An Act to authorize appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for research and development, construction of facilities, and research and program management, and for other purposes.
PL 94-307 (H.R.12453), enacted 06/04/1976

PUBLIC LAW 94-307—JUNE 4, 1976 
90 STAT. 677 
Public Law 94-
94th Congress 
•307 
An Act 
To authorize appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion for research and development, construction of facilities, and research 
and program management, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration: 
(a) For "Eesearch and development," for the following programs: 
(1) Space Shuttle, $1,288,100,000; 
(2) Space flight operations, $202,700,000; 
(3) Expendable launch vehicles, $151,400,000; 
(4) Physics and astronomy, $166,300,000; 
(5) Lunar and planetary exploration, $192,100,000; 
(6) Life sciences, $22,125,000 ; 
(7) Space applications, $198,000,000 ; 
(8) Earth resources operational systems, $200,000; 
(9) Aeronautical research and technology, $191,100,000 ; 
(10) Space research and technology, $86,300,000; 
(11) Tracking and data acquisition, $256,000,000; 
(12) Technology utilization, $8,100,000. 
(b) For "Construction of facilities," including land acquisition, as 
follows: 
(1) Modification for high enthalpy entry facility, Ames 
Research Center, $1,220,000 ; 
(2) Modification of flight simulator for advanced aircraft, Ames 
Research Center, $1,730,000; 
(3) Construction of supply support facility, Ames Research 
Center, $1,540,000; 
(4) Construction of addition to flight control facility, Hugh 
L. Dryden Flight Research Center, $750,000; 
(5) Construction of addition to lunar sample curatorial facility, 
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, $2,200,000; 
(6) Construction of airlock to spin test facility, John F. 
Kennedy Space Center, $360,000; 
(7) Modifications for utility control system, John F. Kennedy 
Space Center, $2,445,000; 
(8) Construction of addition for aeroelastic model laboratory, 
Langley Research Center, $730,000; 
(9) Construction of data reduction center annex, Langley 
Research Center, $2,970,000; 
(10) Construction of refuse-fired steam generating facility, 
Langley Research Center, $2,485,000; 
(11) Modification of refrigeration system, electric propulsion 
laboratory, Lewis Research Center, $680,000; 
(12) Rehabilitation of combustion air drying system, engine 
research building, Lewis Research Center, $1,490,000; 
(13) Large aeronautical facility: construction of national tran-
sonic facility, Langley Research Center, $25,000,000; 
June 4, 1976 
[H.R. 12453] 
National 
Aeronautics and 
Space 
Administration 
Authorization 
Act, 1977. 
Research and 
development. 
Construction of 
facilities. 
90 STAT. 678 
PUBLIC LAW 94-307—JUNE 4, 1976 
Research and 
program 
management. 
Program 
specifications. 
Notice to Speaker 
of the House, 
President of the 
Senate and 
congressional 
committees. 
(14) Space Shuttle facilities at various locations as follows: 
(A) Construction of Orbiter processing facility, John F. 
Kennedy Space Center, $3,750,000; 
(B) Modifications to launch complex 39, John F. Kennedy 
Space Center, $18,855,000; 
(C) Modification for solid rocket booster processing facili-
ties, John F. Kennedy Space Center, $8,700,000; 
(D) Construction of Shuttle/Carrier aircraft mating facil-
ity, John F. Kennedy Space Center, $1,700,000; 
(E) Rehabilitation and modification of Shuttle facilities, 
at various locations, $1,760,000; 
(F) Modification of manufacturing and final assembly 
facilities for external tanks, Michoud Assembly Facility, 
$1,930,000; 
(15) Space Shuttle pay 
load facilities at various locations as 
follows: 
(A) Modifications to operations and checkout building for 
Spacelab, John F. Kennedy Space Center, $3,570,000; 
(B) Modifications and addition for Shuttle pay 
load devel-
opment, Goddard Space Flight Center, $770,000; 
(16) Rehabilitation and modification of facilities at various 
locations, not in excess of $500,000 per project, $17,875,000; 
(17) Minor construction of new facilities and additions to 
existing facilities at various locations, not in excess of $250,000 
per project, $5,125,000; 
(18) Facility planning and design not otherwise provided for, 
$12,655,000. 
