(2) For Aeronautics, $853,400,000, of which 
$406,900,000 shall be for system-level research, de-
velopment, 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, $3,886,000,000, of which 
$100,000,000 shall be for the activities under sec-
tions 902(b) and 902(d); and $737,800,000 shall be 
for Advanced Capabilities, including $106,300,000 
for 
the 
Lunar 
Precursor 
Robotic 
Program, 
$276,500,000 for International Space Station-re-
lated research and development activities, and 
$355,000,000 for research and development activi-
ties not related to the International Space Station. 
(4) For Education, $128,300,000. 
(5) For Space Operations, $6,074,700,000, of 
which— 
(A) $150,000,000 shall be for an addi-
tional Space Shuttle flight to deliver the Alpha 
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Magnetic Spectrometer to the International 
Space Station; 
(B) $100,000,000 shall be to augment 
funding for International Space Station Cargo 
Services to enhance research utilization of the 
International Space Station, to remain available 
until expended; and 
(C) $50,000,000 shall be to augment fund-
ing for Space Operations Mission Directorate 
reserves and Shuttle Transition and Retirement 
activities. 
(6) For Cross-Agency Support Programs, 
$3,299,900,000. 
(7) For Inspector General, $35,500,000. 
(b) ADDITIONAL
AUTHORIZATION
TO
ADDRESS 
HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT GAP.—In addition to the sums 
authorized by subsection (a), there are authorized to be 
appropriated for the purposes described in subsection 
(a)(3) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, to be used to 
accelerate the initial operational capability of the Orion 
Crew Exploration Vehicle and the Ares I Crew Launch 
Vehicle and associated ground support systems, to remain 
available until expended. 
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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 benefits for society will be an important measure 
of its success in addition to securing new knowledge about 
the Earth system and climate change. In further pursuit 
of this goal, NASA shall assume a leadership role in devel-
oping and carrying out a cooperative international Earth 
observations-based research and applications program. 
SEC. 202. GOVERNANCE OF UNITED STATES EARTH OBSER-
VATIONS ACTIVITIES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Director of the OSTP shall enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academies for a 
study to determine the most appropriate governance struc-
ture 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 
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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 
recommendations 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 prepare a plan 
for submission to Congress not later than 270 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act that shall describe how 
NASA intends to implement the missions recommended 
as described in subsection (a), whether by means of dedi-
cated NASA missions, multi-agency missions, inter-
national cooperative missions, data sharing, or commercial 
data buys, or by means of long-term technology develop-
ment to determine whether specific missions would be exe-
cutable at a reasonable cost and within a reasonable 
schedule. 
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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 and the Ad-
ministrator of NOAA, shall develop a process for Federal 
agencies to transition, when appropriate, NASA Earth 
science and space weather missions or sensors into oper-
ational status. The process shall include coordination of 
annual agency budget requests as required to execute the 
transitions. 
(c) RESPONSIBLE AGENCY OFFICIAL.—The Adminis-
trator and the Administrator of NOAA shall each des-
ignate 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 
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Congress not later than 60 days after the successful com-
pletion 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 
thermal infrared data for both scientific research and 
water management applications, the Administrator shall 
prepare a plan for ensuring the continuity of Landsat 
thermal infrared data or its equivalent, including alloca-
tion of costs and responsibility for the collection and dis-
tribution of the data, and a budget plan. As part of the 
plan, the Administrator shall provide an option for devel-
oping a thermal infrared sensor at minimum cost to be 
flown on the Landsat Data Continuity Mission with min-
imum delay to the schedule of the Landsat Data Con-
tinuity 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. 
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(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 sec-
tion 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 
options as using the parts of the spacecraft in the develop-
ment and assembly of other science missions, transferring 
the spacecraft to another agency, reconfiguring the space-
craft for another Earth science mission, establishing a 
public-private 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 other Federal agencies, industry, academic in-
stitutions, and international space agencies in developing 
the plan. 
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(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 Transpor-
tation of the Senate not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
TITLE III—AERONAUTICS 
SEC. 301. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT RE-
SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE. 
The Administrator shall establish an initiative of re-
search, development, and demonstration, in a relevant en-
vironment, of technologies to enable the following commer-
cial 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 
enactment of this Act. 
