National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1988

Summary

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 1988 - Title I: NASA Authorization - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for: (1) research and development; (2) space flight, control, and data communications; (3) construction of facilities; and (4) research and program management. Authorizes the NASA Administrator to transfer a specified amount from any unobligated funds for prior years (with certain exceptions) for the preparation of the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite for launch prior to 1992. Permits any amount appropriated for research and development, space flight, control, and data communications, or construction of facilities to remain available without fiscal year limitation, when so specified and to the extent provided in an appropriation Act. Permit contracts for maintenance and operation of facilities or support services to 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. Permits research and program management appropriations to be used in a limited amount for scientific consultations or extraordinary expenses upon the approval or authority of the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to propose transfers to and from specified line items under the category of construction of facilities which do not exceed ten percent of the amount authorized for a line item. Requires a written explanation of any such proposed transfer to be transmitted to specified congressional committees. Allows the proposed transfer to be effected only after 30 days of either House or Senate session have passed after the transmission of such explanation. Prohibits any appropriation under this Act from being used for any program deleted by the Congress from requests as originally made to either of two specified congressional committees. Prohibits any appropriation pursuant to this Act in excess of the amount actually authorized for any program under the categories of research and development, space flight, control, and data communications, or research and program management. Prohibits any appropriation pursuant to this Act from being used for any program which has not been presented to either of two specified congressional committees, unless 30 days of either House or Senate session have passed after receipt of notice from the Administrator (or a designee). Prohibits the obligation of any appropriation pursuant to this Act for any purpose unless 20 days of either House or Senate session have passed after the submission to specified congressional committees of a detailed agency-wide budget operating plan for NASA. Expresses the sense of the Congress concerning the geographical distribuiton of NASA research and development funds. Directs the Administrator to report by January 15, 1988, to specified congressional committees on consideration and exploration of such distribution during FY 1982 through 1987. Directs the Administrator, in cooperation with the Secretary of Defense, and before July 1, 1988, to submit to the Congress a five-year plan (to be updated annually) setting forth: (1) a schedule for planned reimbursements from the Department of Defense for space shuttle services; and (2) a schedule for the provision of such services. Directs the Administrator to award to a domestic firm a contract that, under the use of competitive procedures, would be awarded to a foreign firm, if: (1) the final product of the domestic firm will be completely assembled in the United States; (2) when completely assembled, at least 50 percent of the final product will be domestically produced; and (3) the difference between the bids submitted by the foreign and domestic firms is not more than five percent. Makes such requirement inapplicable to the extent the Administrator determines that: (1) applicability would not be in the public interest; or (2) compelling national security considerations require otherwise. Applies such requirement only to contracts for which: (1) amounts are made available pursuant to this Act; and (2) solicitations for bids are issued after the enactment of this Act. Directs the Administrator to report by January 15, 1988, to specified congressional committees on contracts entered into with foreign entities for FY 1982 through 1987. Directs the Administrator to establish a program for launching payloads by means of expendable launch vehicles, and, if available, by commercial launch services. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Space Shuttle is a critical national resource that should be preserved and used primarily for missions requiring manned presence, and that a diversified family of expendable launch vehicles should be incorporated by use into the U.S. civilian space flight program. Directs the Administrator to ensure that expendable launch vehicles or, if available, commercial launch services are obtained for the launch of specified payloads. Directs the Administrator to report on compliance with these requirements to specified congressional committees by October 1, 1987. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the capital investment in space satellites and vehicles should be enhanced and protected by establishing a system of servicing, rehabilitation, and repair capabilities in orbit (satellite servicing). Directs the Administrator to study satellite servicing, taking specified factors into consideration, and report on such study to the Congress by January 15, 1988. Directs the Administrator to review the findings, recommendations, and proposed space agenda of the National Commission on Space, and submit to specified congressional committees, within 60 days of the enactment of this Act, a recommendation for a long-range implementation plan, including an impact assessment of such implementation on personnel, budget, and other resources. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the solid rocket motor project of the Space Shuttle Program would benefit from competition. Directs the Administrator to institute such competition by undertaking the competitive design and development of an advanced solid rocket motor. Directs the Administrator to notify specified congressional committees following a determination not to conduct such competitive design and development. Directs the Administrator, following such determination, to: (1) conduct a competition to select a qualified second source of supply for flight sets of the redesigned solid rocket motor currently under development; or (2) recompete the current source of supply for flight sets of the redesigned motor. Directs the Administrator to undertake either alternative giving primary consideration to the ability of each alternative to improve program safety and reduce program costs. Directs the Administrator to notify specified congressional committees of the final determination. Prohibits the Administrator from signing or extending any contract with the current manufacturer for the purchase of additional solid rocket motors before the issuance of a request for proposals in furtherance of the above competition. Requires the Administrator, before proceeding with the procurement of long-lead materials from the current contractor, to certify to specified congressional committees that such action is necessary in order to prevent a delay in the Space Shuttle launch schedule. Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to prohibit the two positions of Administrator and Deputy Administrator from being occupied simultaneously by retired commissioned officers of the armed forces who have been on active duty within the last ten years. Requires the Administrator to keep specified congressional committees fully and currently informed with respect to all NASA activities. Title II: Space Station - Directs the Administrator to undertake the construction of a permanently manned Space Station for specified purposes. Allows the Space Station to be used for research, experimentation, and exploratory development. Prohibits the Space Station from being used by or on behalf of any department or agency to conduct the operational testing or deployment of any offensive or defensive weapon or weapons systems if in contravention of U.S. laws or treaty obligations. Requires the Space Station to be developed and operated in a manner that supports and does not infringe on other science and space activities. Directs the Administrator to undertake the development of such advanced technologies as may be appropriate, within the level of funding authorized in this title, in order to reduce the cost of Space Station operations. Directs the Administrator to seek to have portions of the Space Station constructed and operated by the private sector where appropriate. Directs the Administrator to promote international cooperation in the Space Station program by undertaking the development, construction, and operation of the Station in conjunction with (but not limited to) the Governments of Europe, Japan, and Canada. Requires the Space Station to be designed, developed, and operated in manner that enables evolutionary enhancement. Requires the Administrator, for each of FY 1989 through 1996, to submit a budget request to the Congress, with budget estimates for the fiscal year involved and the two succeeding fiscal years, for the capital development of the space station. Requires such capital development to be completed before or during FY 1997. Limits the amount for Space Station development to no more than 25 percent of the total budget submission for NASA for any one fiscal year. Directs the Administrator to submit annual reports certifying compliance with such limitation and identifying funding levels for each of specified major capital development components. Limits the amount for operation and enhancement of the Space Station to ten percent of the total budget submission for NASA for any one fiscal year. Authorizes the Administrator to request separately additional funds necessary for the use of the Space Station for specified purposes. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the launching and servicing of the Space Station should be accomplished by the most cost-effective use of space transportation systems, including the Space Shuttle and expendable launch vehicles. Directs the Administrator to report by January 15, 1988, on the cost-effective use of such system for the launch of Space Station elements, considering specified factors. Requires the Administrator to assess appropriate proportional capacity charges on other Federal agencies desiring to enhance the Space Station for their own purposes. Prohibits the proceeds of such charges from being applied to user fees or from being considered part of the funds authorized under this Act. Authorizes the Administrator to construct the enhanced capacity for which such charges were assessed if: (1) the proceeds of such charges cover the full cost of construction; (2) the proposed enhancement is consistent with this title and does not interfere with other uses of the Space Station; and (3) 30 days of either House or Senate session have passed after the Administrator's submission to specified congressional committees of an explanation of the proposed construction. Directs the Administrator to set and collect reasonable user fees for the use and maintenance of the Space Station, taking specified factors into consideration. Authorizes waivers or modifications of such fees in furtherance of specified goals and purposes. Requires the Administrator to submit to the Congress: (1) a plan which outlines the total cost of the development and operation of the Space Station, including a National Research Council analysis and an Office of Technology Assessment report by January 15, 1988; and (2) a detailed plan for collecting reimbursable amounts for the utilization of the Space Station, by September 30, 1988. Prohibits the Administrator from obligating specified funds in excess of a certain amount until 15 days of either House or Senate session have passed after the submission of the plan due by January 15, 1988. Requires that any agreement between the U.S. Government and any foreign entity concerning the detailed design, development, construction, operation, or utilization of the Space Station be submitted to specified congressional committees. Prohibits such an agreement from taking effect until 30 days of either House or Senate session have passed after receipt by such committees of the agreement. Title III: Office of Commercial Space Transportation - Amends the Commercial Space Launch Act to authorize appropriations to the Secretary of Transportation to carry out such Act for FY 1988. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to present for review by specified congressional committees any agreement between a Government agency and a commercial user involving terms and conditions under which the Government will furnish goods and services to the user in support of production and/or launch of a launch vehicle. Prohibits any such agreement from being effective until 30 days of either House or Senate session have passed after receipt by such committees of the agreement.

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Documents

6 official files

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 31 October 1987

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• House agreed to Senate amendment with amendment

  summary · EN · 8 October 1987

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• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 10 July 1987

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• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 9 July 1987

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• Reported to House with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 7 July 1987

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 25 June 1987

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