S. Rpt. 107-43: FY 2002 Senate VA/HUD Appropriations Bill Committee Report: NASA

DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2002

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to conduct space and aeronautical research, development, and flight activities for peaceful purposes designed to maintain U.S. preeminence in aeronautics and space. NASA’s unique mission of exploration, discovery, and innovation is intended to preserve the United States’ role as both a leader in world aviation and as the pre-eminent space-faring nation. It is NASA’s mission to: advance human exploration, use and development of space; advance and communicate scientific knowledge and understanding of the Earth, the Solar System and the Universe; and research, develop, verify and transfer advanced aeronautics and space technologies.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $14,561,400,000 for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for fiscal year 2002, an increase of $307,528,000 above the fiscal year 2001 enacted level.

The Committee has modified the account structure as proposed under the budget request. The Committee has transferred the research program of the International Space Station (ISS) from the Human Space Flight Account to the Science, Aeronautics and Technology Account as requested by NASA and the Office of Management and Budget. All other ISS programs will remain within the Human Space Flight account.

During fiscal year 2002 the Committee directs NASA to include the outyear budget impacts on all reprogramming requests and include the outyear budget impact of all missions in the annual operating plan. The operating plan and all resubmissions also should include an accounting of all program/mission reserves.

The Committee remains sensitive to continuing risks regarding the illegal transfer and theft of sensitive technologies that can be used in the development of weapons by governments, entities and persons who may be hostile to the United States. The Committee commends both NASA and the NASA Inspector General (IG) for their efforts to protect sensitive NASA-related technologies. Nevertheless, this will remain an area of great sensitivity and concern as the development of technological advances likely will continue to accelerate. The Committee directs NASA and the NASA IG to report annually on these issues, including an assessment of risk.

HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

NASA’s `Human Space Flight’ account provides for human space flight activities, and for safety, mission assurance and engineering activities supporting the Agency. The HSF activities are centered around the operation of the Space Shuttle as well as high priority investments to improve the safety of the Space Shuttle and required construction projects in direct support of the Shuttle program. This appropriation also provides for salaries and related expenses (including travel); design, repair, rehabilitation, and modification of facilities and construction of new facilities; maintenance and operation of facilities; and other operations activities supporting human space flight programs; and space operations, safety, mission assurance and engineering activities that support the Agency.

The Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) Enterprise seeks to expand the frontiers of space and knowledge by exploring, using and enabling the development of space. HEDS seeks ways to improve human possibilities both on Earth and in space, such as: how systems can be designed to make possible safe and efficient human exploration and commercial development of space; what resources the solar system may provide, where they are, and whether they are accessible for human use; how human productivity in and beyond Earth orbit can be assured.

The Space Shuttle is a partially reusable space vehicle that provides several unique capabilities to the United States space program. These include retrieving payloads from orbit for reuse, servicing and repairing satellites in space, safely transporting humans to and from space, launching ISS components, providing an assembly platform in space and operating and returning space laboratories. In fiscal year 2002, seven flights are planned including a dedicated microgravity research flight, a Hubble Telescope servicing mission (HST-3B) and five ISS assembly and servicing missions. The proposed budget also supports key Space Shuttle safety investments as part of the Integrated Space Transportation Plan.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee has provided $6,868,000,000 for the Human Space Flight account. This amount is $428,000,000 less than the President’s request for these activities in fiscal year 2002 and $1,417,118,000 more than the fiscal year 2001 level.

Space Station– The Committee is deeply troubled by the latest major cost overrun on the International Space Station program. The Committee appreciates the complexity of this program and is proud of the success to date in assembling the components in orbit. However, the Committee has lost confidence in the program’s ability to responsibly manage the budget and avert the type of crisis that the program has created. In February 2001, the program reported a stunning $4,000,000,000 overrun over 5 years. Then after NASA insisted that the $4,000,000,000 estimate was conservative and represented the high mark, the Committee learned in June 2001 that the overrun increased by another $800,000,000, bringing the total overrun to $4,800,000,000. This represents a stunning 114 percent overrun for the development and operations of the program, which is all the more amazing since the program reported less than a year ago no such overrun. Currently, even after proposing to eliminate hardware to support more than three crew members and cutting research equipment by $1,000,000,000, the program still reports it is $500,000,000 short in fiscal year 2004 through fiscal year 2006.

