NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

1. Official Designation: NASA Advisory Council ("Council")
   
   
2. Authority: Having determined that it is in the public interest in connection with the performance ofAgency duties under the law, and with the concurrence of the General Services Administration, the NASA Administrator hereby renews and amends the Council's charter, pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended,S U.S.c., App.
   
   
3. Objectives and Scope of Activities: The Council shall draw on the expertise of its members and other sources to provide advice and make recommendations to the NASA Administrator on Agency programs, policies, plans, financial controls, and other matters pertinent to the Agency's responsibilities.
   
   
4. Description of Duties: The Council shall function solely as an advisory body and comply fully with the provisions of the F ACA. The Council shall be supported by committees, subcommittees, and analysis groups, as needed, to cover the breadth and depth of scope as determined by the NASA Administrator.
   
   
5. Official to Whom the Committee Reports: The Council reports to the NASA Administrator.
   
   
6. Support: The Office of International and Interagency Relations will provide staff support and operating funds for the Council and is responsible for fulfilling the reporting requirements of Section 6(b) of FACA. The Mission Directorates and/or Mission Support Offices shall provide staff support and operating funds for the respective committees and subcommittees which report to the Council.
   
   
7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years: The total estimated annual operating cost for the Council, its committees, and subcommittees totals approximately $1,800,000, including 6.5 workyears for staff support.
   
   
8. Designated Federal Officer: The Executive Director ofthe Council shall be appointed by the NASA Administrator and shall serve as the Designated Federal Officer (DFO). The DFO will be either a full-time or a permanent part-time employee, who will: call, attend, and adjourn committee meetings; approve agendas; maintain required records on costs and membership; ensure efficient operations; maintain records for availability to the public; and provide copies of committee reports to the NASA Committee Management Officer (CMO) for forwarding to the Library of Congress.
   
   
9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings: The Council shall meet approximately four times a year or as required by the NASA Administrator. Meetings shall be open to the public unless it is determined that the meeting, or a portion ofthe meeting, is not covered by F ACA, or will be closed in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act.
   
   
10. Duration: The Council is envisioned to be a continuing entity with charter renewals.
    
    
11. Termination: The Council shall terminate two years from the date ofthe filing ofthis charter unless renewed or terminated earlier by the NASA Administrator.
    
    
12. Membership and Designation:
    
    
1. The Council shall consist ofmembers to be appointed by the NASA Administrator. The Administrator shall ensure a balanced representation in terms ofthe points ofview represented and the functions to be performed. Diversity shall be considered as well.
   
   
2. The Council shall consist ofapproximately 10-20 members who will serve as Special Government Employees for a two-year term, renewable at the discretion ofthe NASA Administrator. All Council members serve at the pleasure ofthe Administrator.
   
   
3. The NASA Administrator shall designate the Chair ofthe Council.
   
   
4. The Council shall be comprised ofthe Chair and the committee chairs and may include at-large members, as appropriate, at the discretion ofthe NASA Administrator.
   
   
5. The chairs ofthe National Research Council's Space Studies Board (SSB) and the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board (ASEB) shall be ex officio, nonvoting members ofthe Council.
   
   
13. Committees, Subcommittees, and Task Forces:
    
    
1. The NASA Administrator shall establish the following Council committees:
   
   
• Aeronautics Committee.
  
• Audit, Finance, and Analysis Committee.
  
• Commercial Space Committee.
  
• Education and Public Outreach Committee.
  
• Human Exploration and Operations Committee
  
• Information Technology Infrastructure Committee.
  
• Science Committee.
  
• Technology and Innovation Committee.
  
  
2. Council committees may be established or discontinued at the discretion ofthe NASA Administrator. No formal amendment(s) to this charter will be required to effect such change(s). The terms ofreference for committees shall be subject to the approval ofthe Administrator.
   
   
3. Council committees shall consist ofmembers to be appointed by the NASA Administrator. Council conunittees shall be comprised of 5-15 members, including the chair, and will be chaired by a Council member. Each committee shall deliberate the recommendations received from their subcommittees, if any. In the latter case, the committee may endorse subcommittee recommendations and forward them to the Council for deliberations, or the committee may provide comments or suggestions back to the subcommittee.
   
   
4. The Council shall deliberate the recommendations received from the committees. The Council may endorse recommendations and forward them to the NASA Administrator, or provide any comments or suggestions on the recommendations back to the committees.
   
   
5. The NASA Administrator, in consultation with the Council Chair, may establish subcommittees and community-wide analysis groups under the committees, as necessary. The terms of reference for subcommittees and analysis groups shall be subject to the approval ofthe Administrator. A member ofthe subcommittee's parent committee shall chair the subcommittee. The members ofsubcommittees shall be appointed by the respective Associate Administrator following consultation with the Administrator. The subcommittees shall report to their respective committee(s).
   
   
6. The NASA Administrator, in consultation with the Council Chair, may establish temporary ad hoc task forces under the Council, as necessary. The terms of reference for task forces shall be subject to the approval ofthe Administrator. Task force chairs and members shall be appointed by the Administrator, in consultation with the Council Chair.
   
   
14. Recordkeeping: The records ofthe Council, its committees, and subcommittees, or other subgroups ofthe Council, shall be handled in accordance with the General Records Schedule 26, Item 2, or other approved Agency records disposition schedule. These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom ofInformation Act, 5 U.S.C. 552.
    
    
15. Filing Date: This charter shall become effective upon the filing ofthis charter with the appropriate U.S. Senate and House of Representatives oversight committees. It shall terminate two years from the date of filing ofthis charter unless renewed or terminated earlier by the NASA Administrator.

Charles F. Bolden, Jr.
NASA Administrator
October 25, 2011

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