Volume 74 · 151
Public Law 86–481
To authorize appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for salaries and expenses, research and development, construction and equipment, and for other purposes.
Approved June 1, 1960
Statutory text
AN ACT
To authorize appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for salaries and expenses, research and development, construction and equipment, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That there are
National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Appropriation.
hereby authorized to be appropriated to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the fiscal year 1961 the sum of $970,000,000, as follow:
For “Salaries and expenses,” $170,760,000.
For “Research and development,” $621,453,000.
For “Construction and equipment,” $122,787,000, as follows:
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia: Hypersonic aerothermal dynamics facility and dynamics research laboratory, $11,957,000.
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California: Centrifuge equipment, $980,000.
Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio: Energy conversion laboratory and basic materials research laboratory, $9,100,000.
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland: Payload testing facility; satellite systems laboratory; and utility installations, $9,500,000.
Pilotless Aircraft Station, Wallops Island, Virginia: Precision trajectory determination system; operations computing center; and equipment modernization, $4,000,000.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California: Land acquisition; modernization of laboratory facilities; solid propellant facility; liquid propellant test cell; and antenna range, $5,000,000.
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama: Saturn static test facility; central laboratory and office facility; dynamic test facility; pressure test cell; and additions to existing facilities for structures engineering, guidance and control, fabrication, checkout, and assembly, $26,750,000.
Atlantic Missile Range, Cape Canaveral, Florida: Completion of the Saturn launching complex, escape mechanism, hydrogen system, new Saturn launching complex, staging buildings, and addition to the engineering and laboratory building, $27,750,000.
Various locations: Tracking facilities, $27,750,000.
For emergency “Research and development” in accordance with the provisions or section 3, $50,000,000.
For emergency “Construction and equipment”, in accordance with the provisions of section 4, $5,000,000.
Appropriations for “Research and development” may be used for any items of a capital nature (other than acquisition of land) which may be required for the performance of research and development contracts: Provided, That none of the funds appropriated for
Restriction.
“Research and development” pursuant to this Act may be used for construction of any major facility, the estimated cost of which, including collateral equipment, exceeds $250,000, unless the Administrator or his designee notifies the Committee on Science and Astronautics of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences of the Senate of the nature, location, and estimated cost of such facility.
When so specified in an appropriation Act any amount appropriated for “Research and development” and for “Construction and equipment” may remain available without fiscal year limitation.
Appropriations other than “Construction and equipment” may be used, but not to exceed $20,000, for scientific consultations or extraordinary expenses upon the approval or authority of the Administrator and his determination shall be final and conclusive upon the accounting officers of the Government.
Sec. 2.
Authorization is hereby granted whereby any of the amounts prescribed in subparagraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), or (9) of subsection 1 (c) may, in the discretion of the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, be varied upward 5 per centum to meet unusual cost variations, but the total cost of all work authorized under such subparagraph shall not exceed a total of $122,787,000.
Sec. 3.
The sum authorized by section 1(d) for emergency “Research and development” shall be available for expenditure to defray the cost of research and development activities which the Administrator has determined to be urgently required in the national interest to exploit technological or scientific breakthroughs, to assure safety of personnel, to fund required research and development program changes, to meet unusual cost variations in research and development
Report to Congress.
activities, and for the other purposes of section 1(b). No portion of such sum may be obligated for expenditure or expended to defray the cost of research and development activities until the Administrator or his designee has transmitted to the Committee on Science and Astronautics of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences of the Senate a written report containing a full and complete statement concerning (1) the nature of the research or development item or activity, (2) the cost thereof, and (3) the reason why the research or development item or activity is necessary in the national interest.
Sec. 4.
The sum authorized by section 1(e) for emergency “Construction and equipment”, and any amount, not to exceed $5,000,000 of the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection 1(c) hereof, shall be available for expenditure to construct, expand or modify laboratories and other installations if (1) the Administrator determines such action to be necessary because of changes in the national program of aeronautical and space activities or new scientific or engineering developments and (2) he determines that deferral of such action until the enactment of the next authorization Act would be inconsistent with the interest of the Nation in aeronautical and space activities. The funds so made available may be expended to acquire, construct, convert, rehabilitate, or install permanent or temporary public works, including land acquisition, site preparation, appurtenances, utilities,
Report to Congress.
and equipment. No portion of such sums may be obligated for expenditure or expended to construct, expand, or modify laboratories and other installations until the Administrator or his designee has transmitted to the Committee on Science and Astronautics of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences of the Senate a written report containing a full and complete statement concerning (1) the nature of such construction, expansion, or modification, (2) the cost thereof, including the cost of any real estate action pertaining thereto, and (3) the reason why such construction, expansion, or modification is necessary in the national interest. No such funds may be used for any construction, expansion, or modification if authorization for such construction, expansion, or modification previously has been denied by the Congress.
Sec. 5.
Paragraph 203(b)(2) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2473(b)(2)), is amended
by striking out “ten” and inserting in lieu thereof “thirteen”, and by striking out “two hundred and sixty” and inserting in lieu thereof “two hundred and ninety”.
Approved June 1, 1960.