The Committee is deeply concerned that this mismanagement is not only a threat to the completion of Station, but represents a grave risk to other important programs within the agency. The Committee will not accept any proposal that seeks to fund Station cost growth through offsets taken from other NASA Enterprises. The Committee directs NASA to avoid such offsets and warns that any such attempts will seriously undermine continued Committee support for the Station program.

Despite this fiscal mismanagement, the Committee is committed to completing a Space Station; one that is capable of supporting world-class research. The Committee supports the Administration’s approach to reining in Station cost growth, reforming program management to avoid cost overruns in the future, and creating an independent panel to validate the budget estimates and management reforms.

The Committee is taking the following steps to address this situation. First, in order to ensure the continued assembly and safe operation of the Station, the Committee provides $1,681,300,000 in fiscal year 2002 for Station development and operations. This funding level is below the President’s request due to the transfer of Space Station research funds from the Human Space Flight account to the Science, Aeronautics and Technology account and a general reduction of $150,000,000 from the Space Station budget. Within the general reduction, $50,000,000 is redirected to the Space Shuttle for safety upgrades. The Committee takes this general reduction without prejudice in light of the construction delays and uncertainty over the Space Station’s final design.

Second, in order to better control Station costs for development and operations, the Committee establishes in bill language annual spending limits on Station development and operations that equals $6,678,400,000 in aggregate from fiscal year 2002 to fiscal year 2006. Moreover, any proposal to exceed these limits, or enhance Station design above the U.S. core complete, must be accompanied by a Presidential certification that states that the additional funds are a priority, cost estimates are well understood and independently validated, and it is affordable without any offsets to science and technology programs contained in other NASA Enterprises.

Third, in order to ensure world-class research aboard Station, the Committee: (1) adds $50,000,000 to NASA’s $283,600,000 request for Station research to increase funding for life and micro-gravity research; (2) transfers the $333,600,000 Station research budget, which includes the $50,000,000 increase for research, from the Human Space Flight appropriation account to the Science, Aeronautics, and Technology appropriation account; (3) places Station research under the management of the Office of Biological and Physical Research (OBPR); (4) directs OBPR to rebalance funding, as appropriate, between ground and flight activities while minimizing funds for lower priority supporting activities; (5) directs NASA to award during fiscal year 2002 one or more definition studies for a non-government organization to manage the Station research program; and (6) provides bill language that limits transfer authority into the Science, Aeronautics, and Technology (SAT) account; no funds may be transferred from the SAT account to the Human Space Flight account.

Finally, in order to ensure adequate crew time for Station research, the Committee directs NASA to create a special task group, with members independent of the Space Station program and reporting directly to the NASA Administrator, that will develop and assess low cost options for enhancing crew time for Station research above the 20 hours per week projected for a three-person crew, particularly in the post-2005 time frame. No option should cost NASA more than $300,000,000 in aggregate from fiscal year 2003 through fiscal year 2007. Options should include operational approaches that allow the three crew members to spend more time on research; extended Shuttle visits that allow the Shuttle crew of five to seven astronauts to spend more time aboard Station; and opportunities with the international partners, including possible purchases of Soyuz vehicles through common operations offsets and other means, that allow additional full time crew members above the three planned. In particular, extended Shuttle visits may allow additional habitation space for increased science research while providing crew return capability.

The task group should also openly solicit ideas from U.S. industry on innovative approaches to increasing crew time for research, as well as to enhance research flight opportunities, either on Station or on other platforms. The results of this task group should be submitted to the Committee by February 2002.