(c) For "Research and program management," $813,455,000, and 
such additional or supplemental amounts as may be necessary for 
increases in salary, pay, retirement, or other employee benefits author-
ized by law. 
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 1(g), appropria-
tions for "Research and development" may be used (1) for any items 
of a capital nature (other than acquisition of land) which may be 
required at locations other than installations of the Administration 
for the performance of research and development contracts, and (2) 
for grants to nonprofit institutions of higher education, or to non-
profit organizations whose primary purpose is the conduct of scientific 
research, for purchase or construction of additional research facilities; 
and title to such facilities shall be vested in the United States unless 
the Administrator determines that the national program of aeronau-
tical and space activities will best be served by vesting title in any 
such grantee institution or organization. Each such grant shall be 
made under such conditions as the Administrator shall determine to 
be required to insure that the United States will receive therefrom 
benefit adequate to justify the making of that grant. None of the funds 
appropriated for "Research and development" pursuant to this Act 
may be used in accordance with this subsection for the construction 
of any major facility, the estimated cost of which, including collateral 
equipment, exceeds $250,000, unless the Administrator or his designee 
has notified the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 
President of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technol-
ogy of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Aero-
nautical and Space Sciences of the Senate of the nature, location, and 
estimated cost of such facility. 
(e) When so specified in an appropriation Act, (1) any amount 
appropriated for "Research and development" or for "Construction 
PUBLIC LAW 94-307—JUNE 4, 1976 
90 STAT. e;79 
of facilities*' may remain available without fiscal year limitation, and 
(2) maintenance and operation of facilities, and support services con-
tracts may be entered into under the "Research and program manage-
ment" appropriation for periods not in excess of twelve months 
beginning at any time during the fiscal year. 
(f) Appropriations made pursuant to subsection 1(c) may be used, 
but not to exceed $35,000, for scientific consultations or extraor-
dinary expenses upon tlie approval or authority of the Administrator 
and his determination shall be final and conclusive upon the account-
ing officers of the Government. 
(g) Of the funds appropriated pursuant to subsections 1(a) and 
1(c), not in excess of $25,000 for each project, including collateral 
equipment, may be used for construcion of new facilities and addi-
tions to existing facilities, and not in excess of $50,000 for each project, 
including collateral equipment, may be used for rehabilitation or 
modification of facilities: Provided^ That of the funds appropriated 
pursuant to subsection 1(a), not in excess of $250,000 for each project, 
including collateral equipment, may be used for any of the foregoing 
for unforeseen programmatic needs. 
SEC. 2. Authorization is hereby granted whereby any of the amounts 
prescribed in paragraphs (1) through (17), inclusive, of subsection 
(1) in the discretion of the Administrator or his designee, may 
be varied upward 10 per centum, or 
(2) following a report by the Administrator or his designee to 
the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Repre-
sentatives and the Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences 
of the Senate on the circumstances of such action, may be varied 
upward 25 per centum, 
to meet unusual cost variations, but the total cost of all work author-
ized under such paragraphs shall not exceed the total of the amounts 
specified in such paragraphs. 
SEC. 3. Not to exceed one-half of 1 per centum of the funds appro-
priated pursuant to subsection 1(a) hereof may be transferred to the 
"Construction of facilities" appropriation, and, when so transferred, 
together with $10,000,000 of the funds appropriated pursuant to sub-
section 1(b) hereof (other than funds appropriated pursuant to para-
graph (18) of such subsection) shall be available for expenditure to 
construct, expand, or modify laboratories and other installations at 
any location (including locations specified in subsection 1(b)), if (1) 
the Administrator determines such action to be necessary because of 
changes in the national program of aeronautical and space activities or 
new scientific or engineering developments, and (2) he determines that 
deferral of such action until the enactment of the next authorization 
Act would be inconsistent with the interest of the Nation in aeronauti-
cal and space activities. The funds so made available may be expended 
to acquire, construct, convert, rehabilitate, or install permanent or 
temporary public works, including land acquisition, site preparation, 
appurtenances, utilities, and equipment. No portion of such sums may 
be obligated for expenditure or expended to construct, expand, or 
modify laboratories and other installations unless (A) a period of 
thirty days has passed after the Administrator or his designee has 
transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the 
President of the Senate and to the Committee on Science and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on 
Aeronautical and Space Sciences of the Senate a written report con-
taining a full and complete statement concerning (1) the nature of 
such construction, expansion, or modification, (2) the cost thereof 
Scientific 
consultations or 
extraordinary 
expenses. 
