Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier (41 page)

(5) Federal support of the establishment, development, and operation of programs and projects by space grant colleges, space grant regional consortia, institutions of higher education, institutes, laboratories, and other appropriate public and private entities is the most cost-effective way to promote such activities.

SEC. 2486A. CONGRESSIONAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The purposes of this title are to–

(1) increase the understanding, assessment, development, and utilization of space resources by promoting a strong educational base, responsive research and training activities, and broad and prompt dissemination of knowledge and techniques;

(2) utilize the abilities and talents of the universities of the Nation to support and contribute to the exploration and development of the resources and opportunities afforded by the space environment;

(3) encourage and support the existence of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary programs of space research within the university community of the Nation, to engage in integrated activities of training, research and public service, to have cooperative programs with industry, and to be coordinated with the overall program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;

(4) encourage and support the existence of consortia, made up of university and industry members, to advance the exploration and development of space resources in cases in which national objectives can be better fulfilled than through the programs of single universities;

(5) encourage and support Federal funding for graduate fellowships in fields related to space; and

(6) support activities in colleges and universities generally for the purpose of creating and operating a network of institutional programs that will enhance achievements resulting from efforts under this title.

SEC. 2486B. DEFINITIONS

As used in this title, the term–

(1) “Administration” means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;

(2) “Administrator” means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;

(3) “aeronautical and space activities” has the meaning given to such term in section 103(1) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958
[42 U.S. C ~ 2452(1)1;

(4) “field related to space” means any academic discipline or field of study (including the physical, natural, and biological sciences, and engineering, space technology, education, economics, sociology, communications, planning, law, international affairs, and public administration) which is concerned with or likely to improve the understanding, assessment, development, and utilization of space;

(5) “panel” means the space grant review panel established pursuant to section 210 of this title (
42 U.S. C § 2486h
);

(6) “Person” means any individual, any public or private corporation, partnership, or other association or entity (including any space grant college, space grant regional consortium, institution of higher education, institute, or laboratory), or any State, political subdivision of a State, or agency or officer of a State or political subdivision of a State;

(7) “space environment” means the environment beyond the sensible atmosphere of the Earth;

(8) “space grant college” means any public or private institution of higher education which is designated as such by the Administrator pursuant to section 208 of this title
(42 U.S. C § 2486f);

(9) “space grant program” means any program which–

(A) is administered by any space grant college, space grant regional consortium, institution of higher education, institute, laboratory, or State or local agency; and

(B) includes two or more projects involving education and one or more of the following activities in the fields related to space–

(i) research,

(ii) training, or

(iii) advisory services;

(10) “space grant regional consortium” means any association or other alliance which is designated as such by the Administrator pursuant to section 208 of this title (
42 U.S.C. § 24860
;

(11) “space resource” means any tangible or intangible benefit, which can only be realized from–

(A) aeronautical and space activities; or

(B) advancements in any field related to space; and

(12) “State” means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States.

SEC. 2486C. NATIONAL SPACE GRANT COLLEGE AND
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

(a) Establishment; long-range guidelines and priorities; program evaluation

The Administrator shall establish and maintain, within the Administration, a program to be known as the national space grant college and fellowship program. The national space grant college and fellowship program shall consist of the financial assistance and other activities provided for in this title. The Administrator shall establish long-range planning guidelines and priorities, and adequately evaluate the program.

(b) Functions

Within the Administration, the program shall–

(1) apply the long-range planning guidelines and the priorities established by the Administrator under subsection (a) of this section;

(2) advise the Administrator with respect to the expertise and capabilities which are available through the national space grant college and fellowship program, and make such expertise available to the Administration as directed by the Administrator;

(3) evaluate activities conducted under grants and contracts awarded pursuant to sections 206 and 207 of this title
(42 U. S. C §§ 2486d and 2486e)
to assure that the purposes set forth in section 203
(42 U.S. C § 2486a)
of
this title are implemented;

(4) encourage other Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to use and take advantage of the expertise and capabilities which are available through the national space grant college and fellowship program, on a cooperative or other basis;

(5) encourage cooperation and coordination with other Federal programs concerned with the development of space resources and fields related to space;

(6) advise the Administrator on the designation of recipients supported by the national space grant college and fellowship program and, in appropriate cases, on the termination or suspension of any such designation; and

(7) encourage the formation and growth of space grant and fellowship programs.

