National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1986

Summary

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1987 - Title I: NASA Authorization - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for specified activities relating to: (1) research and development; (2) space flight, control and data communications; (3) construction of facilities; and (4) research and program management. Permits appropriations for research and development and for space flight, control and data communications, to be used: (1) for any items of a capital nature (other than acquisition of land) which may be required at locations other than NASA installations 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. Requires the Administrator of NASA (the Administrator) to notify specified congressional officers and committees whenever the cost of a facility exceeds a specified amount. Permits funds appropriated for research and development, for space flight, control and data communications, or for construction of facilities to remain available without fiscal year limitation. Permits appropriations for research and program management to be used for scientific consultations or extraordinary expenses upon the approval of the Administrator. Limits to not more than $100,000 per project (including collateral equipment) the amount that may be used for construction of new facilities and additions to existing facilities, and for repair, rehabilitation, or modification of facilities, from funds appropriated for research and development, for space flight, control and data communications, and for research and program management. Limits to not more than $500,000 per project (including collateral equipment) the amount that may be used for any of the foregoing for unforeseen programmatic needs, from funds appropriated for research and development and for space flight, control and data communications. Prohibits obligation or expenditure of specified funds to reassign any technical work responsibilities on a permanently manned space station until a certain period passes after the Administrator's report to specified congressional committees. Permits the funds for construction of any of specified facilities: (1) in the discretion of the Administrator, to be varied upward ten percent; or (2) following a report by the Administrator to specified congressional committees, to be varied upward 25 percent to meet unusual cost variations. Permits one-half of one percent of the funds appropriated for research and development or for space flight, control and data communications, to be transferred to the appropriation for construction of facilities. Authorizes the expenditure of such transferred funds, together with a specified amount of the funds appropriated for construction of facilities, to construct, expand, or modify laboratories and other installations. Requires the Administrator, 30 days before expending such funds, to notify specified congressional officers and committees of the nature, cost, and necessity of such construction. Prohibits, until 30 days pass after congressional receipt of a full explanation by the Administrator, the use of funds appropriated pursuant to this Act for any program: (1) deleted by the Congress; (2) in excess of the amount actually authorized for the particular program under provisions for research and development, space flight, control and data communications, and research and program management; or (3) which has not been presented to either of the specified congressional committees. Directs the President, on the date of submittal of a budget for NASA for FY 1988, to also submit to the Congress budget estimates for the recommended level of program activity and subactivity funding for FY 1989 and 1990 of a permanently manned space station. Declares that 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 NASA should explore ways of doing so. Requests the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union to officially designate seven of the ten moons recently discovered near the planet Uranus in the names of the crew members of the space shuttle Challenger. Expresses the sense of the Congress that NASA should move expeditiously to conduct a competition for alternative production for space shuttle solid rocket boosters. Directs the Administrator to report to specified congressional committees on NASA's progress in this matter every 90 days for one year after enactment of this Act. Provides that such requirements shall not be construed to direct the Administrator to select and qualify a second source of production for solid rocket boosters if the results of the competition would not produce significant savings for NASA. Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to establish the National Aeronautics and Space Council in the Executive Office of the President. Directs the Council to advise the President on cooperation among Federal departments and agencies and designation of their specific responsibilities in the aeronautics and space field. Directs the Council to establish a User's Advisory Group composed of non-Federal representatives of industries and other persons involved in space activities. Directs the Administrator to: (1) review the findings and recommendations of the National Commission on Space; and (2) submit to specified congressional committees by December 31, 1986, recommendations regarding a long-range plan for implementation of the Commission's recommendations. Title II: Office of Commercial Space Transportation - Amends the Commercial Space Launch Act to authorize appropriations for FY 1987 to the Secretary of Transportation to carry out such Act (which provides for licensing and liability insurance requirements for commercial space launches). Title III: Space Transportation Recovery - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States must promptly restore its space transportation capabilities without deemphasizing other space programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 in amounts necessary to safely return the space shuttle fleet to flight status, and to achieve the next launch of a space shuttle in the first quarter of calendar year 1988. Directs the Administrator to promptly take necessary steps to construct a fourth space shuttle orbiter as a replacement for Challenger. Requires that such construction be accomplished to the maximum extent possible by use of existing structural spares previously authorized and funded. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 of any additional amounts necessary to begin such construction. Prohibits specified funds from being used for such construction. Directs the Administrator to explore the availability of private funding for such construction, and to accept such funding under specified conditions. Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to authorize the Administrator to accept gifts or donations for the construction of a space shuttle orbiter. Terminates such authority five years after enactment of this Act. Provides that all such gifts and donations which are not needed for such construction shall be used in tribute to the crew of the space shuttle Challenger and in furtherance of the exploration of space. Provides that the name of such space shuttle orbiter shall be "Challenger II." Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should utilize the capability of expendable launch vehicles as well as the space shuttle for placing government payloads in orbit. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 of additional sums necessary to procure launch services for government satellites by expendable launch vehicles. Provides that no funding for such procurement is authorized under title I of this Act. Declares that the space shuttle shall be the primary U.S. launch system for manned missions and missions needing its unique capabilities and shall be available for other missions. Sets forth space shuttle launch priorities to be reflected in a planned flight manifest which the Administrator must submit to the Congress by November 1, 1986. Directs the Administrator, before December 2, 1986, to submit to the Congress a ten-year plan setting forth: (1) a schedule for planned reimbursements from the Department of Defense for space shuttle services; and (2) a schedule for provision of such services. Title IV: Assured Access to Space - Assured Access to Space Act - Directs the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to purchase, through competitive procurement, of expendable launch vehicle services to launch Government payloads, as aggregated by the Administrator. Requires that such purchased services be provided on a reimbursable basis. Directs the Administrator to carry out such requirements so as to foster the development of an expendable launch vehicle industry and to complement the medium launch vehicle procurement planned for national security payloads. Directs the Administrator to report by November 1, 1986, to the Congress on how such requirements will be carried out. Amends the Commercial Space Launch Act to provide that direct costs (i.e., the amount to be paid to the United States by any person who acquires launch property or launch services) shall not include costs associated with meeting the space transportation needs of the United States. Directs the Secretary of Transportation, in carrying out the Commercial Space Launch Act, to consult with other agencies to provide consistent application of licensing requirements under such Act and to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all license applicants. Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 1986 to delete reference to the goal of cost-effective use of the Space Transportation System (the space shuttle program). Prohibits the shuttle price for a commercial or foreign user from being less than the price for a comparable launch on a U.S. expendable launch vehicle, except under certain circumstances. Removes provisions relating to reduction of the base price for commercial or foreign users of the shuttle and relating to customer incentives. Makes the shuttle pricing provisions of such Act applicable to flights of the Space Transportation System beginning on and after January 1, 1988. Directs the Administrator, within three years after the enactment of this Act, to report to the Congress on the effectiveness of such amendments to the shuttle pricing policy and whether or not there has been demonstrated a competitive domestic expendable launch vehicle capability.

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Documents

6 official files

• Senate agreed to House amendment with amendment

  summary · EN · 18 October 1986

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• House agreed to Senate amendment with amendment

  summary · EN · 15 October 1986

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• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 10 October 1986

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• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 25 September 1986

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• Reported to House with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 16 September 1986

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 10 September 1986

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