H. R. 3237—4 
welfare and security of the United States require that adequate 
provision be made for aeronautical and space activities. Congress 
further declares that such activities shall be the responsibility 
of, and shall be directed by, a civilian agency exercising control 
over aeronautical and space activities sponsored by the United 
States, except that activities peculiar to or primarily associated 
with the development of weapons systems, military operations, or 
the defense of the United States (including the research and 
development necessary to make effective provision for the defense 
of the United States) shall be the responsibility of, and shall be 
directed by, the Department of Defense; and that determination 
as to which agency has responsibility for and direction of any 
such activity shall be made by the President. 
(c) COMMERCIAL USE OF SPACE.—Congress declares that the gen-
eral welfare of the United States requires that the Administration 
seek and encourage, to the maximum extent possible, the fullest 
commercial use of space. 
(d) OBJECTIVES OF AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE ACTIVITIES.—The 
aeronautical and space activities of the United States shall be 
conducted so as to contribute materially to one or more of the 
following objectives: 
(1) The expansion of human knowledge of the Earth and 
of phenomena in the atmosphere and space. 
(2) The improvement of the usefulness, performance, speed, 
safety, and efficiency of aeronautical and space vehicles. 
(3) The development and operation of vehicles capable of 
carrying instruments, equipment, supplies, and living orga-
nisms through space. 
(4) The establishment of long-range studies of the potential 
benefits to be gained from, the opportunities for, and the prob-
lems involved in the utilization of aeronautical and space activi-
ties for peaceful and scientific purposes. 
(5) The preservation of the role of the United States as 
a leader in aeronautical and space science and technology and 
in the application thereof to the conduct of peaceful activities 
within and outside the atmosphere. 
(6) The making available to agencies directly concerned with 
national defense of discoveries that have military value or 
significance, and the furnishing by such agencies, to the civilian 
agency established to direct and control nonmilitary aero-
nautical and space activities, of information as to discoveries 
which have value or significance to that agency. 
(7) Cooperation by the United States with other nations 
and groups of nations in work done pursuant to this chapter 
and in the peaceful application of the results thereof. 
(8) The most effective utilization of the scientific and 
engineering resources of the United States, with close coopera-
tion among all interested agencies of the United States in 
order to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort, facilities, and 
equipment. 
(9) The preservation of the United States preeminent position 
in aeronautics and space through research and technology 
development related to associated manufacturing processes. 
(e) GROUND PROPULSION SYSTEMS RESEARCH
AND DEVELOP-
MENT.—Congress declares that the general welfare of the United 
States requires that the unique competence in scientific and 
engineering systems of the Administration also be directed toward
H. R. 3237—5 
ground propulsion systems research and development. Such develop-
ment shall be conducted so as to contribute to the objectives of 
developing energy and petroleum-conserving ground propulsion sys-
tems, and of minimizing the environmental degradation caused 
by such systems. 
(f) BIOENGINEERING RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRA-
TION PROGRAMS.—Congress declares that the general welfare of 
the United States requires that the unique competence of the 
Administration in science and engineering systems be directed to 
assisting in bioengineering research, development, and demonstra-
tion programs designed to alleviate and minimize the effects of 
disability. 
(g) WARNING AND MITIGATION OF POTENTIAL HAZARDS OF NEAR- 
EARTH OBJECTS.—Congress declares that the general welfare and 
security of the United States require that the unique competence 
of the Administration be directed to detecting, tracking, cataloguing, 
and characterizing near-Earth asteroids and comets in order to 
provide warning and mitigation of the potential hazard of such 
near-Earth objects to the Earth. 
(h) PURPOSE
OF CHAPTER.—It is the purpose of this chapter 
to carry out and effectuate the policies declared in subsections 
(a) to (g). 
§ 20103. Definitions 
In this chapter: 
(1) AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE ACTIVITIES.—The term ‘‘aero-
nautical and space activities’’ means— 
(A) research into, and the solution of, problems of flight 
within and outside the Earth’s atmosphere; 
(B) the development, construction, testing, and operation 
for research purposes of aeronautical and space vehicles; 
(C) the operation of a space transportation system 
including the space shuttle, upper stages, space platforms, 
and related equipment; and 
(D) such other activities as may be required for the 
exploration of space. 
(2) AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE VEHICLES.—The term ‘‘aero-
nautical and space vehicles’’ means aircraft, missiles, satellites, 
and other space vehicles, manned and unmanned, together 
with related equipment, devices, components, and parts. 
SUBCHAPTER II—COORDINATION OF AERONAUTICAL AND 
SPACE ACTIVITIES 
§ 20111. National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT
AND
APPOINTMENT
OF
ADMINISTRATOR.— 
There is established the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration. The Administration shall be headed by an Administrator, 
who shall be appointed from civilian life by the President by and 
with the advice and consent of the Senate. Under the supervision 
and direction of the President, the Administrator shall be respon-
sible for the exercise of all powers and the discharge of all duties 
of the Administration and shall have authority and control over 
all personnel and activities thereof. 
(b) DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR.—There shall be in the Administra-
tion a Deputy Administrator, who shall be appointed from civilian 
life by the President by and with the advice and consent of the
H. R. 3237—6 
Senate. The Deputy Administrator shall perform such duties and 
exercise such powers as the Administrator may prescribe. The 
Deputy Administrator shall act for, and exercise the powers of, 
the Administrator during the Administrator’s absence or disability. 
