National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1980
PL 96-48 (H.R.1786), enacted 08/08/1979

PUBLIC LAW 96-48—AUG. 8, 1979 
93 STAT. 345 
Public Law 96-48 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
for research and d^elopment, construction of facilities, and research and pro-
gram management, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by 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 to become available October 1,1979: 
(a) For "Research and development," for the following programs: 
(1) Space Shuttle, $1,586,000,000; 
(2) Space flight operations, $463,300,000; 
(3) Expendable launch vehicles, $70,700,000; 
(4) Physics and astronomy, $337,500,000; 
(5) Planetary exploration, $220,200,000; 
(6) Life sciences, $43,900,000; 
(7) Space applications, $338,300,000; 
(8) Technology utilization, $12,100,000; 
(9) Aeronautical research and technology, $309,300,000; 
(10) Space research and technology, $119,400,000; 
(11) Energy technology, $5,000,000; and 
(12) Tracking and data acquisition, $332,800,000. 
(b) For ''Construction of facilities," including land acquisition, as 
follows: 
(1) Modification of static test facility, Ames Research Center, 
$2,900,000; 
(2) Construction of large aircraft maintenance dock, Hugh L. 
Dryden Flight Research Center, $1,500,000; 
(3) Rehabilitation and modification of flight operations facili-
ties, Ellington Air Force Base, $1,760,000; 
(4) Modifications to central instrumentation facility, John F. 
Kennedy Space Center, $1,260,000; 
(5) Modifications to operations and checkout building, John F. 
Kennedy Space Center, $950,000; 
(6) Rehabilitation of roof, launch control center, John F. 
Kennedy Space Center, $600,000; 
(7) Modifications of model support system 8-foot high tempera-
ture structures tunnel, Langley Research Center, $1,410,000; 
(8) Modifications to 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel, Langley 
Research Center, $2,000,000; 
(9) Modification of transonic dynamics tunnel, Langley 
Research Center, $970,000; 
(10) Rehabilitation and modification of gas dynamics labora-
tory, Langley Research Center, $3,600,000; 
(11) Modifications to central air system, various buildings, 
- 
Lewis Research Center, $5,720,000; 
(12) Modifications to various buildings, Marshall Space Flight 
Center, $2,640,000; 
(13) Rehabilitation of roofs, various buildings, Marshall Space 
Flight Center, $900,000; 
Aug. 8,1979 
[H.R. 1786] 
National 
Aeronautics and 
Space 
Administration 
Authorization 
Act, 1980. 
93 STAT. 346 
PUBLIC LAW 96-48—AUG. 8, 1979 
Research and 
program 
management. 
Research and 
development. 
(14) Rehabilitation of roof, Phase I, building 103, Michoud 
Assembly Facility, $3,100,000; 
(15) (]Ionstruction of facilities operations shop building. Wallops 
Flight Center, $1,100,000; 
(16) Large aeronautical facility: construction of national tran-
sonic facility, Langley Research Center, $12,000,000; 
(17) Large aeronautical facility: modification of 40- by 80-foot 
subsonic wind tunnel, Ames Research Center, $33,900,000; 
(18) Space Shuttle facilities at various locations as follows: 
(A) Modifications to launch complex 39, John F. Kennedy 
Space Center, $17,100,000; 
(B) Modifications to crawler transporter maintenance 
facility, John F. Kennedy Space Center, $1,250,000; 
(C) Modification of manufacturing and final assembly 
facilities for external tanks, Michoud Assembly Facility, 
$6,900,000; 
(D) Minor Shuttle-unique projects, various locations, 
$2,500,000; 
(19) Space Shuttle payload facilities at various locations as 
follows: 
(A) Rehabilitation and modification for payload ground 
support operations, John F. Kennedy Space Center, 
$2,610,000; 
(B) Modification and addition to materials sciences labora-
tory, Ames Research Center, $1,640,000; 
(20) Repair of facilities at various locations, not in excess of 
$500,000 per project, $12,000,000; 
(21) Rehabilitation and modification of facilities at various 
locations, not in excess of $500,000 per project, $19,790,000; 
(22) Minor construction of new facilities and additions to 
existing facilities at various locations, not in excess of $250,000 
per project, $3,500,000; and 
(23) Facility planning and design not otherwise provided for, 
$14,000,000. 
(c) For "Research and program management," $964,900,000, 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), appropri-
ations 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 scien-
tific 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 pro-
gram of aeronautical 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 develop-
ment" 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 
PUBLIC LAW 96-48—AUG. 8, 1979 
93 STAT. 347 
the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate and the 
Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate of the nature, location, and estimated cost of such 
facility. 