Limitations. 
Cost variations. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
Unforseen 
program changes, 
transfer of 
research funds to 
construction. 
Report to 
Speaker of the 
House, President 
of the Senate an d 
congressional 
committees. 
90 STAT. 680 
PUBLIC LAW 94-307—JUNE 4, 1976 
Use of funds, 
restriction. 
Notice to the 
Speaker of the 
House, President 
of the Senate and 
congressional 
committees. 
Research funds, 
geographical 
distribution. 
42 u s e 2459 
note. 
Satellite services, 
contract 
authorization. 
42 u s e 2463. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
including the cost of any real estate action pertaining thereto, and (3) 
the reason why such construction, expansion, or modification is neces-
sary in the national interest, or (B) each such committee before 
the expiration of such period has transmitted to the Administrator 
written notice to the effect that such committee has no objection to the 
proposed action. 
SEC. 4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act— 
(1) no amount appropriated pursuant to this Act may be used 
for any program deleted by the Congress from requests as origi-
nally made to either the House Committee on Science and Tech-
nology or the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space 
Sciences, 
(2) no amounts appropriated pursuant to this Act may be used 
for any program in excess of the amount actually authorized for 
that particular program by sections 1(a) and 1(c), and 
(3) no amount appropriated pursuant to this Act may be used 
for any program which has not been presented to or requested of 
either such committee, 
unless (A) a period of thirty days has passed after the receipt by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the 
Senate and each such committee of notice given by the Administrator 
or his designee containing a full and complete statement of the action 
proposed to be taken and the facts and circumstances relied upon in 
support of such proposed action, or (B) each such committee before the 
expiration of such period has transmitted to the Administrator written 
notice to the effect that such committee has no objection to the 
proposed action. 
SEC. 5. It is the sense of the Congress that it is in the national interest 
that consideration be given to geographical distribution of Federal 
research funds whenever feasible, and that the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration should explore ways and means of distrib-
uting its research and development funds whenever feasible. 
SEC. 6. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is 
authorized, when so provided in an appropriation Act, to enter into a 
contract for tracking and data relay satellite services. Such services 
shall be furnished to the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion in accordance with applicable authorization and appropriations 
Acts. The Government shall incur no costs under such contract prior 
to the furnishing of such services except that the contract may pro-
vide for the payment for contingent liability of the Government which 
may accrue in the event the Government should decide for its con-
venience to terminate the contract before the end of the period of the 
contract. Facilities which may be required in the performance of the 
contract may be constructed on Government-owned lands if there is 
included in the contract a provision under which the Government may 
acquire a title to the facilities, under terms and conditions agreed upon 
in the contract, upon termination of the contract. 
The Administrator shall in January of each year report to the 
Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on Appro-
priations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Aeronautical and Space Sciences and the Committee on Appropria-
tions of the Senate the projected aggregate contingent liability of the 
Government under termination provisions of any contract authorized 
in this section through the next fiscal year. The authority of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration to enter into and to 
maintain the contract authorized hereunder shall remain in effect as 
long as provision therefor is included in Acts authorizing appropria-
tions to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for 
subsequent fiscal years. 
PUBLIC LAW 94-307—JUNE 4, 1976 
90 STAT. 681 
SEC. 7. Paragraph (15) of section 5316, title 5j United States Code, 
is amended by striking out "(6)" and inserting m lieu thereof "(7)". 
SEC. 8. Section 6 of the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration Authorization Act, 1968 (81 Stat. 170), is amended by striking 42 USC 2477. 
out the words "the rate of $100" and inserting in lieu thereof the 
words "a rate not to exceed the per diem rate equivalent to the rate for 
GS-18". 
5 USC 5332 note. 
SEC. 9. This Act may be cited as the "National Aeronautics and Short title. 
Space Administration Authorization Act, 1977". 
Approved June 4, 1976. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 94-897 (Comm. on Science and Technology) and No. 94-1176 
(Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 94-718 (Comm. on Aeronautics and Space Sciences) and No. 
94-901 (Comm. of Conference). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 122 (1976): 
Mar. 22, considered and passed House. 
Apr. 1, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
May 17, Senate agreed to conference report. 
May 21, House agreed to conference report.