Space Shuttle– The Committee has increased funding for safety upgrades to the Space Shuttle by $50,000,000 over the budget request for fiscal year 2002. Furthermore, the operating plan should prioritize the specific allocation for these funds, including individual projects with cost caps per project. In addition, NASA should outline in a report by February 1, 2002 how its upgrades program is integrated with the overall vision to switch to an alternative to the space shuttle later in the decade and a specific plan to show how the investment strategy in these upgrades does not diminish potential investment in a man-rated new launch vehicle.

The Committee believes their is no higher priority than improving the safety and reliability of the Shuttle orbiters. The Shuttle remains the cornerstone of our Nation’s heavy launch capability and is critical to the future of the Space Station and scientific research. Given the continued reliance on the Shuttle and the absence of an alternative vehicle, the Committee is concerned about the age of the Shuttle fleet and the potential impact on the budget out-years. While NASA has done a good job at improving safety, reliability and performance of the Shuttle, it will face increasing challenges as the Shuttle and the Shuttle infrastructure continue to age. The Committee notes that both the Shuttle and the supporting infrastructure will need substantial investments in future years in order to maintain the integrity of the Shuttle program. Therefore, the Committee urges NASA and the Office of Management and Budget to provide sufficient resources to upgrade Shuttle hardware and supporting infrastructure in fiscal year 2003 and beyond.

Human Exploration and Development of Space– The Committee reduces funding for the engineering and technical base of the human exploration and development of space by $20,000,000. Given the delays in implementing this initiative, the Committee makes this reduction without prejudice.

The Committee strongly supports the mission and work of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI), which is leading the national effort to carry out the research required to assure safe, human exploration in space. The NSBRI sponsors and performs fundamental and applied space biomedical research that supports NASA’s Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) Strategic Plan.

Space Operations– The Committee has reduced the amount provided for space operations by $25,000,000 below the budget request, for a total fiscal year 2002 budget of $457,200,000 and directs NASA to achieve these savings through the transfer of the former telecommunications and mission operations directorate (TMOD) work, including relevant engineering activities, to the consolidated space operations contract (CSOC) by not later than November 15, 2001. The Committee notes that CSOC has provided lower cost, high quality space operations services to multiple NASA users and believes that the TMOD transfer into CSOC will substantially help create a more robust and efficient space operations structure within NASA. The Committee also believes that there are significant savings beyond the level anticipated by this adjustment to the fiscal year 2002 budget, provided NASA cooperates fully in this transition to managing space operations.

The Committee’s directive is consistent with its past direction to NASA on space operations, first outlined in Senate Report 105-53 in which the Agency was directed to include `commonality of functions’ in the CSOC program. NASA exempted TMOD functions from CSOC despite their comparable relationship to other such functions in space and earth science as well as human space flight. NASA should submit to the Committee a transition plan for this transfer activity by October 15, 2001, including any proposed adjustments to exempt mission critical personnel from this transfer, capped at not more than 100 full-time equivalents (FTEs).

The Committee also directs NASA to submit by August 1, 2001 a detailed accounting of all TMOD related funds, cross-walked by all relevant program and sub-program elements in the fiscal year 2002 NASA Budget Estimates, using as the baseline for such estimates the January 2000 TMOD Congressional study (page three) that identified between $174,000,000 and $190,000,000 in TMOD costs for fiscal year 2002. Only approximately $129,400,000 of those costs are carried currently under the space operations program element, inappropriately exempting almost one-third of TMOD’s total costs from the consolidated resource schedule on space operations called for by Senate Report 105-216. Upon the submission of this detailed TMOD budget crosswalk, the Committee will entertain a redistribution of the proposed reduction among multiple program elements prior to Conference.