(2) Significant reductions in greenhouse gas 
emissions compared to aircraft in commercial serv-
ices as of the date of enactment of this Act. 
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SEC. 302. RESEARCH ALIGNMENT. 
In addition to pursuing the research and development 
initiative described in section 301, 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. 
SEC. 303. 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 an appro-
priate sonic boom standard for such flight operations, a 
research program is needed to assess the impact in a rel-
evant environment of commercial supersonic flight oper-
ations. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish a cooperative research program with industry, in-
cluding the conduct of flight demonstrations in a relevant 
environment, to collect data on the perceived impact of 
sonic booms that would enable the promulgation of a 
standard that would have to be met for overland commer-
cial supersonic flight operations. 
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SEC. 304. EXTERNAL REVIEW OF NASA’S AVIATION SAFETY- 
RELATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Research Council for an 
independent review of NASA’s aviation safety-related re-
search programs. The review shall assess whether— 
(1) the programs have well-defined, prioritized, 
and appropriate research objectives; 
(2) the programs are properly coordinated with 
the safety research programs of the Federal Aviation 
Administration and other relevant Federal agencies; 
(3) the programs have allocated appropriate re-
sources to each of the research objectives; and 
(4) suitable mechanisms exist for transitioning 
the research results from the programs into oper-
ational technologies and procedures and certification 
activities in a timely manner. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 14 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
on the results of the review. 
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SEC. 305. INTERAGENCY RESEARCH INITIATIVE ON THE IM-
PACT OF AVIATION ON THE CLIMATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in coordina-
tion with the United States Climate Change Science Pro-
gram and other appropriate agencies, shall establish a re-
search initiative to assess the impact of aviation on the 
climate and, if warranted, to evaluate approaches to miti-
gate that impact. 
(b) RESEARCH PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the participating Fed-
eral entities shall jointly develop a plan for the research 
initiative that contains objectives, proposed tasks, mile-
stones, and a 5-year budgetary profile. 
(c) REVIEW.—The Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Research Council for con-
ducting an independent review of the interagency research 
program plan, and shall provide the results of that review 
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 
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 306. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON DESIGN FOR CERTIFI-
CATION. 
(a) PROGRAM.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, NASA, in consultation with 
other appropriate agencies, shall establish a research pro-
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gram on methods to improve both confidence in and the 
timeliness of certification of new technologies for their in-
troduction into the national airspace system. 
(b) RESEARCH PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, as part of the activity 
described in subsection (a), NASA shall develop a plan 
for the research program that contains objectives, pro-
posed tasks, milestones, and a 5-year budgetary profile. 
(c) REVIEW.—The Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Research Council for con-
ducting an independent review of the research program 
plan, and shall provide the results of that review 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 
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 307. AVIATION WEATHER RESEARCH. 
The Administrator shall establish a program of col-
laborative research with NOAA on convective weather 
events, with the goal of significantly improving the reli-
ability of 2-hour to 6-hour aviation weather forecasts. 
SEC. 308. JOINT AERONAUTICS RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—A joint Aeronautics Research 
and Development Advisory Committee (in this section re-
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ferred to as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’) shall be estab-
lished. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall— 
(1) assess, and make recommendations regard-
ing, the coordination of research and development 
activities of NASA and the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration; 
(2) assess, and make recommendations regard-
ing, the status of the activities of NASA and the 
Federal Aviation Administration’s research and de-
velopment programs as they relate to the rec-
ommendations contained in the National Research 
Council’s 2006 report entitled ‘‘Decadal Survey of 
Civil Aeronautics’’, and the recommendations con-
tained in subsequent National Research Council re-
ports of a similar nature; and 
(3) not later than March 15 of each year, 
transmit a report to the Administrator, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration, the 
Committee on Science and Technology of the House 
of Representatives, and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on 
the Advisory Committee’s findings and recommenda-
tions under paragraphs (1) and (2). 
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(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Committee shall 
consist of 10 members, none of whom shall be a Federal 
employee, including— 
(1) 5 members selected by the Administrator; 
and 
(2) 5 members selected by the Chair of the 
Federal Aviation Administration’s Research, Engi-
neering, and Development Advisory Committee 
(REDAC). 
(d) SELECTION PROCESS.—Initial selections under 
subsection (c) shall be made within 3 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act. Vacancies shall be filled 
in the same manner as provided in subsection (c). 
