retary of Defense that certain classified payloads must be 
launched on the Titan II launch vehicle as opposed to the 
space shuttle, for national security reasons. 
§ 553. Space shuttle use policy 
(a) USE POLICY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) POLICY.—It shall be the policy of the 
United States to use the space shuttle— 
(i) for purposes that require a human 
presence; 
(ii) for purposes that require the 
unique capabilities of the space shuttle; or 
(iii) 
when 
other 
compelling 
cir-
cumstances exist. 
(B) DEFINITION
OF
COMPELLING
CIR-
CUMSTANCES.—In this paragraph, the term 
‘‘compelling circumstances’’ includes, but is not 
limited to, occasions when the Administrator 
determines, in consultation with the Secretary 
of Defense and the Secretary of State, that im-
portant national security or foreign policy inter-
ests would be served by a shuttle launch. 
(2) USING AVAILABLE CARGO SPACE FOR SEC-
ONDARY PAYLOADS.—The policy stated in paragraph 
(1) shall not preclude the use of available cargo
space, on a space shuttle mission otherwise con-
sistent with the policy described in paragraph (1), 
for the purpose of carrying secondary payloads (as 
defined by the Administrator) that do not require a 
human presence if such payloads are consistent with 
the requirements of research, development, dem-
onstration, scientific, commercial, and educational 
programs authorized by the Administrator. 
(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—At least annually, the Admin-
istrator shall submit to Congress a report certifying that 
the payloads scheduled to be launched on the space shuttle 
for the next 4 years are consistent with the policy set forth 
in subsection (a)(1). For each payload scheduled to be 
launched from the space shuttle that does not require a 
human presence, the Administrator shall, in the certified 
report to Congress, state the specific circumstances that 
justified the use of the space shuttle. If, during the period 
between scheduled reports to Congress, any additions are 
made to the list of certified payloads intended to be 
launched from the shuttle, the Administrator shall inform 
Congress of the additions and the reasons therefor within 
45 days of the change. 
(c) ADMINISTRATION PAYLOADS.—The report de-
scribed in subsection (b) shall also include those Adminis-
tration payloads designed solely to fly on the space shuttle 
which have begun the phase C/D of its development cycle. 
§ 554. Commercial payloads on space shuttle 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) LAUNCH VEHICLE.—The term ‘‘launch vehi-
cle’’ means any vehicle constructed for the purpose 
of operating in, or placing a payload in, outer space. 
(2) PAYLOAD.—The term ‘‘payload’’ means an 
object which a person undertakes to place in outer 
space by means of a launch vehicle, and includes 
subcomponents of the launch vehicle specifically de-
signed or adapted for that object. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—Commercial payloads may not be 
accepted for launch as primary payloads on the space 
shuttle unless the Administrator determines that— 
(1) the payload requires the unique capabilities 
of the space shuttle; or 
(2) launching of the payload on the space shut-
tle is important for either national security or for-
eign policy purposes. 
SUBCHAPTER VI—SHUTTLE PRICING POLICY 
FOR COMMERCIAL AND FOREIGN USERS 
§ 561. Congressional findings and declarations 
Congress finds and declares that—
(1) the Space Transportation System is a vital 
element of the United States space program, con-
tributing to the United States leadership in space re-
search, technology, and development; 
(2) the Space Transportation System is the pri-
mary space launch system for both United States 
national security and civil government missions; 
(3) the Space Transportation System contrib-
utes to the expansion of United States private sector 
investment and involvement in space and therefore 
should serve commercial users; 
(4) the availability of the Space Transportation 
System to foreign users for peaceful purposes is an 
important means of promoting international coopera-
tive activities in the national interest and in main-
taining access to space for activities which enhance 
the security and welfare of humankind; 
(5) the United States is committed to maintain-
ing world leadership in space transportation; 
(6) making the Space Transportation System 
fully operational and cost effective in providing rou-
tine access to space will maximize the national eco-
nomic benefits of the system; and 
(7) national goals and the objectives for the 
Space Transportation System can be furthered by a
stable and fair pricing policy for the Space Trans-
portation System. 