SCIENCE, AERONAUTICS, AND TECHNOLOGY

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

NASA’s `Science, aeronautics and technology’ account provides funding for science, aeronautics and technology activities supporting the Agency. These activities include space science, biological and physical research, Earth science, aerospace technology and academic programs. This appropriation also provides for salaries and related expenses (including travel); design, repair, rehabilitation, and modification of facilities and construction of new facilities; maintenance and operation of facilities; and other operations activities supporting science, aeronautics, and technology programs.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $7,669,700,000 for the Science, Aeronautics and Technology account, an increase of $478,000,000 above the President’s request and $1,492,620 above the fiscal year 2001 enacted level.

Space Science– The activities of NASA’s Space Science Enterprise seek to chart the evolution of the universe, from origins to destiny, and understand its galaxies, stars, planetary bodies, and life. The Enterprise asks basic questions that have eternally perplexed human beings, such as how the universe began and evolved and whether there is other intelligent life in the universe. The Space Science Enterprise develops space observatories and directs robotic spacecraft into the solar system and beyond to investigate the nature of the universe.

The quest for this information, and the answers themselves, is intended to maintain scientific leadership, excite and inspire our society, strengthen education and scientific literacy, develop and transfer technologies to promote U.S. competitiveness, foster international cooperation to enhance programs and share their benefits, and set the stage for future space ventures.

The Committee has made the following adjustments to the budget request:

-$50,000,000 from Mars Surveyor (future Surveyor projects), subject to a detailed plan on future Mars missions beyond the proposed 2007 mission submitted to the Committee by January 8, 2002.

-$48,600,000 from focused research and technology for the Europa Orbiter/X-2000 program addressed below in the future outer planets program.

+$43,600,000 for focused research and technology for a consolidated future outer planets program in which all missions, including the Europa Orbiter, are to be competed through a full and open announcement of opportunity for industry and academia. NASA should proceed with the selection of Europa science instruments as planned and should require that all proposals for the Europa spacecraft accommodate the proposed suite of instruments selected. No reduction for instrument support to the selected science teams should be made in fiscal year 2002.

+$5,000,000 for focused research and technology for Sun-Earth connections (SEC) for the Solar Probe mission. NASA should consolidate management for this mission with its existing SEC/Living With a Star program in lieu of the proposed termination. Selection of a Solar Probe spacecraft should be competed through a full and open announcement of opportunity for industry and academia.

+$20,000,000 for focused research and technology for Sun-Earth connections (SEC) for the Future Living With A Star (LWS) program, restoring the program to the funding profile in the 2001 budget. The Committee believes that understanding solar variability and its effect on earth and mankind is of paramount importance as we strive to understand our galaxy. Increasing our knowledge of the effects of solar variability and disturbances on terrestrial climate change and being able to provide advanced warning of energetic particle events that affect the safety of humans and space flight are also of particular importance. The proposed funding restoration will allow LWS to proceed on the original NASA plan of Sun-Earth connected System Science whereby both the Solar Dynamics Observatory and the Geospace Missions Network will proceed in a coordinated manner to attain the program objectives.

+$2,500,000 for the JASON Foundation.

+$3,000,000 for a center on life in extreme thermal environments at Montana State University.

+$2,000,000 for space radiation research at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

+$1,000,000 for Virginia Commonwealth University for the development of advanced material for batteries and fuel cells.

The Committee recommends the budget request of $92,100,000 for advanced technology development related to the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST) and expects NASA to vigorously pursue the development of the NGST and submit an out-year budget plan for soliciting development and management proposals with the goal of a launch in 2007.

-$25,000,000 from solar system exploration research and technology for funds requested for the `quick sprint to Pluto’ propulsion initiative.

+$25,000,000 for the Pluto Kuiper Express (PKE) mission. The Committee has deferred, without prejudice, the inclusion of full funding for the PKE. It has however, included $25,000,000 for it by eliminating the proposed $25,000,000 for the `quick sprint to Pluto’ propulsion initiative contained in the core research and technology line for solar system exploration. The Committee directs NASA to remain on schedule with its plan for source selection in September as the Committee expects to address the issue of full funding for PKE in Conference.

