[Senate Report 114-385]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 689
114th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 114-385
_______________________________________________________________________
SPACE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING ACT
__________
R E P O R T
of the
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
on
S. 2817
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
November 28, 2016.--Ordered to be printed
______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
69-010 WASHINGTON : 2016
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
one hundred fourteenth congress
second session
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota, Chairman
ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi BILL NELSON, Florida
ROY BLUNT, Missouri MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
MARCO RUBIO, Florida CLAIRE McCASKILL, Missouri
KELLY AYOTTE, New Hampshire AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
TED CRUZ, Texas RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
JERRY MORAN, Kansas ED MARKEY, Massachusetts
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska CORY BOOKER, New Jersey
RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin TOM UDALL, New Mexico
DEAN HELLER, Nevada JOE MANCHIN, West Virginia
CORY GARDNER, Colorado GARY PETERS, Michigan
STEVE DAINES, Montana
Nick Rossi, Staff Director
Adrian Arnakis, Deputy Staff Director
Jason Van Beek, General Counsel
Kim Lipsky, Democratic Staff Director
Christopher Day, Democratic Deputy Staff Director
Clint Odom, Democratic General Counsel
Calendar No. 689
114th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 114-385
======================================================================
SPACE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING ACT
_______
November 28, 2016.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Thune, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 2817]
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to
which was referred the bill (S. 2817) to improve understanding
and forecasting of space weather events, and for other
purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon
with an amendment (in the nature of a substitute) and
recommends that the bill (as amended) do pass.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of S. 2817, as reported, is to improve the
understanding and forecasting of space weather events, and for
other purposes.
Background and Needs
Space weather refers to naturally occurring variations in
the space environment between the Sun and the Earth, including
solar flares, solar energetic particles, solar wind, and
coronal mass ejections.\1\ These solar events can interact with
Earth and its surrounding space, including the Earth's magnetic
field.\2\ Space weather is relevant to U.S. economic and social
well-being because these naturally occurring variations could
cause disruption to electrical power grids, navigation systems,
communications networks, and satellite and aircraft operations.
Therefore, space weather has economic, safety, health, and
national security implications. As the United States becomes
more and more dependent on communication networks, navigation
systems, and electrical power grid technologies, the impact of
space weather poses an increasing risk to infrastructure.
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\1\ National Science and Technology Council, National Space Weather
Strategy, October 2015.
\2\ Department of Homeland Security, The Strategic National Risk
Assessment (SNRA) in Support of PPD 8: A Comprehensive Risk-Based
Approach toward a Secure and Resilient Nation, December 2011.
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Historical records indicate that space weather events of
great severity have occurred within the last 150 years. The
most famous geomagnetic power outage happened during a space
storm in March 1989 when six million people in Quebec, Canada
lost power for nine hours. The Great Geomagnetic Storm of May
1921, which produced ground currents as much as ten times
stronger than the 1989 Quebec storm, was used as a case study
to model its effect on the modern power grid. The National
Academy of Sciences (NAS) found there would be more than 350
transformers at risk of permanent damage and 130 million people
without power if the 1921 storm happened today. The strongest
geomagnetic storm on record is the Carrington Event of August-
September 1859, which was ranked over 50 percent stronger than
the storm of May 1921. A contemporary repetition of the
Carrington Event would cause extensive social and economic
disruptions,\3\ including power outages, radio blackouts, and
satellite malfunctions, and impacts to telecommunications, GPS
navigation, banking and finance, and transportation. According
to the NAS estimates, the total economic impact in the first
year alone could reach up to $2 trillion, approximately 20
times greater than the costs of Hurricane Katrina.\4\
Scientists do not know the likelihood of such an event
recurring, or whether such an event is even the worst-case
scenario.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Severe Space
Weather - Social and Economic Impacts, accessed April 20, 2016, at
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2009/21jan--
severespaceweather/.
\4\ National Academy of Sciences, Severe Space Weather Events -
Understanding Societal and Economic Impacts: A Workshop Report, 2008.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In October 2015, the National Science and Technology
Council (NSTC) released both the National Space Weather
Strategy and the National Space Weather Action Plan, the result
of a multi-agency task force led by the Office of Science and
Technology Policy (OSTP), the Department of Commerce's National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeking to enhance the
integration of existing national efforts to understand,
predict, prepare for, and mitigate space weather.
