National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1982
PL 97-96 (S.1098), enacted 12/21/1981

PUBLIC LAW 97-96—DEC. 21, 1981 
95 STAT. 1207 
Public Law 97-96 
97th Congress 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate of 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 1,1981: 
(a) For "Re^rch and development", for the following programs: 
(1) Space Shuttle, $2,189,000,000; 
(2) Space flight operations, $907,900,000; 
(3) Expendable launch vehicles, $31,200,000; 
(4) Physics and astronomy, $333,400,000; 
(5) Planetary exploration, $215,300,000; 
(6) Life sciences, $43,500,000; 
(7) Space appUcations, $398,600,000; 
(8) Tfechnology utilization, $12,600,000; 
(9) Aeronautical research and technology, $284,800,000; 
(10) Space research and technology, $129,300,000; and 
(11) Tracking and data acquisition, $408,180,000. 
(Jo) For "Construction of facihties", including land acquisition, as 
foUows: 
(1) Modification of 12-foot pressure wind tunnel, Ames 
Research Center, $18,500,000; 
(2) Modifications to space flight operations facility, Jet Propul-
sion Laboratory, $9,300,000; 
(3) RehabiUtation of utility control svstem, various buildings, 
Ljmdon B. Johnson Space Center, $680,000; 
(4) Construction of waste material incinerator, John F. 
Kennedy Space Center, $895,000; 
(5) Repair of operations and checkout building roof, John F. 
Kennedy Space Center, $825,000; 
(6) Modifications for enhanced 20-inch supersonic wind tunnel, 
Langley Research Center, $2,950,000; 
(7) Modifications for high pressure turbine corrosion and 
thermal fatigue testing, Lewis Research Center, $1,200,000; 
(8) Modification and relocation of 26-meter antenna, STDN, 
Goldstone, CaUfomia, $4,700,000; 
(9) Relocation of Do&-44 antenna to Tidbinbilla, Australia, 
$2,200,000; 
(10) Space Shuttle facilities at various locations as follows: 
(A) Construction of solid rocket booster processing and 
segment storage facilities, John F. Kennedy Space Center, 
$12,400,000; 
(B) Modifications to firing rooms, John F. Kennedy Space 
Center, $3,100,000; 
(C) Modification of manufacturing and final assembly 
facilities for external tanks, Michoud Assembly FadUly, 
$2,785,000; 
Dec. 21, 1981 
[S. 1098] 
National 
Aeronautics 
and Space 
Administration 
Authorization 
Act, 1982. 
Facilities 
construction. 
9-194 O—82 
78:QL3 
95 STAT. 1208 
PUBLIC LAW 97-96—DEC. 21, 1981 
Research and 
program 
management. 
Research and 
development. 
Scientific 
consultations 
or extraordinary 
expenses. 
(D) Modifications to Building 30 for Shuttle operations, 
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, $650,000; 
(E) Minor Shuttle-unique projects, various locations, 
$1,115,000; 
(11) Repair of facilities at various locations, not in excess of 
$500,000 per project, $12,800,000; 
(12) Rehabilitation and modification of facilities at various 
locations, not in excess of $500,000 per project, $17,700,000; 
(13) Minor construction of new facilities and additions to 
existing facilities at various locations, not in excess of $250,000 
per project, $2,320,000; and 
(14) Facility planning and design not otherwise provided for, 
$10,000,000. 
(c) For "Research and program management", $1,114,300,000 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 hereby authorized 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 addi-
tional research facilities; and title to such facilities shall be vested in 
the United States unless the Administrator determines that the 
national program of aeronautical and space activities will best be 
served by vesting title in any such grantee institution or organiza-
tion. 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 Technology of the House of 
Representatives 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 
PUBLIC LAW 97-96—DEC. 21, 1981 
95 STAT. 1209 
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 (13), inclusive, of 
subsection lOt))— 
(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 1(b) hereof (other than funds appropriated pursuant to 
paragraph (14) 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 
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 
(i) the nature of such construction, expansion, or modification, (ii) the 
cost thereof including the cost of any real estate action pertaining 
thereto, and (iii) 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, 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
Transfer of 
funds. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
95 STAT. 1210 
PUBLIC LAW 97-96—DEC. 21, 1981 
Notification to 
congressional 
committees. 
Federal research 
funds, 
geographical 
distribution. 
42 use 2459 
note. 
42 use 2451 
note. 
42 use 2457. 
(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 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 
feasible. 
SEC. 6. Section 7 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting at the end thereof the following new paragraph: 
"(6) Any vehicle used or designed for flight or navigation in 
space and on the registry of the United States pursuant to the 
Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the 
Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and 
Other Celestial Bodies and the Convention on Registration of 
Objects Launched into Outer Space, while that vehicle is in 
flight, which is from the moment when all external doors are 
closed on Earth following embarkation until the moment when 
one such door is opened on Earth for disembarkation or in the 
case of a forced landing, until the competent authorities take 
over the responsibility for the vehicle and for persons and 
property aboard.". 
SEC. 7. The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as 
amended, is amended by inserting at the end of section 305, the 
following new subsections: 
"(k) Any object intended for launch, launched, or assembled in 
outer space shall be considered a vehicle for the purpose of 
section 272 
of 
title 35, United States Code. 
"(1) The use or manufacture of any patented invention incorporated 
in a space vehicle launched by the United States Government for a 
person other than the United States shall not be considered to be a 
use or manufacture by or for the United States within the meaning of 
section 1498(a) of title 28, United States Code, unless the Administra-
tion gives an express authorization or consent for such use or 
manufacture.". 
PUBLIC LAW 97-96—DEC. 21, 1981 
95 STAT. 1211 
SEC. 8. Section 6 of the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis- Repeal. 
tration Authorization Act, 1970, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2462), is 
repealed. 
SEC 9. Appropriations hereby authorized for space transportation 
system upper stages in section l(aX2) shall not be used to initiate sole-
source procurement of a new upper stage until NASA in cooperation 
with other agencies has reviewed alternative systems and assessed 
comi)etitive procurement of a new upper stage to satisfy national 
requirements, and until 30 days after reporting its findings to the 
authorizing committees of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate. 
SEC. 10. This Act may be cited as the "National Aeronautics and Short title. 
Space Administration Authorization Act, 1982". 
Approved December 21, 1981. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1098 (H.R. 1257): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 97-32 accompanying H.R. 1257 (Comm. on Science and 
Technology) and No. 97-351 (Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORT No. 97-100 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 127 (1981): 
May 21, considered and passed Senate. 
June 23, H.R. 1257 considered and passed House; proceedings vacated and 
S. 1098, amended, passed in lieu. 
Nov. 23, Senate agreed to conference report. 
Dec. 8, House agreed to conference report.