Earth Science– The activities of NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise seek to understand the total Earth system and the effects of humans on the global environment. This pioneering program of studying global climate change is developing many of the capabilities that will be needed for long-term environment and climate monitoring and prediction. Governments around the world need information based on the strongest possible scientific understanding. The unique vantage-point of space provides information about the Earth’s land, atmosphere, ice, oceans, and biota as a global system, which is available in no other way. In concert with the global research community, the Earth Science Enterprise is developing the understanding needed to support the complex environmental policy decisions that lie ahead.

The Committee recommends the following adjustments to the budget request:

+$7,500,000 for EOS Follow-on projects for the tropospheric (global) winds mission only, to be acquired through a commercial data purchase only. The Committee takes notable exception to NASA’s refusal to abide by Congressional directive in last year’s conference report directing the Agency to initiate an RFP for such a data purchase. In fact, the Committee is dismayed that NASA has allocated these funds apparently for trade studies on the subject, ignoring the compelling requirement to proceed with this mission. In a report to Congress in 1998, NOAA stated, `inadequate wind data coverage over the oceans bordering the United States has been a chronic problem that impacts accuracy potential for improved 1-5 day forecasts’. Ironically, NASA’s own earth science enterprise strategy suggests that a satellite that measures winds, and can transition to an operational system for NOAA, is among the highest priority in the Research Strategy. Tropospheric Winds are the highest priority `Required Knowledge’ in the Prediction Objective, one of five key science questions. Moreover, a stated Strategic Priority is to `collaborate with operational agencies and commercial concerns to demonstrate remote sensing capabilities that they want to incorporate in their decision support systems’.

+$31,100,000 for the EOSDIS program element, with adjustments as follows:

+$40,000,000 for the EOSDIS Core System only for a total program level in 2002 of $138,200,000. Of this additional $40,000,000, $27,500,000 shall be for the Synergy program to develop additional end uses for EOS data and to support on going efforts to provide additional applications for this data through new and existing infomarts. The additional $12,500,000 shall be used for ECS to expand its data processing and distribution capacity to meet the needs of the diverse EOS user community, as well as implement system adjustments to lower the systems’ future operations and maintenance requirements.

-$8,900,000 for the EOS Federation.

-$15,000,000 from EOS algorithm development.

+$2,000,000 for joint weather and ocean research at the University of Massachusetts and University of Alaska.

+$3,500,000 for the University of Montana for an International Earth Observing System Natural Resource Training Center.

+$500,000 for the Morehead State University Space Science Center for the reconstruction of the ADAS satellite tracking system. These funds are not intended to support faculty positions.

+$1,500,000 for research at the Bio-MEMS Microtechnology Center at the University of Louisville.

+$2,000,000 for the University of Mississippi Geoinformatics Center.

In addition, the Committee expects NASA to develop a long-term plans to partner with U.S. universities and industry in a variety of NASA-related science research, including research related to nanotechnology, information technology and remote sensing. These are all areas of investment that have a commercial application that will have an increasing impact on society, the economy, and quality of life. As previously discussed, the most obvious and immediate area of impact has been in the U.S. commercial remote sensing industry which is being carried out at the Stennis Space Center (SSC) as NASA’s lead center for commercial remote sensing. The Committee strongly supports the partnership programs developed by the SSC that have included research programs with private companies, universities, States, units of local government as well as other government agencies.