(e) CHAIRPERSON.—The Advisory Committee shall 
select a chairperson from among its members. 
(f) COORDINATION.—The Advisory Committee shall 
coordinate with the advisory bodies of other Federal agen-
cies, which may engage in related research activities. 
(g) COMPENSATION.—The members of the Advisory 
Committee shall serve without compensation, but shall re-
ceive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 
5, United States Code. 
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(h) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Committee shall con-
vene, in person or by electronic means, at least 4 times 
per year. 
(i) QUORUM.—A majority of the members serving on 
the Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum for pur-
poses of conducting the business of the Advisory Com-
mittee. 
(j) DURATION.—Section 14 of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act shall not apply to the Advisory Committee. 
SEC. 309. FUNDING FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF OTHER MISSION 
DIRECTORATES. 
Research and development activities performed by the 
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate with the pri-
mary objective of assisting in the development of a flight 
project in another Mission Directorate shall be funded by 
the Mission Directorate seeking assistance. 
SEC. 310. UNIVERSITY-BASED CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON 
AVIATION TRAINING. 
Section 427(a) of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public 
Law 109–155) is amended by striking ‘‘may’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘shall’’. 
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TITLE IV—INTERNATIONAL 
EXPLORATION INITIATIVE 
SEC. 401. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the President of the 
United States should invite America’s friends and allies 
to participate in a long-term international initiative under 
the leadership of the United States to expand human and 
robotic presence into the solar system, including the explo-
ration and utilization of the Moon, near Earth asteroids, 
Lagrangian points, and eventually Mars and its moons, 
among other exploration and utilization goals. 
SEC. 402. STEPPING STONE APPROACH TO EXPLORATION. 
In order to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the 
long-term exploration and utilization activities of the 
United States, the Administrator shall take all necessary 
steps to ensure that activities in its lunar exploration pro-
gram shall be designed and implemented in a manner that 
gives strong consideration to how those activities might 
also help meet the requirements of future exploration and 
utilization activities beyond the Moon. The timetable of 
the lunar phase of the long-term international exploration 
initiative shall be determined by the availability of funding 
and agreement on an international cooperative framework 
for the conduct of the international exploration initiative. 
However, once an exploration-related project enters its de-
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velopment phase, the Administrator shall seek, to the max-
imum extent practicable, to complete that project without 
undue delays. 
SEC. 403. LUNAR OUTPOST. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—As NASA works toward the 
establishment of a lunar outpost, NASA shall make no 
plans that would require a lunar outpost to be occupied 
to maintain its viability. Any such outpost shall be oper-
able as a human-tended facility capable of remote or au-
tonomous operation for extended periods. 
(b) DESIGNATION.—The United States portion of the 
first human-tended outpost established on the surface of 
the Moon shall be designated the ‘‘Neil A. Armstrong 
Lunar Outpost’’. 
(c) CONGRESSIONAL INTENT.—It is the intent of 
Congress that NASA shall make use of commercial serv-
ices to the maximum extent practicable in support of its 
lunar outpost activities. 
SEC. 404. EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A robust program of long-term 
exploration-related technology research and development 
will be essential for the success and sustainability of any 
enduring initiative of human and robotic exploration of the 
solar system. 
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(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish and maintain a program of long-term exploration- 
related technology research and development that is not 
tied to specific flight projects and that has a funding goal 
of at least 10 percent of the total budget of the Explo-
ration Systems Mission Directorate. 
(c) GOALS.—The long-term technology program shall 
have the goal of having at least 50 percent of the funding 
allocated to external grants and contracts with univer-
sities, research institutions, and industry. 
SEC. 405. EXPLORATION RISK MITIGATION PLAN. 
(a) PLAN.—The Administrator shall prepare a plan 
that identifies and prioritizes the scientific and technical 
risks that will need to be addressed in carrying out human 
exploration beyond low Earth orbit and the research and 
development activities required to address those risks. The 
plan shall address the role of the International Space Sta-
tion in exploration risk mitigation and include a detailed 
description of the specific steps being taken to utilize the 
International Space Station for that purpose. 
(b) REPORT.—The Administrator shall transmit to 
the Committee on Science and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate the plan de-
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scribed in subsection (a) not later than one year after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 406. EXPLORATION CREW RESCUE. 