S. 2817 would help implement the National Space Weather
Strategy and the National Space Weather Action Plan by setting
national priorities to increase and improve space weather
observations, science, and forecasting abilities. If utility
and satellite operators know a storm is coming, they could take
measures to reduce damage, such as disconnecting wires,
shielding vulnerable electronics, and powering down critical
hardware.
Currently, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration's (NASA) Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
(SOHO) spacecraft includes the Large Angle and Spectrometric
Coronagraph (LASCO) instrument that provides data with an
advanced warning of incoming solar flares of 24 hours to 72
hours depending on the energy emitted. However, SOHO/LASCO was
launched 20 years ago on December 2, 1995, and has already
exceeded its design life. Therefore, this bill would require
NASA and NOAA to consider additional capability for solar
imaging to provide continuous space weather forecasting in the
event of a SOHO/LASCO failure.
Summary of Provisions
If enacted, S. 2817, as amended, would provide clear roles
and responsibilities for Federal agencies, including NASA,
NOAA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Department of Defense
(DOD) to better understand, predict, and forecast space
weather. Specifically, the bill would direct NOAA and the DOD
to provide operational space weather forecasts, and it would
direct NASA and the NSF to conduct heliophysics research,
develop next-generation technologies, and transfer scientific
research findings, data, and models to operational forecasters.
The bill also would direct NOAA and NASA to immediately
begin planning for back-up solar observations to prevent a
single point of failure in the current satellite fleet, and
direct the agencies to develop space weather benchmarks to
characterize the nature, frequency, and intensity of expected
space weather events. Additionally, the bill would direct the
DHS and national security agencies to assess the vulnerability
of critical infrastructure and national security assets to
space weather events and manage associated risks and impacts,
and it would direct the FAA to assess safety implications and
methods to mitigate the safety implications of space weather
events to civil aviation.
Legislative History
Space, Science, and Competitiveness Subcommittee Ranking
Member Gary Peters introduced S. 2817, the Space Weather
Research and Forecasting Act, on April 19, 2016, and the bill
was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate. Senators Cory Gardner and Cory
Booker are original cosponsors.
No hearings were held on the bill in the 114th Congress;
however, the Committee's Subcommittee on Space, Science, and
Competitiveness held a hearing in the 113th Congress entitled,
``Assessing the Risks, Impacts, and Solutions for Space
Threats,'' which included testimony on threats posed by space
weather.
On April 27, 2016, the Committee met in open Executive
Session to consider S. 2817. Senator Peters offered a modified
amendment in the nature of a substitute that added an FAA
provision, a NASA finding and clarification, a Navy support
role where practicable, and a requirement for the OSTP to
consult with commercial industry. The modified substitute was
approved by the Committee by voice vote to serve as the
underlying text for consideration. The Committee then approved
two first degree amendments to the substitute by voice vote.
Senator Markey's amendment added to the finding on the
Department of Interior's role related to space weather. Senator
Schatz's modified amendment required the NSF and the DOD to
improve, as necessary and advisable, ground-based observations
of the Sun in order to help meet identified priorities.
The bill, as amended, was ordered to be reported to the
Senate favorably by voice vote.
No similar legislation has been introduced in the House of
Representatives.
Estimated Costs
In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate and section 403 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the
following cost estimate, prepared by the Congressional Budget
Office:
S. 2817--Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act
Summary: S. 2817 would require the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to capture imagery of coronal
mass ejections (CMEs). A CME is the release of large quantities
of matter and electromagnetic radiation from the sun. The bill
also would largely codify existing multi-agency efforts under
the National Space Weather Program.
Based on information provided by NOAA and assuming
appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that
acquiring and launching into space the equipment necessary to
capture imagery of CMEs would cost $182 million over the 2017-
2021 period.
Enacting S. 2817 would not affect direct spending or
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO
estimates that enacting the legislation would not increase net
direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
S. 2817 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary effect of S. 2817 is shown in the following table.
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(natural resources and environment).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
--------------------------------------------------
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2017-2021
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INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Estimated Authorization Level................................ 1 20 80 70 40 211
Estimated Outlays............................................ 1 8 45 70 58 182
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Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that S.
2817 will be enacted by the end of 2016 and that the necessary
amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year.
Currently, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) operates several spacecraft that provide
imagery of CMEs; however, those vehicles are outdated. S. 2817
would require NOAA to assume that responsibility and ensure the
United States continues to capture images of earth-directed
CMEs. Based on an analysis of information provided by the
agency and assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO
estimates that securing that capability would cost $182 million
over the 2017-2021 period. Those amounts would be used to
acquire a coronagraph, a spacecraft, and a launch vehicle by
2022. CBO expects that most of that spending would occur in the
years leading up to the launch as NOAA would need to acquire
and establish the flight and ground systems necessary to
operate the spacecraft well in advance of the launch.
