National Space Commission Act

Bill: 108-s-1821
Sponsor: Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC]
Introduced: 2003-11-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Accident prevention
Administrative procedure
Armed Forces and National Security
Astronautics
Congress
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Engineering
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
International cooperation in astronautics
Labor and Employment
Law
Licenses
Maintenance and repair
Manned space flight
Military operations
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Robots
Safety measures
Space activities
Space commercialization
Space exploration
Space flight
Space programs
Space shuttles
Space stations
Spacecraft
Technological innovations
Technology transfer

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: 
National Space Commission Act - Establishes a National Space Commission to: (1) provide advice and counsel to the President and Congress on matters related to the future of space; and (2) conduct studies, assessments, and other methods of evaluation to reach conclusions and formulate recommendations; (3) convene public forums, reviews, and other means of public discourse for gathering and distributing information; (4) establish a national approach for the safety of space flight; and (5) provide advice on changes in Federal law or international agreements to achieve recommendations, solutions, and outcomes proposed by the Commission.
 
Directs the Commission to: (1) evaluate findings, recommendations, and observations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board and the activities of NASA to respond to the Board's report; (2) make recommendations concerning additional and long-term criteria and conditions for the operation of the Space Shuttle; (3) assess NASA's capability to resolve the Board's findings, recommendations, and observations, the proper role of NASA and its industrial, scientific, and commercial partners in the development and operation of high risk space flight systems, and additional NASA workforce and management reforms to achieve safety of human space flight; (4) take into consideration the present condition of the International Space Station (ISS) and alternative space transportation solutions for servicing and supporting the ISS; (5) report on alternative means of transferring crew during assembly of the ISS and on the Space Shuttle's return-to-flight; (6) engage in specific advisory activities related to the development of future launch technology and make recommendations for future national goals for the development and use of space; and (7) review the Nation's program of safety in space flight and make recommendations for a national program for the management of safe commercial, civil, and military space flight.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S14035-14037)
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14033-14035)
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Introduced in Senate