(c) RESTRICTION
ON OTHER BUSINESS
OR EMPLOYMENT.—The 
Administrator and the Deputy Administrator shall not engage in 
any other business, vocation, or employment while serving as such. 
§ 20112. Functions of the Administration 
(a) PLANNING, DIRECTING, AND CONDUCTING AERONAUTICAL AND 
SPACE ACTIVITIES.—The Administration, in order to carry out the 
purpose of this chapter, shall— 
(1) plan, direct, and conduct aeronautical and space activities; 
(2) arrange for participation by the scientific community in 
planning scientific measurements and observations to be made 
through use of aeronautical and space vehicles, and conduct 
or arrange for the conduct of such measurements and observa-
tions; 
(3) provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemi-
nation of information concerning its activities and the results 
thereof; 
(4) seek and encourage, to the maximum extent possible, 
the fullest commercial use of space; and 
(5) encourage and provide for Federal Government use of 
commercially provided space services and hardware, consistent 
with the requirements of the Federal Government. 
(b) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN CERTAIN TECHNOLOGIES.— 
(1) GROUND PROPULSION TECHNOLOGIES.—The Administration 
shall, to the extent of appropriated funds, initiate, support, 
and carry out such research, development, demonstration, and 
other related activities in ground propulsion technologies as 
are provided for in sections 4 to 10 of the Electric and Hybrid 
Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1976 
(15 U.S.C. 2503 to 2509). 
(2) SOLAR
HEATING
AND
COOLING
TECHNOLOGIES.—The 
Administration shall initiate, support, and carry out such 
research, development, demonstrations, and other related 
activities in solar heating and cooling technologies (to the extent 
that funds are appropriated therefor) as are provided for in 
sections 5, 6, and 9 of the Solar Heating and Cooling Dem-
onstration Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5503, 5504, 5507). 
§ 20113. Powers of the Administration in performance of 
functions 
(a) RULES AND REGULATIONS.—In the performance of its functions, 
the Administration is authorized to make, promulgate, issue, 
rescind, and amend rules and regulations governing the manner 
of its operations and the exercise of the powers vested in it by 
law. 
(b) OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.—In the performance of its func-
tions, the Administration is authorized to appoint and fix the com-
pensation of officers and employees as may be necessary to carry 
out such functions. The officers and employees shall be appointed 
in accordance with the civil service laws and their compensation 
fixed in accordance with chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 
53 of title 5, except that—
H. R. 3237—7 
(1) to the extent the Administrator deems such action nec-
essary to the discharge of the Administrator’s responsibilities, 
the Administrator may appoint not more than 425 of the sci-
entific, engineering, and administrative personnel of the 
Administration without regard to such laws, and may fix the 
compensation of such personnel not in excess of the rate of 
basic pay payable for level III of the Executive Schedule; and 
(2) to the extent the Administrator deems such action nec-
essary to recruit specially qualified scientific and engineering 
talent, the Administrator may establish the entrance grade 
for scientific and engineering personnel without previous service 
in the Federal Government at a level up to 2 grades higher 
than the grade provided for such personnel under the General 
Schedule, and fix their compensation accordingly. 
(c) PROPERTY.—In the performance of its functions, the Adminis-
tration is authorized— 
(1) to acquire (by purchase, lease, condemnation, or other-
wise), construct, improve, repair, operate, and maintain labora-
tories, research and testing sites and facilities, aeronautical 
and space vehicles, quarters and related accommodations for 
employees and dependents of employees of the Administration, 
and such other real and personal property (including patents), 
or any interest therein, as the Administration deems necessary 
within and outside the continental United States; 
(2) to acquire by lease or otherwise, through the Adminis-
trator of General Services, buildings or parts of buildings in 
the District of Columbia for the use of the Administration 
for a period not to exceed 10 years without regard to section 
8141 of title 40; 
(3) to lease to others such real and personal property; 
(4) to sell and otherwise dispose of real and personal property 
(including patents and rights thereunder) in accordance with 
the provisions of chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and in accordance 
with title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Serv-
ices Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.); and 
(5) to provide by contract or otherwise for cafeterias and 
other necessary facilities for the welfare of employees of the 
Administration at its installations and purchase and maintain 
equipment therefor. 
(d) GIFTS.—In the performance of its functions, the Administra-
tion is authorized to accept unconditional gifts or donations of 
services, money, or property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible 
or intangible. 
(e) CONTRACTS, LEASES, AND AGREEMENTS.—In the performance 
of its functions, the Administration is authorized, without regard 
to subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 of title 31, to enter 
into and perform such contracts, leases, cooperative agreements, 
or other transactions as may be necessary in the conduct of its 
work and on such terms as it may deem appropriate, with any 
agency or instrumentality of the United States, or with any State, 
territory, or possession, or with any political subdivision thereof, 
or with any person, firm, association, corporation, or educational 
institution. To the maximum extent practicable and consistent with 
the accomplishment of the purpose of this chapter, such contracts, 
leases, agreements, and other transactions shall be allocated by 
the Administrator in a manner which will enable small-business