1999 US Code
Title 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 26 - NATIONAL SPACE PROGRAM
SUBCHAPTER II - COORDINATION OF AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE ACTIVITIES
Sec. 2471 - National Space Council

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§2471. National Space Council (a) Establishment; chairperson

Effective February 1, 1989, there is established in the Executive Office of the President the National Space Council, which shall be chaired by the Vice President.

(b) Report to Congress on composition and functions

By March 1, 1989, the President shall submit to the Congress a report that outlines the composition and functions of the National Space Council.

(c) Employment of personnel

The Council may employ a staff of not more than seven persons, which is to be headed by a civilian executive secretary, who shall be appointed by the President.

(Pub. L. 100–685, title V, §501, Nov. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 4102.)

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989, and not as part of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 which is classified principally to this chapter.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 2471, Pub. L. 85–568, title II, §201, July 29, 1958, 72 Stat. 427; Pub. L. 87–26, §1, Apr. 25, 1961, 75 Stat. 46; Pub. L. 87–367, title II, §207, Oct. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 792; Pub. L. 87–584, §7, Aug. 14, 1962, 76 Stat. 385; Pub. L. 88–426, title III, §§305(13)(A), 306(c), Aug. 14, 1964, 78 Stat. 423, 428; Pub. L. 91–406, Sept. 23, 1970, 84 Stat. 855, which related to the establishment, membership, duties, and personnel of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, was omitted from the Code, because the Council, including the office of Executive Secretary of the Council, together with the functions of the Council, was abolished by section 3(a)(4) of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1973, 38 F.R. 9579, 87 Stat. 1089, effective July 1, 1973, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

National Space Council Authorization

Provisions authorizing appropriations for specific fiscal years to carry out the National Space Council activities established by this section with limitation of ,000 on amount available for official reception and representation expenses and requiring the National Space Council to reimburse other agencies for not less than one-half of the personnel compensation costs of individuals detailed to it were contained in the following appropriation authorization acts:

Pub. L. 102–588, title II, §212, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5115.

Pub. L. 102–195, §14(a), Dec. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 1613.

Pub. L. 101–611, title I, §108(a), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3197.

Pub. L. 101–328, §2, July 8, 1990, 104 Stat. 308.

Study on International Cooperation in Planetary Exploration

Pub. L. 101–611, title I, §114, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3200, provided that:

“(a) Findings.—The Congress finds that—

“(1) the President on July 20, 1989, established the long-range goal of establishing a lunar base, followed by manned exploration of Mars in the early twenty-first century;

“(2) the United States and the Soviet Union, in cooperation with other countries, are currently planning further unmanned missions to the Moon and to Mars with the possible goal of landing a human on Mars;

“(3) a series of international missions to expand human presence beyond Earth orbit would further a spirit of, and follow through on the commitment made in, the 1987 agreement between the Soviet Union and the United States for space cooperation, as well as the successful cooperative agreements the United States has pursued with over one hundred countries since its inception, including the agreement with Japan, Canada, and the European countries for Space Station Freedom;

“(4) international manned missions beyond Earth orbit could further encourage a cooperative approach in world affairs unrelated to activities in space;

“(5) international manned missions beyond Earth orbit could save the individual nations involved tens of billions of dollars over national missions; and

“(6) a multilateral effort for manned missions to establish a lunar colony, a Mars mission, and any other missions that have the goal of establishing human presence beyond Earth's orbit and possibly landing a human on Mars would lead to greater understanding of our universe and greater sensitivity to our own planet.

“(b) Study.—The National Space Council shall conduct a study on International Cooperation in Planetary Exploration (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘study’).

“(c) Purpose of Study.—The purpose of the study is—

“(1) to develop an inventory of technologies and intentions of all national space agencies with regard to lunar and planetary exploration, both manned and unmanned;

“(2) to seek ways, through direct communication with appropriate officials of other nations or otherwise, to enhance the planning and exchange of information and data among the United States, the Soviet Union, European countries, Canada, Japan, and other interested countries with respect to unmanned projects beyond Earth orbit, in anticipation of later international manned missions to the Moon and to other bodies, including the possible goal of an international manned mission to Mars;

“(3) to prepare a detailed proposal that most efficiently uses the resources of the national space agencies in cooperative endeavors to establish human presence beyond Earth orbit;

“(4) to develop priority goals that accomplish unmet needs that could not be achieved by any individual country;

“(5) to explore the possibilities of international unmanned probes to the Moon and Mars, and the possibilities for international manned missions beyond Earth's orbit; and

“(6) to devise strategies for such cooperation that would prevent the unwanted transfer of technology.

In developing the inventory under paragraph (1), and in preparing the detailed proposal under paragraph (3), consideration shall be given to the potential contributions of commercial providers of space goods and services.

“(d) Report.—The National Space Council shall, within one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 16, 1990], prepare and submit to Congress a report—

“(1) outlining a preliminary strategy for cooperation among the United States, the Soviet Union, European countries, Canada, Japan, and other interested countries, based on their respective national strengths, with respect to unmanned projects beyond Earth orbit, in anticipation of later international manned missions to the Moon and to other bodies, including the possible goal of an international manned mission to Mars;

“(2) including a conceptual design of a possible international manned mission, in coordination with the preliminary strategy referred to in paragraph (1), with target dates and a breakdown of responsibilities by nation;

“(3) containing an inventory of planned and anticipated missions, manned and unmanned, that are being considered by national space agencies and commercial providers of space goods and services; and

“(4) containing an inventory of space exploration technologies that either—

“(A) are not immediately available in the United States but are available from other nations; or

“(B) are available in the United States but are available from other nations in equal or superior form.”

Staffing

Pub. L. 101–328, §3(a), July 8, 1990, 104 Stat. 308, provided that: “Not more than six individuals may be employed by the National Space Council without regard to any provision of law regulating the employment or compensation of persons in the Government service, at rates not to exceed the rate of pay for level VI of the Senior Executive Schedule as provided pursuant to section 5382 of title 5, United States Code.”

Experts and Consultants

Pub. L. 101–328, §4, July 8, 1990, 104 Stat. 308, provided that: “The National Space Council may, for purposes of carrying out its functions, employ experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, and may compensate individuals so employed for each day they are involved in a business of the National Space Council (including traveltime) at rates not in excess of the daily equivalent of the maximum rate of pay for grade GS–18 as provided pursuant to section 5332 of title 5, United States Code.”

[References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, §101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5.]