The Committee supports the efforts of NASA and SSC to expand this program to other university and private partnerships throughout the country, and consistent with the fiscal year 2001 Statement of Managers to the VA/HUD bill, to develop with universities, existing Applications Centers, and other cognizant Federal agencies, mechanisms through which current private and public remote sensing and related technologies will be made readily available to State and local government, public agencies and private organizations for applications in agriculture, flood mapping, environmental protection, urban planning, firefighting and other land-use issues. The Committee expects NASA, as a continuation of current efforts, to report no later than March 15, 2002 on an implementation plan for partnerships that cover every region of the Nation. In order to maximize this directive, the Committee includes the following adjustments to the budget–

+$1,500,000 for George Mason University’s Center for Earth Observing and Space Research;

+$3,000,000 for the University of South Mississippi for research into remotely sensed data for coastal management;

+$2,000,000 for the National Space Science and Technology Center to support the development of the Southeastern Virtual Consortium for Extreme Event Research (SEVEER) to conduct research on atmospheric natural hazards;

+$1,000,000 for the Mid-America Geospatial Information Center at the University of Texas for equipment upgrades to use remote sensing data from NASA to assess the impact of drought, invasive plant species, hurricanes, wildfires, oil spills, toxic waste releases and flash floods;

+$1,500,000 for Idaho State University for the Temporal landscape Change Research program; and

+$500,000 for Utah State University to develop an Intermountain Region Digital Image Archive and Processing Center for Landscape Analysis, Planning and Monitoring.

Biological and Physical Research– NASA’s Biological and Physical Research (BPR) Enterprise recognizes the essential role biology will play in the 21st century and pursues the core of biological and physical sciences research needed to support NASA’s strategic objectives. BPR fosters and enhances rigorous interdisciplinary research, closely linking fundamental biological and physical sciences in order to develop leading-edge, world-class research programs. BPR uses the unique characteristics of the space environment to understand biological, physical, and chemical processes, conducting science and technology research required to enable humans to safely and effectively live and work in space, and transferring knowledge and technologies for Earth benefits. BPR also fosters commercial space research by the private sector toward new or improved products and/or services on Earth, in support of the commercial use of space.

The Committee has transferred the Space Station research program to the Office of Biological and Physical research as requested by NASA and the Office of Management and Budget. In addition, the Committee has increased funding for Space Station research by $50,000,000 over the budget request for a total of $333,600,000 for Space Station research.

In previous years, the Committee has expressed its intent that scientific research remain one of NASA’s top priorities. However, delays in the construction of the Station and NASA reliance on the Shuttle for ISS construction have significantly reduced the opportunities for life and microgravity research. Therefore, the Committee directs NASA to include as part of its study of the ISS research program, opportunities for space-based life and micro-gravity research earlier in the ISS program, including, but not limited to, flying research payloads on Shuttle missions to the ISS, using extended duration orbiters and building ISS research facilities.

Aero-Space Technology– NASA’s Aerospace Technology Enterprise works to maintain U.S. preeminence in aerospace research and technology. The Enterprise aims to radically improve air travel, making it safer, faster, and quieter as well as more affordable, accessible, and environmentally sound. The Enterprise is also working to develop more affordable, reliable, and safe access to space; improve the way in which air and space vehicles are designed and built; and ensure new aerospace technologies are available to benefit the public.

NASA’s Aeronautics program pioneers the identification, development, verification, transfer, application and commercialization of high-payoff aeronautics technologies. Activities pursued as part of this Enterprise emphasize customer involvement, encompassing U.S. industry, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Aviation Administration. NASA is playing a leadership role as part of a Government-industry partnership to develop breakthrough technology that will help the aviation community cut the fatal accident rate 5-fold within 10 years and 10-fold within 20 years. NASA also supports the development of technologies to address airport crowding, aircraft engine emissions, aircraft noise, and other issues that could constrain future U.S. air system growth. The Committee has made the following adjustments to the budget request:

+$10,000,000 for vehicle systems technology to initiate a basic research program in supersonic transport technology. The Agency is directed to make this effort substantially different from the former high-speed research program by focusing its objectives on overcoming the barriers needed to achieve an economically viable and environmentally friendly supersonic transport. The Committee notes that DARPA is phasing down its program in supersonic technology research, it has outlined meaningful focused research objectives on which NASA should build.

