NASA Authorization Act of 2010
Encyclopedia
The NASA
Authorization Act of 2010 is a U.S. law which authorizes NASA
appropriations for fiscal years 2011–2013 with the same top-line budget values as requested by President of the United States
Barack Obama
. The law supports an overall growth in science
, aeronautics
, and space technology
and defines a long-term goal for human spaceflight
to expand a permanent human presence beyond low Earth orbit
. Key objectives of this goal include full utilization of the International Space Station
(ISS), determining the ability of humans to live in outer space
for extended periods of time, maximizing the role of space exploration
and space technology
in current and future missions, advancing knowledge and inspiring young people into higher education
, and building upon international partnerships.
The act was signed into law by President Obama on October 11, 2010. A total of $58 billion in funding is called for, spread across three years.
, the law will:
capabilities that are tied to the overall space exploration
framework and support U.S. innovation and competitiveness.
), contingent on a safety review, to provide necessary support for the extension of the ISS.
, Earth science
and space science
.
models for NASA’s workforce
, centers, and capabilities, while enforcing short-term prohibitions on major center displacements and reductions-in-force until the study is completed.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Authorization Act of 2010 is a U.S. law which authorizes NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
appropriations for fiscal years 2011–2013 with the same top-line budget values as requested by President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. The law supports an overall growth in science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, aeronautics
Aeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
, and space technology
Space technology
Space technology is technology that is related to entering, and retrieving objects or life forms from space."Every day" technologies such as weather forecasting, remote sensing, GPS systems, satellite television, and some long distance communications systems critically rely on space infrastructure...
and defines a long-term goal for human spaceflight
Human spaceflight
Human spaceflight is spaceflight with humans on the spacecraft. When a spacecraft is manned, it can be piloted directly, as opposed to machine or robotic space probes and remotely-controlled satellites....
to expand a permanent human presence beyond low Earth orbit
Flexible path
The flexible path is a set of destinations for further manned space exploration in the inner Solar System proposed in the Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee of 2009 and was envisioned as alternative to the Moon-first and Mars-first approaches.In 2010 president Barack Obama...
. Key objectives of this goal include full utilization of the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
(ISS), determining the ability of humans to live in outer space
Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
for extended periods of time, maximizing the role of space exploration
Space exploration
Space exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
and space technology
Space technology
Space technology is technology that is related to entering, and retrieving objects or life forms from space."Every day" technologies such as weather forecasting, remote sensing, GPS systems, satellite television, and some long distance communications systems critically rely on space infrastructure...
in current and future missions, advancing knowledge and inspiring young people into higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
, and building upon international partnerships.
The act was signed into law by President Obama on October 11, 2010. A total of $58 billion in funding is called for, spread across three years.
Human spaceflight
In regard to human spaceflightHuman spaceflight
Human spaceflight is spaceflight with humans on the spacecraft. When a spacecraft is manned, it can be piloted directly, as opposed to machine or robotic space probes and remotely-controlled satellites....
, the law will:
- Couple human spaceflight efforts to national and global needs and challenges.
- Provide a sustainable space explorationSpace explorationSpace exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
program to incorporate new technologies and in-space capabilities.
- Require immediate development of a heavy lift launch vehicleHeavy Lift Launch VehicleA Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle, or HLLV, is a launch vehicle capable of lifting more mass into Low Earth Orbit than Medium Lift or Mid-Heavy Lift Launch Vehicles.There is no universally accepted capability requirements for heavy-lift launch vehicles....
and continued support of a crew exploration vehicleCrew Exploration VehicleThe Crew Exploration Vehicle was the conceptual component of the U.S. NASA Vision for Space Exploration that later became known as the Orion spacecraft...
to be capable of supporting missions beyond low earth orbitLow Earth orbitA low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
starting in 2016.
- Support a sound performance and cost framework by maximizing use, where possible, of the workforceWorkforceThe workforce is the labour pool in employment. It is generally used to describe those working for a single company or industry, but can also apply to a geographic region like a city, country, state, etc. The term generally excludes the employers or management, and implies those involved in...
, assets, and capabilities of the Space ShuttleSpace ShuttleThe Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
, Constellation program, and other NASA programs.
Space technology
The law will invest in space technologies and roboticsRobotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
capabilities that are tied to the overall space exploration
Space exploration
Space exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
framework and support U.S. innovation and competitiveness.
Commercial cargo and crew
In regard to commercial cargo and crew, the law will:- Continue to support commercial cargo development and provide additional funds to meet launch infrastructure requirements and accelerate development activity.
- Expand the Commercial Crew DevelopmentCommercial Crew DevelopmentCommercial Crew Development is a multiphase space technology development program, funded by the U.S. government, and administered by NASA. The program is intended to stimulate development of privately operated crew vehicles to low Earth orbit. It is run by the Commercial Crew and Cargo Program...
Program in 2011 for concept development and supporting activities, while requiring a number of studies to ensure effective oversight of the potential initiation of a commercial crew capability procurement program no earlier than 2012.
International Space Station
In regard to the International Space Station (ISS). the law will:- Extend the ISS to at least 2020 to support international and commercial collaboration and growth, research, and technology development to maximize the scientific return on the significant investment in the ISS.
- Establish an independent non-profit to work with NASA to fully develop the ISS U.S. segment as a National Laboratory.
- Require an assessment of ISS requirements for parts and equipment needed to ensure its full functionality through 2020.
Shuttle retirement and final "launch on need" mission
The law authorizes an additional Space Shuttle flight (STS-135STS-135
STS-135 was the final mission of the American Space Shuttle program. It used the orbiter Atlantis and hardware originally processed for the STS-335 contingency mission, which was not flown. STS-135 launched on 8 July and was originally scheduled to land on 20 July 2011, but the mission was...
), contingent on a safety review, to provide necessary support for the extension of the ISS.
Science and aeronautics
The law protects a balanced portfolio for NASA, including full funding of aeronauticsAeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
, Earth science
Earth science
Earth science is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. It is arguably a special case in planetary science, the Earth being the only known life-bearing planet. There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth sciences...
and space science
Space science
The term space science may mean:* The study of issues specifically related to space travel and space exploration, including space medicine.* Science performed in outer space ....
.
Education
In regard to education. The law will:- Support new education initiatives, such as teacher training programs, to reinforce NASA’s role in developing a workforceWorkforceThe workforce is the labour pool in employment. It is generally used to describe those working for a single company or industry, but can also apply to a geographic region like a city, country, state, etc. The term generally excludes the employers or management, and implies those involved in...
with strong scienceScienceScience is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, technologyTechnologyTechnology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
, engineeringEngineeringEngineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
, and mathematicsMathematicsMathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
skills.
- Increase the investment in NASA EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) and NASA Space Grant program.
Rescoping and revitalizing institutional capabilities
The law requires NASA to examine alternative managementManagement
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
models for NASA’s workforce
Workforce
The workforce is the labour pool in employment. It is generally used to describe those working for a single company or industry, but can also apply to a geographic region like a city, country, state, etc. The term generally excludes the employers or management, and implies those involved in...
, centers, and capabilities, while enforcing short-term prohibitions on major center displacements and reductions-in-force until the study is completed.
See also
- National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program
- Space Launch SystemSpace Launch SystemThe Space Launch System, or SLS, is a Space Shuttle-derived heavy launch vehicle being designed by NASA, following the cancellation of the Constellation Program, to replace the retired Space Shuttle. The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 envisions the transformation of the Ares I and Ares V vehicle...
- Space policy of the Barack Obama administration