2) Significant reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions compared to aircraft in commercial services
as of the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 303. RESEARCH ALIGNMENT.
In addition to pursuing the research and development
initiative described in section 302, the Administrator shall,
to the maximum extent practicable within available fund-
†
ing, align the fundamental aeronautics research program
to address high priority technology challenges of the Na-
tional Academies’ Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics, and
shall work to increase the degree of involvement of external
organizations, and especially of universities, in the funda-
mental aeronautics research program.
SEC. 304. RESEARCH PROGRAM TO DETERMINE PERCEIVED
IMPACT OF SONIC BOOMS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The ability to fly commercial air-
craft over land at supersonic speeds without adverse im-
pacts on the environment or on local communities would
open new markets and enable new transportation capabili-
ties. In order to have the basis for establishing appropriate
sonic boom standards for such flight operations, a research
program is needed to assess the impact in a relevant envi-
ronment of commercial supersonic flight operations.
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall estab-
lish a cooperative research program with industry, includ-
ing the conduct of flight demonstrations in a relevant envi-
ronment, to collect data on the perceived impact of sonic
booms. The data could enable the promulgation of appro-
priate standards for overland commercial supersonic flight
operations.
(c) COORDINATION.—The Administrator shall ensure
that sonic boom research is coordinated as appropriate with