(e) When so specified and to the extent provided in an appropri-
ation 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 program 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 $25,000, for scientific consultations or extraordinary 
expenses upon the approval or authority of the Administrator and his 
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 $75,000 for each project, including collateral equip-
ment, may be used for construction of new facilities and additions to 
existing facilities, and for repair, 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 (22), 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 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation 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 
authorized 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 appropriated 
pursuant to subsection 1(a) hereof may be transferred to the "Con-
struction of facilities" appropriation, and, when so transferred, 
together with $10,000,000 of the funds appropriated pursuant to 
subsection IQo) hereof (other than funds appropriated pursuant to 
paragraph (23) 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 authoriza-
tion Act would be inconsistent with the interest of the Nation in 
aeronautical 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 
Scientific 
consultations or 
extraordinary 
expenses. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
Limitations. 
Transfer of 
funds. 
93 STAT. 348 
PUBLIC LAW 96-48—AUG. 8, 1979 
Federal research 
funds, 
geographical 
distribution. 
42 u s e 2459 
note. 
42 u s e 2459. 
unless (A) a period of 30 days has passed after the Administrator or 
his designee has transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives and to the President of the Senate and to the Committee on 
Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and to the 
Committee on Commerce, 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 necessary 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 
originally made to either the House Committee on Science and 
Technology 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 subsections 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 to 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 distributing its research and development funds whenever 
fesisible. 
SEC. 6. (a) Paragraph 13 of subsection (c) of section 203 of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended (42 U.S.C. 
2473(c)(13)), is amended by striking out "$5,000" where it appears and 
inserting in lieu thereof "$25,000". 
(b) The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended, is 
amended (1) by redesignating section 308 as section 309 thereof; and 
(2) by inserting the following new section: 
Liability 
insurance. 
42 u s e 2458b. 
INSURANCE AND INDEMNIFICATION 
"SEC. 308. (a) The Administration is authorized on such terms and 
to the extent it may deem appropriate to provide liability insurance 
for any user of a space vehicle to compensate all or a portion of claims 
by third parties for death, bodily injury, or loss of or damage to 
property resulting from activities carried on in connection with the 
launch, operations or recovery of the space vehicle. Appropriations 
available to the Administration may be used to acquire such insur-
ance, but such appropriations shall be reimbursed to the maximum 
PUBLIC LAW 96-48—AUG. 8, 1979 
93 STAT. 349 
extent practicable by the users under reimbursement policies estab-
lished pursuant to section 203(c) of 
this Act. 
Ante, p. 348. 
"(b) Under such regulations in conformity with this section as the 
Administrator shall prescribe taking into account the availability, 
cost and terms of liability insurance, any agreement between the 
Administration and a user of a space vehicle may provide that the 
United States will indemnify the user against claims (including 
reasonable expenses of litigation or settlement) by third parties for 
death, bodily injury, or loss of or damage to property resulting from 
activities carried on in connection with the launch, operations or 
recovery oif the space vehicle, but only to the extent that such claims 
are not compensated by liability insurance of the user: Provided, That 
such indemnification may be limited to claims resulting from other 
than the actual negligence or willful misconduct of the user. 
"(c) An agreement made under subsection (b) that provides indem-
nification must also provide for— 
"(1) notice to the United States of any claim or suit against the 
user for the death, bodily injury, or loss of or damage to the 
property; and 
"(2) control of or assistance in the defense by the United States, 
at its election, of that suit or claim. 
"(d) No payment may be made under subsection (b) unless the 
Administrator or his designee certifies that the amount is just and 
reasonable. 
"(e) Upon the approval by the Administrator, payments under 
subsection (b) may be made, at the Administrator's election, either 
from funds available for research and development not otherwise 
obligated or from funds appropriated for such payments. 
"(f) As used in this section— 
Definitions. 
"(1) the term 'space vehicle' means an object intended for 
launch, launched or assembled in outer space, including the 
Space Shuttle and other components of a space transportation 
system, together with related equipment, devices, components 
and parts; 
"(2) the term 'user' includes anyone who enters into an 
agreement with the Administration for use of all or a portion of a 
space vehicle, who owns or provides property to be flown on a 
space vehicle, or who employs a person to be flown on a space 
vehicle; and 
93 STAT. 350 
PUBLIC LAW 96-48—AUG. 8, 1979 
"(3) the term 'third party* means any person who may institute 
a claim against a user for death, bodily injury or loss of or 
damage to property.". 
Effective date. 
(c) This section shall be effective October 1,1979. 
42 use 2458b 
SEC. 7. This Act may be cited as the "National Aeronautics and 
S
h
O
T
t title 
Space Administration Authorization Act, 1980". 
Approved August 8, 1979. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 96-52 (Comm. on Science and Technology) and No. 96-371 
(Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 96-207 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation) 
and No. 96-252 (Comm. of Conference). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 125 (1979): 
Mar. 28, considered and passed House. 
June 14, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
July 23, Senate agreed to conference report. 
July 27, House agreed to conference report.