Part A - General Provisions

42 USC 16651 - Performance assessments

(a) In general
The performance of each division in the Science directorate of NASA shall be reviewed and assessed by the National Academy of Sciences at 5-year intervals.

(b) Timing
Beginning with the first fiscal year following December 30, 2005, the Administrator shall select at least one division for review under this section. The Administrator shall select divisions so that all disciplines will have received their first review within six fiscal years of December 30, 2005.

(c) Reports
Not later than March 1 of each year, beginning with the first fiscal year after December 30, 2005, the Administrator shall transmit a report to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate

(1) setting forth in detail the results of any external review under subsection (a);

(2) setting forth in detail actions taken by NASA in response to any external review; and

(3) including a summary of findings and recommendations from any other relevant external reviews of NASAs science mission priorities and programs.

42 USC 16652 - Status on Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission

It is the sense of the Congress that the Hubble Space Telescope is an extraordinary instrument that has provided, and should continue to provide, answers to profound scientific questions. In accordance with the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences study titled Assessment of Options for Extending the Life of the Hubble Space Telescope, all appropriate efforts should be expended to complete the Space Shuttle servicing mission. Upon successful completion of the planned return-to-flight schedule of the Space Shuttle, the Administrator shall determine the schedule for a Space Shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, unless such a mission would compromise astronaut safety. Not later than 60 days after the landing of the second Space Shuttle mission for return-to-flight certification, the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a status report on plans for a Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission.

42 USC 16653 - Independent assessment of Landsat-NPOESS integrated mission

(a) Assessment
In view of the importance of ensuring continuity of Landsat data and in view of the challenges facing the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System program, the Administrator shall seek an independent assessment of the costs as well as the technical, cost, and schedule risks associated with incorporating the Landsat instrument on the first National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System spacecraft compared with undertaking various alternatives, including a dedicated Landsat data gap-filler mission followed by the incorporation of the Landsat instrument on the second National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System spacecraft. The assessment shall also include an evaluation of the budgetary requirements of each of the options under consideration.

(b) Report

(1) Deadline
The Administrator shall transmit the independent assessment to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this chapter unless, prior to that date, NASA cancels plans to fly the Landsat instrument on the first National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System spacecraft.

(2) Cancellation
If NASA cancels such plans, the Administrator shall

(A) not later than 7 days after a cancellation decision, inform the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, in writing, of the cancellation; and

(B) not later than 90 days after the transmittal of the cancellation notice, transmit to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan for undertaking a dedicated gap-filler mission or alternative means for ensuring the continuity of Landsat data, which shall include consideration of a low-cost constellation of small satellites.

42 USC 16654 - Assessment of science mission extensions

(a) Assessment
The Administrator shall carry out biennial reviews within each of the Science divisions to assess the cost and benefits of extending the date of the termination of data collection for those missions that have exceeded their planned mission lifetime. In addition

(1) not later than 60 days after December 30, 2005, the Administrator shall carry out such an assessment for at least the following missions: FAST, TIMED, Cluster, Wind, Geotail, Polar, TRACE, Ulysses, and Voyager; and

(2) for those missions that have an operational component, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or any other affected agency shall be consulted and the potential benefits of instruments on missions that are beyond their planned mission lifetime taken into account.

(b) Report
Not later than 30 days after completing each assessment required by subsection (a)(1), the Administrator shall transmit a report on the assessment to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

42 USC 16655 - Microgravity research

The Administrator shall

(1) transmit the report required by section 16766 of this title;

(2) ensure the capacity to support ground-based research leading to space-based basic and applied scientific research in a variety of disciplines with potential direct national benefits and applications that can be advanced significantly from the uniqueness of microgravity and the space environment; and

(3) carry out, to the maximum extent practicable, basic, applied, and commercial ISS research in fields such as molecular crystal growth, animal research, basic fluid physics, combustion research, cellular biotechnology, low-temperature physics, and cellular research at a level that will sustain the existing United States scientific expertise and research capability in microgravity research.

42 USC 16656 - Coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

(a) Joint Working Group
The Administrator and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall appoint a Joint Working Group, which shall review and monitor missions of the two agencies to ensure maximum coordination in the design, operation, and transition of missions where appropriate. The Joint Working Group shall also prepare the plans required by subsection (c).

(b) Coordination report
Not later than February 15 of each year, beginning with the first fiscal year after December 30, 2005, the Administrator and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall jointly transmit a report to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on how the earth science programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA will be coordinated during the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the report is transmitted.

(c) Coordination of transition planning and reporting
The Administrator, in conjunction with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and in consultation with other relevant agencies, shall evaluate relevant NASA science missions for their potential operational capabilities and shall prepare transition plans for the existing and future Earth observing systems found to have potential operational capabilities.

(d) Limitation
The Administrator shall not transfer any NASA earth science mission or Earth observing system to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration until the plan required under subsection (c) has been approved by the Administrator and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and until financial resources have been identified to support the transition or transfer in the Presidents budget request for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

42 USC 16657 - Review and report on Headquarters Earth-Sun System Applied Sciences Program

(a) Review
The Administrator shall review the policies, processes, and procedures in the planning and management of applications research and development implemented in calendar years 2001 to 2005 within the Headquarters Earth-Sun System Applied Sciences Program and former Earth Science Applications Program. This review shall include

(1) the program planning and analysis process used to formulate applied science research and development requirements, priorities, and solicitation schedules, including changes to the process within the period under review, and the effects of such planning on the quality and clarity of applied sciences research announcements;

(2) the peer review process including, but not limited to

(A) membership selection, determination of qualifications, and use of NASA and non-NASA reviewers;

(B) management of conflicts of interest, including reviewers funded by the program with a significant consulting or contractual relationship with NASA, and individuals who both review proposals and participate in the submission of proposals under the same solicitation announcement; and

(3) the process for assigning or allocating applied research to NASA researchers and to non-NASA researchers; and

(4) alternative models for NASA planning and management of applied science and applications research, including an evaluation of the relevance for NASA of

(A) National Institutes of Health intramural and extramural research program structure, peer review process, management of conflicts of interests, compensation of reviewers, and the effects of compensation on reviewer efficiency and quality;

(B) Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service program and structure, peer review process, management of conflicts of interest, compensation of reviewers, and the effects of compensation on reviewer efficiency and quality;

(C) National Institutes of Health and Department of Agriculture best practices in the planning, selection, and management of applied sciences research and development; and

(D) any other relevant models.

(b) Report
Not later than 1 year after December 30, 2005, the Administrator shall transmit a report to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate describing the results of the review conducted under subsection (a). The report shall include a plan to ensure that the peer review process is transparent and selects proposals in a manner that instills public and stakeholder confidence.

42 USC 16658 - Basic research enhancement

(a) In general
The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Defense, and Secretary^[1] of Commerce shall, to the extent practicable, coordinate basic research activities related to physical sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

(b) Basic research defined
In this section, the term basic research has the meaning given such term in Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A11.

[1] So in original. Probably should be preceded by “the”.