+$15,000,000 for the advanced aircraft program, divided equally between flight research and propulsion and power research. The Committee expects NASA to submit a report by April 15, 2002 on the value of this program and in possible continued synergies for NASA to develop dual use aeronautic research and technology activities.

+$15,000,000 for NASA’s rotorcraft program, including full funding at the enacted level for the joint NASA-Army university centers component.

+2,500,000 for the Hubble Telescope Project at the Composite Technology Institute, Bridgeport, West Virginia.

+$15,000,000 for the ultra-efficient engine technology.

+$20,000,000 for aviation safety.

+$2,000,000 for a comprehensive study of NASA’s aeronautical test and evaluation facilities, including wind tunnels, including a 10-year plan to revitalize and potentially consolidate this infrastructure so as to make U.S. facilities more competitive with state-of-the-art requirements. To the extent practical, NASA should engage the relevant participants from the Department of Defense and U.S. industry to make this plan as comprehensive as possible. The results of this plan should be submitted to the Committee by September 1, 2002.

+$2,000,000 for advanced research in opto-electronics at Montana State University.

+$2,500,000 for an aerospace technology complex at the Delaware Aerospace Education Foundation in Kent County, Delaware.

+$2,000,000 for the National Technology Transfer Center at Wheeling Jesuit University.

+$1,500,000 for the Tulane University Institute for Macromolecular Engineering and Sciences, New Orleans, Louisiana.

+$6,500,000 for upgrades to the Stennis Space Center E-complex propulsion test facilities, of which $1,500,000 is for completion of the Test Operations Building for the E-complex. The Committee expects any additional upgrades to be included as part of the fiscal year 2003 budget request or a justification as to why these capital needs should be deferred.

+$3,500,000 for an addition to the main administration building at the Stennis Space Center. Because many of the needs at Stennis are the result of DOD staffing demands, consideration for additional capital funds should be from within the DOD budget.

-$15,000,000 from the 2nd generation RLV program due to a large unobligated balance of funds from prior year appropriations and concern that the program’s deadlines for final selection of a candidate vehicle to replace the space shuttle are slipping. The Committee believes that this program’s milestones and schedule needs to be better coordinated and integrated with any planned investments in the upgrade of the shuttle to maximize the cost-effective return on investment to the taxpayers in space transportation.

+$1,700,000 for the Independent Verification and Validation Facility (IV&V), Fairmont, West Virginia.

The Committee recognizes the Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) as a National Center for Commercial Launch Services and directs NASA to designate Wallops as a potential launch and recovery site for flight demonstration, testing and validation of space transportation technologies in the upcoming solicitation for Alternate Access to Space (AAS) and all future Space Launch Initiative (SLI) 2nd Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle and AAS solicitations. NASA is directed to report to the Committees on Appropriations by March 1, 2002 on the feasibility of implementing a test launch capability at WFF for mission support and infrastructure required for these test flight demonstrations. Furthermore, the Committee provides an additional $10,000,000 from within the Science, Aeronautics and Technology accounts, for the Wallops Launch Range, for infrastructure improvements and technology upgrades to maintain range capabilities.

Academic Programs– The objective of NASA’s academic programs is to promote excellence in America’s education system through enhancing and expanding scientific and technological competence. Activities conducted within academic programs capture the interest of students in science and technology, develop talented students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, provide research opportunities for students and faculty members at NASA centers, and strengthen and enhance the research capabilities of the Nation’s colleges and universities. NASA’s education programs span from the elementary through graduate levels, and are directed at students and faculty. Academic programs includes the Minority University Research Program, which expands opportunities for talented students from underrepresented groups who are pursuing degrees in science and engineering, and to strengthen the research capabilities of minority universities and colleges.

The Committee has included $19,100,000,000 for the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. This funding is the same as the fiscal year 2001 level and the President’s request for fiscal year 2002. This program is a valuable tool in developing educational partnerships in support of science, mathematics, technology, engineering and geography.