Additional amounts would be necessary in 2022 and beyond in
order to operate and maintain the spacecraft and coronagraph.
Other provisions in the bill would codify ongoing
activities carried out by several agencies under the National
Space Weather Program. In 2016, those agencies spent a combined
$160 million on activities related to space weather. Because
the activities required under those provisions could be carried
out at existing funding levels, CBO estimates that implementing
those provisions would not affect the federal budget.
Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None.
Increase in long-term direct spending and deficits: CBO
estimates that enacting S. 2817 would not increase net direct
spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive
10-year periods beginning in 2027.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 2817
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or
tribal governments.
Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Jeff LaFave; Impact on
state, local, and tribal governments: Jon Sperl; Impact on the
private sector: Amy Petz.
Estimate approved by: H. Samuel Papenfuss; Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Regulatory Impact
In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the
following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the
legislation, as reported:
number of persons covered
S. 2817 as reported does not create any new programs or
impose any new regulatory requirements, and therefore would not
subject any individuals or businesses to new regulations.
economic impact
The legislation is not expected to have a negative impact
on the Nation's economy. On the contrary, it will likely reduce
adverse economic impacts if space weather events occur by
increasing preparedness.
privacy
The reported bill is not expected to impact the personal
privacy of individuals.
paperwork
S. 2817 would require the Director of the OSTP to submit a
report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives regarding
the integrated strategy for solar and solar wind observations
beyond the lifetime of the current assets. S. 2817 also would
direct the Space Weather Interagency Working Group to develop
preliminary benchmarks to describe the nature, frequency, and
intensity of space weather disturbances. The Space Weather
Interagency Working Group would be directed to publish the
final benchmarks not later than 18 months after the preliminary
benchmarks are developed.
Congressionally Directed Spending
In compliance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides that no
provisions contained in the bill, as reported, meet the
definition of congressionally directed spending items under the
rule.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title.
This section would provide the short title of the bill, the
Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act.
Section 2. Space weather.
This section would include the findings of Congress and
Federal agency roles regarding space weather. The NSTC, under
the OSTP, would be directed to establish an interagency working
group on space weather to improve the ability of the United
States to prepare, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover
from potentially devastating impacts of space weather events.
This section also would direct the OSTP to coordinate program
responsibilities of the National Space Weather Program members
based on agency capabilities. This section also would direct
the OSTP, in coordination with NOAA, NASA, the NSF, and the
DOD, and in consultation with academic and commercial
communities, to develop an integrated strategy for solar and
solar wind observations beyond the lifetime of current assets.
It also would direct NASA to maintain SOHO/LASCO operations for
as long as the satellite continues to deliver quality
observations.
This section also would direct NOAA to secure reliable
secondary capability for near real-time coronal mass ejection
imagery, prioritizing a cost-effective solution and considering
options such as commercial solutions, prize authority,
academic, and international partnerships. NOAA would be
directed to develop an operational contingency plan to provide
continuous space weather forecasting in the event of a SOHO/
LASCO failure, and develop requirements and a plan for follow-
on space-based observations for operational purposes.
This section would direct the NSF, the Air Force, and where
practicable the Navy, to maintain and improve, as necessary and
advisable, ground-based observations of the Sun in order to
help meet identified priorities, and provide space weather
data. It also would require the NSF to provide key data streams
for research and space weather model development, to develop
experimental models for scientific purposes, and to support the
transition of experimental models to operations. This section
also would direct NOAA, the Air Force, and, where practicable,
the Navy to conduct and publish a survey to identify and
prioritize the needs of space weather forecast users. It also
would require the NSF, NASA, and the DOD to continue to carry
out basic research activities on heliophysics, geospace
science, and space weather, and require the NSF, NOAA, and NASA
to pursue multidisciplinary research in subjects that further
our understanding of solar physics, space physics, and space
weather.
This section also would direct NASA to implement missions
that meet the science objectives identified by the NAS decadal
surveys, and direct NASA, the NSF, NOAA, the Air Force, and,
where practicable, the Navy to develop a formal mechanism to
transition research to operations and enhance coordination
between modeling and forecasting centers. This section would
require NASA and the NSF to support the development of
technologies and instrumentation to improve space weather
forecasting lead-time and accuracy. Lastly, this section would
direct NASA and the NSF to make space weather data obtained for
scientific research purposes available to space weather
forecasters and operations centers.