§ 562. Purpose, policy, and goals 
The purpose of this subchapter is to set, for commer-
cial and foreign users, the reimbursement pricing policy 
for the Space Transportation System that is consistent 
with the findings included in section 561 of this title, en-
courages the full and effective use of space, and is de-
signed to achieve the following goals: 
(1) The preservation of the role of the United 
States as a leader in space research, technology, and 
development. 
(2) The efficient and cost effective use of the 
Space Transportation System. 
(3) The achievement of greatly increased com-
mercial space activity. 
(4) The enhancement of the international com-
petitive position of the United States. 
§ 563. Definition of additive cost 
In this subchapter, the term ‘‘additive cost’’ means 
the average direct and indirect costs to the Administration 
of providing additional flights of the Space Transportation 
System beyond the costs associated with those flights nec-
essary to meet the space transportation needs of the 
United States Government.
§ 564. Duties of Administrator 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RE-
IMBURSEMENT RECOVERY SYSTEM.—The Administrator 
shall establish and implement a pricing system to recover 
reimbursement in accordance with the pricing policy under 
section 562 of this title from each commercial or foreign 
user of the Space Transportation System, which, except 
as provided in subsections (c), (d), and (e), shall include 
a base price of not less than $74,000,000 for each flight 
of the Space Transportation System in 1982 dollars. 
(b) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Each year the Admin-
istrator shall submit to the President of the Senate, the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
and the Committee on Science of the House of Represent-
atives a report, transmitted contemporaneously with the 
annual budget request of the President, which shall inform 
Congress how the policy goals contained in section 562 
of this title are being furthered by the shuttle price for 
foreign and commercial users. 
(c) REDUCTION OF BASE PRICE.— 
(1) AUTHORITY TO REDUCE.—If at any time 
the Administrator finds that the policy goals con-
tained in section 562 of this title are not being 
achieved, the Administrator shall have authority to 
reduce the base price established in subsection (a)
after 45 days following receipt by the President of 
the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate, and the Committee on Science of the 
House of Representatives of a notice by the Admin-
istrator containing a description of the proposed re-
duction together with a full and complete statement 
of the facts and circumstances which necessitate 
such proposed reduction. 
(2) MINIMUM PRICE.—In no case shall the min-
imum price established under paragraph (1) be less 
than additive cost. 
(d) LOW OR NO-COST FLIGHTS.—The Administrator 
may set a price lower than the price determined under 
subsection (a) or (c), or provide no-cost flights, for any 
commercial or foreign user of the Space Transportation 
System that is involved in research, development, or dem-
onstration programs with the Administration. 
(e) CUSTOMER INCENTIVES.—Notwithstanding the 
provisions of subsection (a), the Administrator shall have 
the authority to offer reasonable customer incentives con-
sistent with the policy goals in section 562 of this title.
SUBCHAPTER VII—EDUCATION AND RESEARCH 
§ 571. Science, Space, and Technology Education 
Trust Fund 
There is appropriated, by transfer from funds appro-
priated in the Department of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment—Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1989 
(Public Law 100–404, 102 Stat. 1014), for ‘‘Construction 
of facilities’’, the sum of $15,000,000 to the ‘‘Science, 
Space, and Technology Education Trust Fund’’, which is 
hereby established in the Treasury of the United States. 
The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest these funds in 
the United States Treasury special issue securities, and 
interest shall be credited to the Trust Fund on a quarterly 
basis. Such interest shall be available for the purpose of 
making grants for programs directed at improving science, 
space, and technology education in the United States. The 
Administrator, after consultation with the Director of the 
National Science Foundation, shall review applications 
made for such grants and determine the distribution of 
available funds on a competitive basis. Grants shall be 
made available to any awardee only to the extent that the 
awardee provides matching funds from non-Federal 
sources to carry out the program for which grants from 
this Trust Fund are made. Of the funds made available 
by this Trust Fund, $250,000 shall be disbursed each cal-
endar quarter to the Challenger Center for Space Science 
Education. The Administrator shall submit to Congress 
an annual report on the grants made pursuant to this sec-
tion. 