In order to maximize the ability to rescue astronauts 
whose space vehicles have become disabled, the Adminis-
trator shall enter into discussions with the appropriate 
representatives of spacefaring nations who have or plan 
to have crew transportation systems capable of orbital 
flight or flight beyond low Earth orbit for the purpose of 
agreeing on a common docking system standard. 
SEC. 407. PARTICIPATORY EXPLORATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall develop 
a technology plan to enable dissemination of information 
to the public to allow the public to experience missions 
to the Moon, Mars, or other bodies within our solar system 
by leveraging advanced exploration technologies. The plan 
shall identify opportunities to leverage technologies in 
NASA’s Constellation systems that deliver a rich, multi- 
media experience to the public, and that facilitate partici-
pation by the public, the private sector, and international 
partners. Technologies for collecting high-definition video, 
3-dimensional images, and scientific data, along with the 
means to rapidly deliver this content through extended 
high bandwidth communications networks shall be consid-
ered as part of this plan. It shall include a review of high 
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bandwidth radio and laser communications, high-defini-
tion video, stereo imagery, 3-dimensional scene cameras, 
and Internet routers in space, from orbit, and on the lunar 
surface. The plan shall also consider secondary cargo ca-
pability for technology validation and science mission op-
portunities. In addition, the plan shall identify opportuni-
ties to develop and demonstrate these technologies on the 
International Space Station and robotic missions to the 
Moon. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
the plan to the Committee on Science and Technology of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 408. SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION. 
It is the sense of Congress that NASA’s scientific and 
human exploration activities are synergistic, i.e. science 
enables exploration and human exploration enables 
science. The Congress encourages the Administrator to co-
ordinate, where practical, NASA’s science and exploration 
activities with the goal of maximizing the success of 
human exploration initiatives and furthering our under-
standing of the Universe that we explore. 
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TITLE V—SPACE SCIENCE 
SEC. 501. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT. 
The Administrator shall establish a cross-Directorate 
long-term technology development program for space and 
Earth science within the Science Mission Directorate for 
the development of new technology. The program shall be 
independent of the flight projects under development. 
NASA shall have a goal of funding the cross-Directorate 
technology development program at a level of 5 percent 
of the total Science Mission Directorate annual budget. 
The program shall be structured to include competitively 
awarded grants and contracts. 
SEC. 502. PROVISION FOR FUTURE SERVICING OF OBSERV-
ATORY-CLASS SCIENTIFIC SPACECRAFT. 
The Administrator shall take all necessary steps to 
ensure that provision is made in the design and construc-
tion of all future observatory-class scientific spacecraft in-
tended to be deployed in Earth orbit or at a Lagrangian 
point in space for robotic or human servicing and repair. 
SEC. 503. MARS EXPLORATION. 
Congress reaffirms its support for a systematic, inte-
grated program of exploration of the Martian surface to 
examine the planet whose surface is most like Earth’s, to 
search for evidence of past or present life, and to examine 
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Mars for future habitability and as a long-term goal for 
future human exploration. 
SEC. 504. IMPORTANCE OF A BALANCED SCIENCE PRO-
GRAM. 
It is the sense of Congress that a balanced and ade-
quately funded set of activities, consisting of NASA’s re-
search and analysis grants programs, technology develop-
ment, small, medium-sized, and large space science mis-
sions, and suborbital research activities, contributes to a 
robust and productive science program and serves as a 
catalyst for innovation. It is further the sense of Congress 
that suborbital flight activities, including the use of sound-
ing rockets, aircraft, and high-altitude balloons, offer valu-
able opportunities to advance science, train the next gen-
eration of scientists and engineers, and provide opportuni-
ties for participants in the programs to acquire skills in 
systems engineering and systems integration that are crit-
ical to maintaining the Nation’s leadership in space pro-
grams. The Congress believes that it is in the national in-
terest to expand the size of NASA’s suborbital research 
program. 
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SEC. 505. RESTORATION OF RADIOISOTOPE THERMO-
ELECTRIC GENERATOR MATERIAL PRODUC-
TION. 
(a) PLAN.—The Director of OSTP shall develop a 
plan for restarting and sustaining the domestic production 
of radioisotope thermoelectric generator material for deep 
space and other space science missions. 