Section 3. Space weather metrics.
This section would define ``space weather disturbance'' and
``space weather benchmark.'' It also would direct the Space
Weather Interagency Working Group to assess existing data,
historical records, models, and peer-reviewed studies on space
weather and develop preliminary benchmarks for measuring solar
disturbances, and update those benchmarks as necessary. This
section would require the Space Weather Interagency Working
Group to publish final benchmarks, and require the NAS to
review those benchmarks.
Section 4. Protection of critical infrastructure.
This section would direct NOAA, in consultation with the
heads of other relevant Federal agencies, to provide
information about space weather hazards to the DHS. It would
direct the DHS, in consultation with NOAA and the heads of
other relevant agencies, to include an assessment of the
vulnerability of critical infrastructure to space weather
events and support critical infrastructure providers in
managing risks and impacts associated with space weather.
Section 5. Protection of national security assets.
This section would direct the National Security Council, in
consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, the
Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal
agencies, to assess the vulnerability of the national security
community to space weather events and develop mechanisms to
protect national security assets from space weather threats.
Section 6. Ensuring the safety of civil aviation.
This section would direct the FAA, in consultation with the
heads of other relevant Federal agencies, to assess safety
implications and methods to mitigate the safety implications of
space weather events to civil aviation. This section also would
direct the FAA, in consultation with the heads of other
relevant Federal agencies, to develop methods to increase
interaction between the aviation, space weather research, and
service provider communities.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
material is printed in italic, existing law in which no change
is proposed is shown in roman):
TITLE 51. NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS
CHAPTER 607--SPACE WEATHER
60701. Space weather
60702. Observations and forecasting
60703. Research and technology
60704. Space weather data.
60701. Space weather
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Space weather events pose a significant threat to
humans working in the space environment and to modern
technological systems.
(2) The effects of severe space weather events on the
electric power grid, satellites and satellite
communications and information, airline operations,
astronauts living and working in space, and space-based
position, navigation, and timing systems could have
significant societal, economic, national security, and
health impacts.
(3) Earth and space observations provide crucial data
necessary to predict and warn about space weather
events.
(4) Clear roles and accountability of Federal
departments and agencies are critical for an efficient
and effective response to threats posed by space
weather.
(5) In October 2015, the National Science and
Technology Council published a National Space Weather
Strategy and a National Space Weather Action Plan
seeking to integrate national space weather efforts and
add new capabilities to meet increasing demand for
space weather information.
(b) Federal Agency Roles.--
(1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(A) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration provides operational space
weather forecasting and monitoring for civil
applications, maintains ground and space-based
assets to provide observations needed for
forecasting, prediction, and warnings, and
develops requirements for space weather
forecasting technologies and science;
(B) the Department of Defense provides
operational space weather forecasting,
monitoring, and research for the department's
unique missions and applications;
(C) the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration provides increased understanding
of the fundamental physics of the Sun-Earth
system through space-based observations and
modeling, develops new space-based technologies
and missions, and monitors space weather for
NASA's space missions;
(D) the National Science Foundation provides
increased understanding of the Sun-Earth system
through ground-based measurements,
technologies, and modeling;
(E) the Department of the Interior collects,
distributes, and archives operational ground-
based magnetometer data in the United States
and its territories, and works with the
international community to improve global
geophysical monitoring and develops crustal
conductivity models to assess and mitigate risk
from space weather induced electric ground
currents; and
(F) the Federal Aviation Administration
provides operational requirements for space
weather services in support of aviation and for
coordination of these requirements with the
International Civil Aviation Organization,
integrates space weather data and products into
the Next Generation Air Transportation System,
and conducts real-time monitoring of the
charged particle radiation environment to
protect the health and safety of crew and
passengers during space weather events.
(2) Office of science and technology policy.--The
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
shall--
(A) coordinate the development and
implementation of Federal Government activities
to improve the Nation's ability to prepare,
avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from
potentially devastating impacts of space
weather events; and
(B) coordinate the activities of the National
Space Weather Program members.
(c) Space Weather Interagency Working Group.--In order to
continue coordination of executive branch efforts to
understand, prepare, coordinate, and plan for space weather,
the National Science and Technology Council shall establish an
interagency working group on space weather that includes
representatives of the Federal agencies participating in the
National Space Weather Program, and of other Federal agencies,
as appropriate.
