2019 US Code
Title 51 - National and Commercial Space Programs
Subtitle IV - Aeronautics and Space Research and Education
Chapter 409 - Miscellaneous
Front Matter

"(1) United States competitiveness in the 21st century requires engaging the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this section as 'STEM') talent in all States;

"(2) the [National Aeronautics and Space] Administration is uniquely positioned to educate and inspire students and the broader public on STEM subjects and careers;

"(3) the Administration's Education and Communication Offices, Mission Directorates, and Centers have been effective in delivering educational content because of the strong engagement of Administration scientists and engineers in the Administration's education and outreach activities;

"(4) the Administration's education and outreach programs, including the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and the Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, reflect the Administration's successful commitment to growing and diversifying the national science and engineering workforce; and

"(5) in order to grow and diversify the Nation's engineering workforce, it is vital for the Administration to bolster programs, such as High Schools United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) program, that conduct outreach activities to underserved rural communities, vocational schools, and tribal colleges and universities and encourage new participation in the STEM workforce.

"(1) In general.—The Administrator [of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration] shall continue engagement with the public and education opportunities for students via all the Administration's mission directorates to the maximum extent practicable.

"(2) Report.—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Mar. 21, 2017], the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress [Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives] a report on the Administration's near-term outreach plans for advancing space law education."

"(1) NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS are virtual mentoring programs using commercially available video chat programs to pair National Aeronautics and Space Administration mentors with young students anywhere in the country. NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS give young students the opportunity to interact and learn from real engineers, scientists, and technologists.

"(2) The Aspire to Inspire (A2I) program engages young girls to present science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career opportunities through the real lives and jobs of early career women at NASA.

"(3) The Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research (SISTER) program at the Goddard Space Flight Center is designed to increase awareness of, and provide an opportunity for, female middle school students to be exposed to and explore nontraditional career fields with Goddard Space Flight Center women engineers, mathematicians, scientists, technicians, and researchers.

"(1) NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS.

"(2) Aspire to Inspire.

"(3) Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research.

"(1) report on existing activities with current and retired NASA astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators;

"(2) identify how NASA could best leverage existing authorities to facilitate and support current and retired astronaut, scientist, engineer, and innovator participation in NASA outreach efforts;

"(3) propose and describe a program specific to retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators; and

"(4) identify any additional authorities necessary to institute such a program."

"(1) to carry out and support research based programs and activities designed to increase student interest and participation in STEM, including students from minority and underrepresented groups;

"(2) to improve public literacy in STEM;

"(3) that employ proven strategies and methods for improving student learning and teaching in STEM;

"(4) to provide curriculum support materials and other resources that—

"(5) to create and support opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development for teachers using best practices that improve the STEM content and knowledge of the teachers, including through programs linking STEM teachers with STEM educators at the higher education level."

"(1) In general.—The Administrator [of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration] shall implement, beginning not later than May 1, 2006, a national awareness campaign through various media, including print, radio, television, and the Internet, to articulate missions, publicize recent accomplishments, and facilitate efforts to encourage young Americans to enter the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering to help maintain United States leadership in those fields.

"(2) Reports.—(A) Not later than April 1, 2006, the Administrator shall transmit a plan to the Committee on Science [now Committee on Science, Space, and Technology] of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate describing the activities that will be undertaken as part of the national awareness campaign required by paragraph (1) and the expected cost of those activities. NASA [National Aeronautics and Space Administration] may undertake activities as part of the national awareness campaign prior to the transmittal of the plan required by this subparagraph, but the plan shall include a description of any activities undertaken prior to the transmittal and the estimated cost of those activities.

"(B) Not later than three years after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 30, 2005], 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 an assessment of the impact of the national awareness campaign.

"(1) the expected cost of the Crew Exploration Vehicle through fiscal year 2020, based on the public specifications for that development contract; and

"(2) the expected budgets for each fiscal year through 2020 for human spaceflight, aeronautics, space science, and earth science—

"(1) Plan.—The Administrator shall develop a plan, in consultation with relevant Federal agencies, for updating NASA's space communications architecture for both low-Earth orbital operations and deep space exploration so that it is capable of meeting NASA's needs over the next 20 years. The plan shall include life-cycle cost estimates, milestones, estimated performance capabilities, and 5-year funding profiles. The plan shall also include an estimate of the amounts of any reimbursements NASA is likely to receive from other Federal agencies during the expected life of the upgrades described in the plan. At a minimum, the plan shall include a description of the following:

"(2) Consultations.—The Administrator shall consult with other relevant Federal agencies in developing the plan under this subsection.

"(3) Schedule.—The Administrator shall transmit the plan under this subsection to the Committee on Science [now Committee on Science, Space, and Technology] of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than February 17, 2007.

"(1) Study.—As part of ongoing efforts to coordinate research and development across the Federal agencies, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall conduct a study to determine—

"(2) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 30, 2005], the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall transmit to the Committee on Science [now Committee on Science, Space, and Technology] of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that—

"(3) Contract.—The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy may contract with a nongovernmental entity to conduct the study required by paragraph (1)."