(b) REPORT.—The plan developed under subsection 
(a) shall be transmitted to Congress not later than 270 
days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 506. ASSESSMENT OF IMPEDIMENTS TO INTERAGENCY 
COOPERATION 
ON 
SPACE 
AND 
EARTH 
SCIENCE MISSIONS. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Administrator shall enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academies to as-
sess impediments to the successful conduct of interagency 
cooperation on space and Earth science missions, to pro-
vide lessons learned and best practices, and to recommend 
steps to help facilitate successful interagency collabora-
tions on space and Earth science missions. 
(b) REPORT.—The report of the assessment carried 
out under subsection (a) shall be transmitted to the Com-
mittee on Science and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate not later than 15 
months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
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SEC. 507. ASSESSMENT OF COST GROWTH. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement for an independent external assessment to 
identify the primary causes of cost growth in the large, 
medium-sized, and small space and Earth science space-
craft mission classes, and make recommendations as to 
what changes, if any, should be made to contain costs and 
ensure frequent mission opportunities in NASA’s science 
spacecraft mission programs. 
(b) REPORT.—The report of the assessment con-
ducted under subsection (a) shall be submitted to Con-
gress not later than 15 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
TITLE VI—SPACE OPERATIONS 
Subtitle A—International Space 
Station 
SEC. 601. UTILIZATION. 
The Administrator shall take all necessary steps to 
ensure that the International Space Station remains a via-
ble and productive facility capable of potential United 
States utilization through at least 2020 and shall take no 
steps that would preclude its continued operation and uti-
lization by the United States after 2016. 
SEC. 602. RESEARCH MANAGEMENT PLAN. 
(a) RESEARCH MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The Adminis-
trator shall develop a research management plan for the 
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International Space Station. The plan shall include a proc-
ess for selecting and prioritizing research activities (in-
cluding fundamental, applied, commercial, and other re-
search) for flight on the International Space Station. This 
plan shall be used to prioritize resources such as crew 
time, racks and equipment, and United States access to 
international research facilities and equipment. The plan 
shall also identify the organization to be responsible for 
managing United States research on the International 
Space Station, including a description of the relationship 
of the management institution with NASA (e.g., internal 
NASA office, contract, cooperative agreement, or grant), 
the estimated length of time for the arrangement, and the 
budget required to support the management institution. 
The plan shall be developed in consultation with other 
Federal agencies, academia, industry, and other relevant 
stakeholders. The plan shall be transmitted to Congress 
not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
(b) ACCESS TO NATIONAL LABORATORY.—The Ad-
ministrator shall— 
(1) establish a process by which to support 
International Space Station National Laboratory 
users in identifying their requirements for transpor-
tation of research supplies to and from the Inter-
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national Space Station, and for communicating those 
requirements to NASA and International Space Sta-
tion transportation services providers; and 
(2) develop an estimate of the transportation 
requirements needed to support users of the Inter-
national Space Station National Laboratory and de-
velop a plan for satisfying those requirements by 
dedicating a portion of volume on NASA supply mis-
sions to the International Space Station and mis-
sions returning from the International Space Station 
to Earth. 
(c) ASSESSMENT.—The Administrator shall— 
(1) identify existing research equipment and 
racks and support equipment that are manifested for 
flight; and 
(2) provide a detailed description of the status 
of research equipment and facilities that were com-
pleted or in development prior to being cancelled, 
and provide the budget and milestones for com-
pleting and preparing the equipment for flight on 
the International Space Station. 
(d) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall establish an advisory panel under the Federal Advi-
sory Committee Act to monitor the activities and manage-
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ment of the International Space Station National Labora-
tory. 
SEC. 603. CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR CARGO RESUPPLY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The International Space Station 
represents a significant investment of national resources, 
and it is a facility that embodies a cooperative inter-
national approach to the exploration and utilization of 
space. As such, it is important that its continued viability 
and productivity be ensured, to the maximum extent pos-
sible, after the Space Shuttle is retired. 
(b) CONTINGENCY PLAN.—The Administrator shall 
develop a contingency plan and arrangements, including 
use of International Space Station international partner 
cargo resupply capabilities, to ensure the continued viabil-
ity and productivity of the International Space Station in 
the event that United States commercial cargo resupply 
services are not available during any extended period after 
the date that the Space Shuttle is retired. The plan shall 
be delivered 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 one year after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
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Subtitle B—Space Shuttle 
SEC. 611. FLIGHT MANIFEST. 