(d) National Space Weather Program.--In order to understand
and respond to the adverse effects of space weather, the
National Space Weather Program shall leverage capabilities
across participating Federal agencies, including--
(1) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration;
(2) the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration;
(3) the National Science Foundation;
(4) the Department of Defense;
(5) the Department of the Interior;
(6) the Department of Homeland Security;
(7) the Department of Energy;
(8) the Department of Transportation, including the
Federal Aviation Administration; and
(9) the Department of State.
(e) Interagency Agreements.--
(1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress
that the interagency collaboration between the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on terrestrial
weather observations provides--
(A) an effective mechanism for improving
weather and climate data collection while
avoiding unnecessary duplication of
capabilities across Federal agencies; and
(B) an agency collaboration model that could
benefit space weather observations.
(2) Interagency agreements.--The Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall enter into 1 or more interagency
agreements providing for cooperation and collaboration
in the development of space weather spacecraft,
instruments, and technologies in accordance with this
chapter.
60702. Observations and forecasting
(a) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to
establish and sustain a baseline capability for space weather
observations.
(b) Integrated Strategy.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy, in coordination with the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of
the National Science Foundation, and the Secretary of
Defense, and in consultation with the academic and
commercial communities, shall develop an integrated
strategy for solar and solar wind observations beyond
the lifetime of current assets, that considers--
(A) the provision of solar wind measurements
and other measurements essential to space
weather forecasting; and
(B) the provision of solar and space weather
measurements important for scientific purposes.
(2) Considerations.--In developing the strategy under
paragraph (1), the Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy shall consider small satellite
options, hosted payloads, commercial options,
international options, and prize authority.
(c) Critical Observations.--In order to sustain current
space-based observational capabilities, the Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall--
(1) in cooperation with the European Space Agency,
maintain operations of the Solar and Heliospheric
Observatory/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph
(referred to in this section as ``SOHO/LASCO'') for as
long as the satellite continues to deliver quality
observations; and
(2) prioritize the reception of LASCO data.
(d) Additional Capability for Solar Imaging.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall secure
reliable secondary capability for near real-time
coronal mass ejection imagery.
(2) Options.--The Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination
with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
shall develop options to build and deploy 1 or more
instruments for near real-time coronal mass ejection
imagery.
(3) Considerations.--In developing options under
paragraph (2), the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall consider
commercial solutions, prize authority, academic and
international partnerships, microsatellites, ground-
based instruments, and opportunities to deploy the
instrument or instruments as a secondary payload on an
upcoming planned launch.
(4) Costs.--In implementing paragraph (1), the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall prioritize a cost-effective
solution.
(5) Operational planning.--The Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall
develop an operational contingency plan to provide
continuous space weather forecasting in the event of a
SOHO/LASCO failure.
(6) Briefing.--Not later than 120 days after the date
of enactment of the Space Weather Research and
Forecasting Act, the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall provide a
briefing to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives on the options for building and
deploying the instrument or instruments described in
paragraph (2) and the operational contingency plan
developed under paragraph (5).
(e) Follow-on Space-based Observations.--The Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in
coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall develop
requirements and a plan for follow-on space-based observations
for operational purposes, in accordance with the integrated
strategy developed under subsection (b).
(f) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act,
the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report
on the integrated strategy under subsection (b), including the
plans for follow-on space-based observations under subsection
(e).
(g) Ground-based Observations.--The National Science
Foundation, the Air Force, and where practicable in support of
the Air Force, the Navy shall each--
(1) maintain and improve, as necessary and advisable,
ground-based observations of the Sun in order to help
meet the priorities identified in section 60703(a); and
(2) provide space weather data by means of its set of
ground-based facilities, including radars, lidars,
magnetometers, radio receivers, aurora and airglow
imagers, spectrometers, interferometers, and solar
observatories.
(h) Ground-based Observations Data.--The National Science
Foundation shall--
(1) provide key data streams from the platforms
described in subsection (g) for research and to support
space weather model development;
(2) develop experimental models for scientific
purposes; and
(3) support the transition of the experimental models
to operations where appropriate.
60703. Research and technology
(a) User Needs.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary
of the Air Force, and where practicable in support of
the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, in
conjunction with the heads of other relevant Federal
agencies, shall conduct a comprehensive survey to
identify and prioritize the needs of space weather
forecast users, including space weather data and space
weather forecast data needed to improve services and
inform research priorities and technology needs.