The Committee recommendation has included $10,000,000 for the NASA EPSCoR Program, $5,400,000 above the budget request and the same as the fiscal year 2001 level. The Committee expects NASA EPSCoR to support a broad range of research areas in each EPSCoR State, drawn from Earth science, space science, aeronautics and space transportation technology, and human exploration and development of space, and to distribute the awards, competitively, to the largest number of eligible States possible.

The Committee commends the California Science Center for its proposed Environmental Science Learning Center (ESLC). The ESLC, the only facility in the country combining a major science center, an adjacent science focused neighborhood elementary school, and teacher professional development center in one location, will provide a one of a kind national model for informal environmental science education which supports and complements the efforts of schools throughout the State.

The Committee has provided $82,100,000 for NASA’s minority university research and education activities. This amount is $26,225,000 above the fiscal year 2001 enacted level and the same as the President’s budget request.

The Committee recommends the following adjustments to the budget request:

+$5,000,000 for the planetarium for the Clay Center of the Arts and Sciences in Charleston, West Virginia;

+$2,000,000 for the Northern Great Plains Space Sciences and Technology Center at the University of North Dakota;

+$1,500,000 for research on flight communications technology at the University of Connecticut;

+$1,000,000 for the Science Discovery Outreach Center at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina;

+$1,000,000 for the Chabot Observatory and Science Center in California;

+$750,000 for the Des Moines Science Center, Des Moines, Iowa;

+$2,000,000 for non-destructive evaluation research at Iowa State University;

+$4,000,000 for infrastructure needs at Mauna Kea Astronomy Education Center at the University of Hawaii at Hilo;

+$1,000,000 for the NASA/Bishop Museum partnership in Honolulu, Hawaii;

+$1,500,000 for the Wisconsin Initiative for Math, Science, and Technology education at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay;

+$1,000,000 for polymer research at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana;

+$250,000 for St. Mary’s County Public School Technology Center, St. Mary’s County, Maryland;

+$1,000,000 for high definition telemedicine technology development at Florida Atlantic University;

+$3,000,000 for construction of a life sciences facility at Brown University;

+$2,000,000 for instrumentation and laboratory development at Rowan University in New Jersey;

+$2,000,000 for photonics research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County;

+$5,000,000 for infrastructure improvements at the School of Science and Mathematics at the College of Charleston in South Carolina;

+$3,000,000 for Purdue University for a nanotechnology program;

+$3,000,000 for the U.S. Space and Rocket Center for the construction of a new educational training center;

+$1,500,000 for the University of Missouri’s Center for Gender Physiology for infrastructure needs;

+$1,500,000 for Muhlenberg College in Lehigh County, Penn. to develop a national model for using NASA data and technologies in the K-12 and higher education classroom;

+1,000,000 for the Texas Engineering Experiment center at Texas A&M University to support the Space Engineering Institute;

+$2,500,000 for the Center for Space Sciences at Texas Tech University;

+$2,000,000 for multi-user scientific equipment for the Life Sciences Center at the University of Missouri-Columbia;

+$3,000,000 for the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, Alaska for the final phase of construction of dormitories for the use of visiting students. These are the last funds to be made available to this center; and

+$500,000 for the Southeast Missouri State University’s NASA Educator Resource Center.

+$1,000,000 for a Challenger Learning Center in Ferguson/Florissant, Missouri.

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of Inspector General was established by the Inspector General Act of 1978. The Office is responsible for providing agencywide audit and investigative functions to identify and correct management and administrative deficiencies which create conditions for existing or potential instances of fraud, waste, and mismanagement.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $23,700,000 for fiscal year 2002, the same as the President’s budget request. The Committee commends the NASA IG’s diligence in addressing issues of fraud and abuse.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

The Committee recommendation includes a series of provisions, proposed by the administration, which are largely technical in nature, concerning the availability of funds. These provisions have been carried largely, in prior-year appropriation acts.