(a) BASELINE MANIFEST.—In addition to the Space 
Shuttle flights listed as part of the baseline flight manifest 
as of January 1, 2008, the Utilization flights ULF–4 and 
ULF–5 shall be considered part of the Space Shuttle base-
line flight manifest and shall be flown prior to the retire-
ment of the Space Shuttle. 
(b) ADDITIONAL FLIGHT TO DELIVER THE ALPHA 
MAGNETIC
SPECTROMETER
TO
THE
INTERNATIONAL 
SPACE STATION.—In addition to the flying of the baseline 
manifest as described in subsection (a), the Administrator 
shall take all necessary steps to fly one additional Space 
Shuttle flight to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer 
to the International Space Station prior to the retirement 
of the Space Shuttle. 
(c) SPACE
SHUTTLE
RETIREMENT
DATE.—The 
Space Shuttle shall be retired following the completion of 
the baseline flight manifest and the flight of the additional 
flight specified in subsection (b), events that are antici-
pated to occur in 2010. 
SEC. 612. DISPOSITION OF SHUTTLE-RELATED ASSETS. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall provide a plan to Con-
gress for the disposition of the remaining Space Shuttle 
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orbiters and other Space Shuttle program-related hard-
ware and facilities after the retirement of the Space Shut-
tle fleet. The plan shall include a process by which edu-
cational institutions and science museums and other ap-
propriate organizations may acquire, through loan or dis-
posal by the Federal Government, Space Shuttle program- 
related hardware. The Administrator shall not dispose of 
any Space Shuttle-related hardware prior to the comple-
tion of the plan. 
SEC. 613. SPACE SHUTTLE TRANSITION LIAISON OFFICE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish an office within NASA’s Office of Human Capital 
Management that shall assist local communities affected 
by the termination of the Space Shuttle program. The of-
fice shall offer technical assistance and serve as a clearing-
house to assist communities in identifying services avail-
able from other Federal agencies. 
(b) SUNSET.—The Office established under sub-
section (a) shall cease operations 24 months after the last 
Space Shuttle flight. 
Subtitle C—Launch Services 
SEC. 621. LAUNCH SERVICES STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In preparation for the award of 
contracts to follow up on the current NASA Launch Serv-
ices (NLS) contracts, the Administrator shall develop a 
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strategy for providing domestic commercial launch services 
in support of NASA’s small and medium-sized Science, 
Space Operations, and Exploration missions, consistent 
with current law and policy. 
(b) REPORT.—The Administrator shall transmit a re-
port to the Committee on Science and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate describ-
ing the strategy developed under subsection (a) not later 
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. The 
report shall provide, at a minimum— 
(1) the results of the Request for Information 
on small to medium-sized launch services released on 
April 22, 2008; 
(2) an analysis of possible alternatives to main-
tain small and medium-sized lift capabilities after 
June 30, 2010, including the use of the Department 
of Defense’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle 
(EELV); 
(3) the recommended alternatives, and associ-
ated 5-year budget plans starting in October 2010 
that would enable their implementation; and 
(4) a contingency plan in the event the rec-
ommended alternatives described in paragraph (3) 
are not available when needed. 
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TITLE VII—EDUCATION 
SEC. 701. RESPONSE TO REVIEW. 
(a) PLAN.—The Administrator shall prepare a plan 
identifying actions taken or planned in response to the rec-
ommendations 
of 
the 
National 
Academies 
report, 
‘‘NASA’s Elementary and Secondary Education Program: 
Review and Critique’’. For those actions that have not 
been implemented, the plan shall include a schedule and 
budget required to support the actions. 
(b) REPORT.—The plan prepared under subsection 
(a) shall be transmitted to the Committee on Science and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 702. EXTERNAL REVIEW OF EXPLORER SCHOOLS PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Administrator shall make ar-
rangements for an independent external review of the Ex-
plorer Schools program to evaluate its goals, status, plans, 
and accomplishments. 
(b) REPORT.—The report of the independent external 
review shall be transmitted to the Committee on Science 
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
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