National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act
PL 95-76 (H.R.4088), enacted 07/30/1977

91 STAT. 312 
PUBLIC LAW 95-76—JULY 30, 1977 
Public Law 95-76 
95th Congress 
An Act 
July 30, 1977 
To authorize appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
[H.R. 40881 
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 
National 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby 
Aeronautics and 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Aei-onautics and Space 
A
d
*
*
^
^ • 
t' 
Administration to become available October 1,1977: 
Authorization 
(^) ^^^' "Research and development," for the followinig programs: 
Act, 1978. 
(1) Space Shuttle, $1,354,200,000; 
Research and 
(2) Space flight operations, $267,800,000; 
development. 
(3) Expendable launch vehicles, $134,500,000; 
(4) Physics and astronomy, $228,200,000; 
(5) Lunar and planetary exploration, $153,200,000; 
(6) Life sciences, $33,300,000; 
(7) Space applications, $239,800,000; 
(8) Aeronautical research and technology, $234,000,000; 
(9) Space research and technology, $99,700,000; 
(10) Energy technology applications, $7,500,000; 
(11) Tracking and data acquisition, $280,200,000; 
(12) Technology utilization, $9,100,000. 
Facilities, 
(b) For "Construction of facilities," including land acquisiton, as 
construction. 
f ollows: 
(1) Construction of central hydraulic system, Hugh L. Dry den 
Flight Research Center, $420,000; 
(2) Construction of additional technical processing facilities, 
Goddard Space Flight Center, $3,100,000; 
(3) Modifications to various buildings for seismic protection, 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, $2,830,000; 
(4) Modification of chillers in central heating and cooling 
plant, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, $2,540,000; 
(5) Modifications for utility control system, John F . Kennedy 
Space Center, $2,130,000; 
(6) Rehabilitation of main heating plant, Langley Research 
Center, $790,000; 
(7) Rehabilitation of unitary plan wind tunnel, Langley 
Research Centerj $980,000; 
(8) Modification 
of 
central 
chilled 
water 
system, 
Lewis 
Research Center, $860,000; 
(9) Modifications for utility control system, National Space 
Technology Laboratories, $620,000; 
(10) Large aeronautical facility: construction of national tran-
sonic facility, Langley Research Center, $23,500,000; 
(11) Large aeronautical facility: modification of 40- by 80-foot 
subsonic wind tunnel, Ames Research Center, $13,500,000; 
(12) Various locations: rehabilitation and modification of 
64-meter antenna components, $1,750,000; 
(13) Space Shuttle facilities at various locations as follows: 
(A) Modifications to launch complex 39, John F. Kennedy 
Space Center, $40,700,000; 
PUBLIC LAW 95-76—JULY 30, 1977 
91 STAT. 313 
(B) Modifications for solid rocket booster processing 
facilities, John F. Kennedy Space Center, $1,730,000; 
(C) Rehabilitation of barge channels, John F. Kennedy 
Space Center, $2,090,000; 
(D) Modification of manufacturing and final assembly 
facilities for external tanks, Michoud Assembly Facility, 
$18,610,000; 
(E) Rehabilitation and modification of Shuttle facilities, 
at various locations, $1,750,000; 
(14) Space Shuttle pay 
load facility: modifications and addi-
tion for Shuttle payload vertical processing, John F. Kennedy 
Space Center, $6,410,000; 
(15) Rehabilitation and modification of facilities at various 
locations, not in excess of $500,000 per project, $18,900,000; 
(16) Minor construction of new facilities and additions to exist-
ing facilities at various locations, not in excess of $250,000 per 
project, $5,950,000; 
(17) Facility planning and design not otherwise provided for, 
$11,780,000. 
(c) For "Research and program management," $846,989,000, 
and such additional or supplemental amounts as may be necessary 
for increases in salary, pay, retirement, or other employee benefits 
authorized 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 nonprofit 
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 appro-
priated 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 equip-
ment, 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 Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate of the nature, location, and esti-
mated cost of such facility. 
