Multiyear National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act

(Measure passed House, amended, roll call #165 (360-26))

Multiyear National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act - Title I: National Aeronautics and Space Capital Development Program - Directs the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), for FY 1989 through 1993, to: (1) request at least 20 percent of NASA's total budget for science and applications activities; (2) begin specified missions in accordance with priorities enumerated in this Act; and (3) establish budget line items for specified equipment. Requires the Administrator, before December 31, 1992, to establish a "Mission to Planet Earth" program that utilizes satellites to establish a comprehensive understanding of the biogeochemical processes affecting global change.

Directs the Administrator: (1) before October 1, 1992, to increase the request for the space research and technology program to at least ten percent of the total NASA budget; and (2) in FY 1989 through 1993, to establish, conduct, and maintain various programs relating to space technology, including programs in civil space technology, and cooperative enterprises with both industry and the university community.

Declares congressional objectives with respect to U.S. space exploration activities, including as a major goal an international manned mission to Mars.

Directs the Administrator: (1) for FY 1989 through 1992, to maintain a vigorous program to identify technologies needed to facilitate human exploration of the solar system; and (2) before December 31, 1992, to initiate development of a focused program directed toward a manned mission to Mars.

Requires that NASA to report biennially to the President and to the Congress on specified topics relating to space settlements.

Declares the sense of the Congress that the United States will require the services of a heavy-lift launch vehicle during the 1990's.

Directs the Administrator to: (1) undertake a focused program aimed at increasing the safety and efficiency of the space shuttle and reducing its cost; (2) complete system definition studies for a shuttle-derived heavy-lift launch vehicle, report on such a vehicle and its proposed mission by September 30, 1989, and initiate its development before December 31, 1993; (3) initiate concept studies for advanced space transfer and support vehicles in FY 1990; and (4) initiate and implement certain programs relating to expendable launch vehicles.

Directs the Administrator to undertake activities to maximize the commercial use of space, including: (1) promoting joint endeavor agreements and ensuring the availability of flight opportunities for commercial users; (2) charging space shuttle launch prices for commercial and foreign users in accordance with established law; and (3) ensuring that the civil space program is conducted so as to facilitate the commercialization of activities in space, expand opportunities to realize potential benefits of space activities, and use the expertise and creativity of interested parties.

Directs the Administrator: (1) before October 1, 1992, to increase the request for aeronautical research and technology development and validation activities to 15 percent of the total NASA budget; (2) in FY 1989 through 1993, to engage in specified aeronautical research and technology development activities, including the maintenance and enhancement of a complement of national facilities for carrying out these activities; and (3) to increase the number of full-time civil service personnel engaged in these activities by 50 percent over the 1989 level.

Directs the Administrator to: (1) encourage the practical application of technologies developed through NASA activities; (2) seek to expand the Industrial Applications Centers network system; and (3) contract for implementation of the Industrial Applications Center in Oklahoma.

Requires the Administrator, for FY 1989 through 1993, to develop a plan for necessary facilities construction.

Requires the Administrator to report economic assumptions and specified facility and fiscal estimates to specified congressional committees by January 15, 1989.

Title II: 3-Year Authorization - Authorizes FY 1989 through 1991 appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for specified activities relating to: (1) research and development; (2) space flight, control, and data communications; (3) construction of facilities; and (4) research and program management, including scientific consultations.

Permits appropriations for the first two categories to be used for certain items of a capital nature (other than land acquisition) required for the performance of research and development contracts, and for grants to nonprofit research organizations to augment their research facilities. Prohibits the use of these funds for the construction of any major facility whose estimated cost exceeds $500,000, unless the Administrator of NASA notifies specified congressional leadership and committees.

Permits upward variances of funds for facilities construction under circumstances outlined in this Act.

Authorizes certain fund transfers and makes available specified funds for the construction and modification of laboratories and other installations. Requires the Administrator to notify specified congressional leadership and committees of the nature, cost, and need for such construction before expending the funds in question.

Prohibits, until 30 days following congressional receipt of the Administrator's full explanation, the use of funds appropriated pursuant to this Act for any program that: (1) has been eliminated by the Congress; (2) is in excess of the amount actually authorized for the particular program (except for construction of facilities); or (3) has not been presented to either of the relevant congressional committees.

Declares it to be the sense of the Congress that it is in the national interest to consider the widest geographical distribution, whenever feasible, in allotting Federal research funds and that NASA should explore ways to do so.

Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to authorize certain NASA-related personnel to make warrantless arrests, under limited circumstances, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Administrator and approved by the Attorney General.