(2) Contents.--In conducting the comprehensive survey
under paragraph (1), the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary
of the Air Force, and where practicable in support of
the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, at a minimum,
shall--
(A) consider the goals for forecast lead
time, accuracy, coverage, timeliness, data
rate, and data quality for space weather
observations;
(B) identify opportunities to address the
needs identified under paragraph (1) through
collaborations with academia, the private
sector, and the international community;
(C) identify opportunities for new
technologies and instrumentation to address the
needs identified under paragraph (1); and
(D) publish a report on the findings under
subparagraphs (A) through (C).
(3) Publication.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of the Space Weather Research and
Forecasting Act, the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary
of the Air Force, and where practicable in support of
the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, shall--
(A) make the results of the comprehensive
survey publicly available; and
(B) notify the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
of the House of Representatives of the
publication under subparagraph (A).
(b) Research Activities.--
(1) Basic research.--As part of the National Space
Weather Program, the Director of the National Science
Foundation, Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, and Secretary of Defense
shall continue to carry out basic research activities
on heliophysics, geospace science, and space weather
and support competitive, merit-based, peer-reviewed
proposals for research, modeling, and monitoring of
space weather and its impacts, including science goals
outlined in Solar and Space Physics Decadal surveys
conducted by the National Academy of Sciences.
(2) Multidisciplinary research.--
(A) Findings.--Congress finds that the
multidisciplinary nature of solar and space
physics creates funding challenges that require
coordination across scientific disciplines and
Federal agencies.
(B) Multidisciplinary research.--As part of
the National Space Weather Program, the
Director of the National Science Foundation,
the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, and the
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration shall pursue
multidisciplinary research in subjects that
further our understanding of solar physics,
space physics, and space weather.
(C) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of
Congress that the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration and
Director of the National Science Foundation
should support competitively awarded
Heliophysics Science Centers.
(c) Science Missions.--The Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration shall seek to implement
missions that meet the science objectives identified in Solar
and Space Physics Decadal surveys conducted by the National
Academy of Sciences.
(d) Research to Operations.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of
the National Science Foundation, the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
the Secretary of the Air Force, and where practicable
in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy,
shall--
(A) develop a formal mechanism to transition
National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
National Science Foundation, Air Force, and
Navy research findings, models, and
capabilities, as appropriate, to National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and
Department of Defense space weather operational
forecasting centers; and
(B) enhance coordination between research
modeling centers and forecasting centers.
(2) Operational needs.--The Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the
Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and the Director of the National Science
Foundation, shall develop a formal mechanism to
communicate the operational needs of space weather
forecasters to the research community.
(e) Technology Development.--
(1) Findings.--Congress finds that observations and
measurements closer to the Sun and advanced
instrumentation would provide for more advanced warning
of space weather disturbances (as defined in section 3
of the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act).
(2) Technology and instrumentation development.--The
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and the Director of the National Science
Foundation shall support the development of
technologies and instrumentation to improve space
weather forecasting lead-time and accuracy to meet the
needs identified by the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
60704. Space weather data
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director of the
National Science Foundation shall--
(1) make space weather related data obtained for
scientific research purposes available to space weather
forecasters and operations centers; and
(2) support model development and model applications
to space weather forecasting.
(b) Research.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration shall make space weather related
data obtained from operational forecasting available for
scientific research.
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010
[Public Law 111-267; 124 Stat. 2805]
[SEC. 809. SPACE WEATHER.
[42 U.S.C. 18388]
[(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
[(1) Space weather events pose a significant threat
to modern technological systems.
[(2) The effects of severe space weather events on
the electric power grid, telecommunications and
entertainment satellites, airline communications during
polar routes, and space-based position, navigation and
timing systems could have significant societal,
economic, national security, and health impacts.
[(3) Earth and Space Observing satellites, such as
the Advanced Composition Explorer, Geostationary
Operational Environmental Satellites, Polar Operational
Environmental Satellites, and Defense Meteorological
Satellites, provide crucial data necessary to predict
space weather events.
[(b) Action Required.--The Director of OSTP shall--
[(1) improve the Nation's ability to prepare, avoid,
mitigate, respond to, and recover from potentially
devastating impacts of space weather events;
[(2) coordinate the operational activities of the
National Space Weather Program Council members,
including the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center and
the U.S. Air Force Weather Agency; and
[(3) submit a report to the appropriate committees of
Congress within 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act that--
[(A) details the current data sources, both
space- and ground-based, that are necessary for
space weather forecasting; and
[(B) details the space- and ground-based
systems that will be required to gather data
necessary for space weather forecasting for the
next 10 years.]
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