(e) When so specified and to the extent provided in an appropria-
tion Act (1) any amount appropriated for "Research and develop-
ment" or for "Construction of facilities" may remain available without 
fiscal year limitation, and (2) maintenance and operation of facilities, 
and support services contracts may be entered into under the "Research 
and profTram management" appropriation for periods not in excess of 
12 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 extraordinary 
expenses upon the approval or authority of the Administrator and his 
Research and 
program 
management. 
Program 
specifications. 
Notice to Speaker 
of the House, 
President of the 
Senate and 
congressional 
committees. 
Scientific 
consultations or 
extraordinary 
expenses. 
91 STAT. 314 
PUBLIC LAW 95-76—JULY 30, 1977 
Limitations. 
Ames Research 
Center. 
89 Stat. 218. 
John F. Kennedy 
Space Center. 
90 Stat. 677. 
Use of funds, 
restriction. 
Cost variations. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
Unforeseen 
program changes, 
transfer of funds, 
authorization. 
Report to 
Speaker of the 
House, President 
of the Senate and 
congressional 
committees. 
determination shall be final and conclusive upon the accounting 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 construction of new facilities and additions 
to existing facilities, and not in excess of $50,000 for each project, 
including collateral equipment, may be used for rehabilitation or modi-
fication of facilities: Provided^ That of the funds appropriated pursu-
ant 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. 
(h) The authorization for appropriation to the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration of $6,500,000, which amount repre-
sents that pari of the authorization provided for in section 1(b) (4) 
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization 
Act, 1976, for which appropriations have not been made, shall expire 
on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(i) The authorization for appropriation to the National Aeronau-
tics and Space Administration of $6,000,000, which amount represents 
that part of the authorization provided for in section 1(b) (14) (B) 
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization 
Act, 1977, for which appropriations have not been made, shall expire 
on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(j) No part of any funds available to the Administrator may be used 
for the design or procurement of a prototype supersonic transport 
aircraft. 
SEC. 2. Authorization is hereby granted whereby any of the amounts 
prescribed in paragraphs (1) through (16), inclusive, of subsection 
1 ( b ) -
(1) in the discretion of the Administrator or his designee, may 
be varied upward 10 percent, or 
(2) following a report by the Administrator or his designee to 
the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate on the circumstances of such action, may 
be varied upward 25 percent. 
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 percent of the funds appropri-
ated 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 (17) 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 
PUBLIC LAW 95-76—JULY 30, 1977 
91 STAT. 315 
modify laboratories and other installations unless (A) a period of 30 
days has passed after the Administrator or his designee has trans-
mitted 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 Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a written report 
containing a full and complete statement concerning (1) the nature of 
such construction, expansion, or modification, (2) the cost thereof 
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 writ-
ten 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 fi'om requests as origi-
nally made to either the House Committee on Science and Tech-
nology or the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, 
(2) no amount 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 30 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 dis-
tributing 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 and 
to maintain a contract for tracking and data relay satellite services. 
Such services shall be furnished to the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration 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 provide for the payment for contingent liability of the 
Government which may accrue in the event the Government should 
decide for its convenience 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 title to the facilities, under terms and con-
ditions agreed upon m the contract, upon termination of the contract. 
The Administrator shall in January of each year report to the Com-
Use of funds, 
restrictions. 
Notice to 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. 
91 STAT. 316 
PUBLIC LAW 95-76—JULY 30, 1977 
Space shuttle. 
90 Stat. 677. 
Short title. 
inittee on Science and Technology and the Committee on Appropria-
tiojis of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate the projected aggregate contingent liability of the Govern-
ment 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 unless repealed 
by legislation hereafter enacted by the Congress. 
SEC. 7. Paragraph (1) of subsection 1(a) of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1977 (Public 
Law 94-307), is amended by striking out "$1,288,100,000" and insert-
ing in lieu thereof "$1,383,100,000". 
SEC. 8. This Act may be cited as the "National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration Authorization Act, 1978". 
Approved July 30, 1977. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 95-67 (Comm. on Science and Technology) and No. 95-448 
(Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 95-120 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation) 
and No. 95-281 (Comm. of Conference). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 123 (1977): 
Mar. 17, considered and passed House. 
May 13, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
June 21, Senate agreed to conference report. 
July 19, House agreed to conference report.