(c) Acceptance of gifts and donations; funds from other Federal agencies; issuance of rules and regulations

To carry out the provisions of this title, the Administrator may

(1) accept conditional or unconditional gifts or donations of services, money, or property, real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible;

(2) accept and use funds from other Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to pay for fellowships, grants, contracts, and other transactions; and

(3) issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary and appropriate.

SEC. 2486D. GRANTS OR CONTRACTS

(a) Authority of Administrator; amount

The Administrator may make grants and enter into contracts or other transactions under this subsection to assist any space grant and fellowship program or project if the Administrator finds that such program or project will carry out the purposes set forth in section 203 of this title (
42 U.S. C § 2486a
). The total amount paid pursuant to any such grant or contract may equal 66 percent, or any lesser percent, of the total cost of the space grant and fellowship program or project involved, except that this limitation shall not apply in the case of grants or contracts paid for with funds accepted by the Administrator pursuant to section 205(c)(2) of this title [
42 U.S. C § 2486c(c)(2)].

(b) Special grants; amount; prerequisites

The Administrator may make special grants under this subsection to carry out the purposes set forth in section 203 of this title (42 U.S.C. § 2486a). The amount of any such grant may equal 100 percent, or any lesser percent, of the total cost of the project involved. No grant may be made under this subsection, unless the Administrator finds that

(1) no reasonable means is available through which the applicant can meet the matching requirement for a grant under subsection (a) of this section;

(2) the probable benefit of such project outweighs the public interest in such matching requirement; and

(3) the same or equivalent benefit cannot be obtained through the award of a contract or grant under subsection (a) of this section or section 207 of this title (42 U.S.C. § 2486e).

(c) Application

Any person may apply to the Administrator for a grant or contract under this section. Application shall be made in such form and manner, and with such content and other submissions, as the Administrator shall by regulation prescribe.

(d) Terms and conditions; limitations; leasing-, record-keeping-, audits

(1) Any grant made, or contract entered into, under this section shall be subject to the limitations and provisions set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection and to such other terms, conditions and requirements as the Administrator considers necessary or appropriate.

(2) No payment under any grant or contract under this section may be applied to–

(A) the purchase of any land;

(B) the purchase, construction, preservation, or repair of any building; or

(C) the purchase or construction of any launch facility or launch vehicle.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of this subsection, the items in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of such paragraph may be leased upon written approval of the Administrator.

(4) Any person who receives or utilizes any proceeds of any grant or contract under this section shall keep such records as the Administrator shall by regulation prescribe as being necessary and appropriate to facilitate effective audit and evaluation, including records which fully disclose the amount and disposition by such recipient of such proceeds, the total cost of the program or project in connection with which such proceeds were used, and the amount, if any, of such cost which was provided through other sources. Such records shall be maintained for three years after the completion of such a program or project. The Administrator and the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall have access, for the purpose of audit and evaluation, to any books, documents, papers and records of receipts which, in the opinion of the Administrator or the Comptroller General, may be related or pertinent to such grants and contracts.

SEC. 2486E. IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIFIC NATIONAL NEEDS AND PROBLEMS RELATING TO SPACE; GRANTS OR CONTRACTS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH NEEDS OR PROBLEMS, AMOUNT, APPLICATION, TERMS AND CONDITIONS

(a) The Administrator shall identify specific national needs and problems relating to space. The Administrator may make grants or enter into contracts under this section with respect to such needs or problems. The amount of any such grant or contract may equal 100 percent, or any lesser percent, of the total cost of the project involved.

(b) Any person may apply to the Administrator for a grant or contract under this section. In addition, the Administrator may invite applications with respect to specific national needs or problems identified under subsection (a) of this section. Application shall be made in such form and manner, and with such content and other submissions, as the Administrator shall by regulation prescribe. Any grant made, or contract entered into, under this section shall be subject to the limitations and provisions set forth in section 206(d) (2) and (4) of this title [42 U.S. C § 2486d(d)(2) and (4)] and to such other terms, conditions, and requirements as the Administrator considers necessary or appropriate.

SEC. 2486F. SPACE GRANT COLLEGE AND SPACE GRANT
REGIONAL CONSORTIUM

(a) Designation qualifications

(1) The Administrator may designate–

(A) any institution of higher education as a space grant college; and

(B) any association or other alliance of two or more persons, other than individuals, as a space grant regional consortium.

(2) No institution of higher education may be designated as a space grant college, unless the Administrator finds that such institution

(A) is maintaining a balanced program of research, education, training, and advisory services in fields related to space;

(B) will act in accordance with such guidelines as are prescribed under subsection (b)(2) of this section; and

(C) meets such other qualifications as the Administrator considers necessary or appropriate.