ASAP Charter
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION CHARTER OF THE AEROSPACE SAFETY ADVISORY PANEL
- Official Designation: Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (“Panel”)
- Authority: Established under Section 6 of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Authorization Act of 1968, as amended (51 U.S.C. § 31101). The NASA
Administrator hereby renews the Panel’s charter, pursuant to the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S. Code 10. - Objectives and Scope of Activities: The Panel shall draw on the expertise of its
members and other sources to provide advice and make recommendations to the NASA
Administrator and Congress on matters related to safety. - Description of Duties: In accordance with 51 U.S.C. § 31101, the Panel shall: review
safety studies and operations plans referred to it, including evaluating the Administration’s
compliance with the return-to-flight and continue-to-fly recommendations of the Columbia
Accident Investigation Board, and make reports thereon; advise the NASA Administrator and
the Congress with respect to the hazards of proposed or existing facilities and proposed
operations, the adequacy of proposed or existing safety standards, and management and culture
related to safety; and perform such other duties as the NASA Administrator may request.
The Panel shall deliberate and report its findings and recommendations to the NASA
Administrator and to Congress. Findings that are time critical will be reported immediately.
The Panel shall submit an annual report to the NASA Administrator and to the Congress.
The NASA Administrator may request certain special studies, reviews, and evaluations. The
Panel will submit reports with findings and recommendations, as deemed appropriate by the
Panel, to the NASA Administrator within the timeline specified by the NASA Administrator. - Official to Whom the Committee Reports: The Panel will function in an advisory
capacity to the NASA Administrator and the Congress. - Support: NASA Headquarters will provide staff support and operating funds for the
Panel. - Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years: NASA Headquarters will provide
the budget for operation of the Panel. The estimated annual operating costs total $700,000,
including up to two Full-Time Equivalents for NASA civil servant staff support (including the
Designated Federal Officer (DFO)), technical report writing, travel expenses, and meeting logistics
support. - Designated Federal Officer: The DFO will be appointed by the NASA Administrator
and will serve as the Executive Director of the Panel. The DFO will be a full-time NASA
civil servant employee who will: call, attend, and adjourn all Panel and subcommittee
meetings; approve agendas; maintain required records on costs and membership; ensure
efficient operations; maintain records for availability to the public; and provide copies of
Panel reports to the NASA Committee Management Officer for forwarding to the Library of
Congress. - Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings: There will be approximately four full
Panel meetings held each year, on a quarterly basis, to perform the duties as described in
Section 4. Additional meetings of the full Panel, individual panelists, or small groups of
panelists may be required (for fact finding, preparatory, or administrative work) and
supported as needed. - Duration: Since the Panel is a nondiscretionary Federal advisory committee required by
statute, it is envisioned to be a continuing entity with charter renewals. - Termination: The Panel charter shall terminate two years from the date of the filing of
this charter unless renewed or terminated earlier by the NASA Administrator. - Membership and Designation: In accordance with 51 U .S.C. § 31101, the Panel will
consist of a maximum of nine members who shall be appointed by the NASA Administrator
for terms of six years each. Not more than four such members shall be chosen from among
the officers and employees of NASA. One member shall be designated by the Panel as its
chairman. A member of the Panel who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government
shall receive no compensation for services as such. A member of the Panel appointed from
outside the Federal Government shall receive compensation, at a rate not to exceed the per
diem rate equivalent to the maximum rate payable under Section 5376 of Title 5, for each day
the member is engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the Panel. A member of
the Panel shall be allowed necessary travel expenses per statute. Most members will serve as
Special Government Employees, and the remaining members will serve as Regular
Government Employees. The Panel will be comprised ofrecognized safety, management,
and engineering experts from industry, academia, and other Government agencies. - Subcommittees: Subcommittees, task forces, and/or work groups may be established
by NASA to conduct studies and/or factfinding, requiring an effort of limited duration. Such
subcommittees, task forces, and work groups will report their findings and recommendations
directly to the Panel and must not provide advice or work products directly to the Agency. - Recordkeeping: The records of the Panel and established subcommittees, or other
subgroups of the committee, shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule
6.2, or other approved Agency records disposition schedules. These records shall be
available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act of
1966 (5 U.S.C. § 552, as amended). - Filing Date: This charter shall become effective upon the filing of this charter with the
appropriate United States Senate and House of Representatives oversight committees.