§ 572. National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion Endeavor Teacher Fellowship Trust 
Fund 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Treasury of the United States, in tribute to the dedicated 
crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger, a trust fund to be 
known as the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion Endeavor Teacher Fellowship Trust Fund (hereafter 
in this section referred to as the ‘‘Trust Fund’’). The 
Trust Fund shall consist of amounts which may from time 
to time, at the discretion of the Administrator, be trans-
ferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration Gifts and Donations Trust Fund. 
(b) INVESTMENT OF TRUST FUND.—The Adminis-
trator shall direct the Secretary of the Treasury to invest 
and reinvest funds in the Trust Fund in public debt secu-
rities with maturities suitable for the needs of the Trust 
Fund, and bearing interest at rates determined by the 
Secretary of the Treasury, taking into consideration the 
current average market yield on outstanding marketable
obligations of the United States of comparable maturities. 
Interest earned shall be credited to the Trust Fund. 
(c) PURPOSE.—Income accruing from the Trust 
Fund principal shall be used to create the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Endeavor Teacher Fel-
lowship Program, to the extent provided in advance in ap-
propriation Acts. The Administrator is authorized to use 
such funds to award fellowships to selected United States 
nationals who are undergraduate students pursuing a 
course of study leading to certified teaching degrees in ele-
mentary education or in secondary education in mathe-
matics, science, or technology disciplines. Awards shall be 
made pursuant to standards established for the fellowship 
program by the Administrator. 
§ 573. Experimental Program to Stimulate Competi-
tive Research—merit grant competition 
requirements 
(a) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE STATE.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘eligible State’’ means a State designated 
by the Administrator as eligible to compete in the National 
Science Foundation’s Experimental Program to Stimulate 
Competitive Research. 
(b) COMPETITION.—Making use of the existing infra-
structure established in eligible States by the National 
Science Foundation, the Administrator shall conduct a
merit grant competition among the eligible States in areas 
of research important to the mission of the Administra-
tion. With respect to a grant application by an eligible 
State, the Administrator shall consider— 
(1) the application’s merit and relevance to the 
mission of the Administration; 
(2) the potential for the grant to serve as a cat-
alyst to enhance the ability of researchers in the 
State to become more competitive for regular Ad-
ministration funding; 
(3) the potential for the grant to improve the 
environment for science, mathematics, and engineer-
ing education in the State; and 
(4) the need to ensure the maximum distribu-
tion of grants among eligible States, consistent with 
merit. 
(c) SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS.—The Administrator 
shall endeavor, where appropriate, to supplement grants 
made under subsection (b) with such grants for fellow-
ships, traineeships, equipment, or instrumentation as are 
available. 
§ 574. National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion Science and Technology Scholarship 
Program 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) COST OF ATTENDANCE.—The term ‘‘cost of 
attendance’’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1087ll). 
(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
(3) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Science and Technology Scholarship Program estab-
lished under this section. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish a National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration Science and Technology Scholarship Pro-
gram to award scholarships to individuals that is de-
signed to recruit and prepare students for careers in 
the Administration. 
(2) SELECTION
BY
COMPETITIVE
PROCESS.— 
Individuals shall be selected to receive scholarships 
under this section through a competitive process pri-
marily on the basis of academic merit, with consider-
ation given to financial need and the goal of pro-
moting the participation of individuals identified in
section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering 
Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b). 
(3) CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT TO SERVE AS 
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE.—To carry out the Program, 
the Administrator shall enter into contractual agree-
ments with individuals selected under paragraph (2) 
under which the individuals agree to serve as full- 
time employees of the Administration, for the period 
described in subsection (g)(1), in positions needed by 
the Administration and for which the individuals are 
qualified, in exchange for receiving a scholarship. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to be eligible to partici-
pate in the Program, an individual must— 
(1) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a 
full-time student at an institution of higher edu-
cation, as a junior or senior undergraduate or grad-
uate student, in an academic field or discipline de-
scribed in the list made available under subsection 
(e); 
(2) be a United States citizen or permanent 
resident; and 
(3) at the time of the initial scholarship award, 
not be an employee (as defined in section 2105 of 
title 5).