Establishes the National Mars Commission to: (1) develop a strategy for international cooperation on unmanned Mars projects, including safeguards against unwanted transfers of technology; and (2) prepare a detailed proposal for a cooperative manned Mars mission with the Soviet Union and any other interested nations. Details membership and administrative features of the Commission.

Directs the Commission, six months after this Act's enactment, to prepare and submit to both the President and the Congress: (1) a report outlining preliminary cooperative strategies with respect to both independent unmanned Mars projects and a joint manned mission with the Soviet Union and any other interested nations; and (2) a final proposal for a joint manned Mars mission by participating countries.

Terminates the Commission 30 days following the submission of its final report.

Authorizes the Administrator to initiate procedures for competitive procurement of a commercially developed microgravity research space facility to be placed in orbit by the end of FY 1993. Requires the Administrator to: (1) report a final selection and related details regarding such a facility to specified congressional committees no later than the date when the President submits the NASA FY 1990 budget request; and (2) keep the committees informed of activities and negotiations relating to the microgravity research facility. Requires the express authorization of the Congress before the Administrator may sign any contract for the acquisition of such a facility. Prescribes conditions that must apply in connection with the authorization of funding for and the maintenance and utilization of such a facility.

Directs the Administrator to: (1) contract with the National Academy of Sciences to review the microgravity research capability of the United States and issue a report addressing specified issues with respect to a commercially developed space facility; (2) contract with the National Academy of Public Administration to consider various features associated with Government costs that might be associated with such a facility; and (3) report to specified congressional committees, no later than February 1, 1989, on topics relating to a commercially developed space facility and microgravity facilities.

Directs the Administrator to make expended external tanks of the space shuttle fleet available at no cost to certain U.S. commercial and nonprofit endeavors for five years after this Act's enactment. Assures expressly the availability of at least five tanks to nonprofit organizations specializing in scientific research for suborbital intertank experiments.

Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to include as part of the national space program's policy and purpose the congressional declaration that U.S. aeronautical and space activities should be conducted in a way that will preserve U.S. preeminence in these fields through research and technology development related to associated manufacturing processes.

Directs the Administrator to award to a domestic firm a contract that, under the use of competitive procedures, would be awarded to a foreign firm, if: (1) the final product of the domestic firm will be completely assembled in the United States and at least 50 percent domestically produced; and (2) the difference between the bids submitted by the foreign and domestic firms is not more than six percent. Makes such requirement inapplicable to the extent that: (1) the Administrator determines that applicability would not be in the public interest or that compelling national security considerations require otherwise; or (2) the U.S. Trade Representative determines that such an award would violate the GATT or other international agreement.

Directs the Administrator to report to the Congress on: (1) contracts entered into with foreign entities in FY 1988; (2) the number of contracts meeting the Buy American requirements of this Act but determined to be in violation of an international agreement or GATT; and (3) contracts awarded under the Buy American provisions. Requires reports to specified congressional committees by January 1, 1990.

Requires the Administrator to report to the Congress, within one year after this Act's enactment, on the advisability of designing and constructing a docking mechanism standardized to the metric system for compatibility with other space stations and vehicles.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Administrator should begin discussions at an international level concerning the development of international docking interface standards, with the goal of reaching agreement on such standards. Directs the Administrator to report to the Congress on the progress of these discussions no later than February 1, 1989.

Title III: Ten Year Strategic Plan - Directs the Administrator to: (1) undertake a program of science and applications, including the robotic exploration of other solar system bodies and the enhancement of understanding of the behavior of biological systems in the space environment; (2) undertake an aggressive and balanced program of space research and technology; (3) pursue the continued manned exploration of the solar system and low-Earth orbit, including the establishment of an operational U.S. International Space Station and missions involving Mars and the moon; (4) improve both the manned and unmanned space transportation systems; and (5) conduct a program in aeronautics research and technology development and validation, and, with the Department of Defense, conduct a flight demonstration program targeting specified goals.

Title IV: Commercial Space Launch Act Authorization - Amends the Commercial Space Launch Act to authorize FY 1989 through 1991 appropriations for activities under such Act.

Title V: Civil Space Programs in the Department of Commerce - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to propose authorizing legislation for Department of Commerce activities in support of civil space commercial programs and to present the legislation to specified congressional committees by July 15, 1988.

Title VI: Drug-Free Workplace - Prohibits the expenditure of funds under this Act in any workplace that is not free from illegal use of controlled substances.