National Aeronautics and Space Administration August 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announces a forthcoming meeting of the NASA Aeronautics Research Advisory Committee.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning permits, authorities, or franchises certification. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 70 FR 29288 on May 20, 2005. No comments were received. The clearance currently expires on October 31, 2005. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration announces a forthcoming meeting of the NASA Aeronautics Research Advisory Committee (ARAC), Vehicle Systems Program Subcommittee (VSPS).

This final rule amends the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Handbook (Handbook) to clarify intellectual property provisions. Provision Sec. 1260.28, ``Patent rights'' is amended to refer to NASA contractors as ``Contractors'' and not ``Recipients''. Provision Sec. 1260.30, ``Rights in data'' is amended to clarify the definition of the word ``data''. Provision Sec. 1260.75, ``Summary of report requirements'', is amended to correct the cross-references to the intellectual property provisions of the Handbook. These changes are administrative in nature. No change is being made to the actual reporting requirements.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and NASA policy and procedures (14 CFR part 1216 subpart 1216.3), NASA has prepared and issued a FEIS for the New Horizons mission. The FEIS addresses the potential environmental impacts associated with continuing the preparations for and implementing the mission. The purpose of the Proposed Action, that is NASA's Preferred Alternative, is to explore Pluto, its moon Charon, and possibly one or more objects within the Kuiper Belt. The New Horizons mission is planned for launch in January-February 2006 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Florida, on an expendable launch vehicle. With a launch in mid January 2006, the New Horizons spacecraft would arrive at Pluto as early as 2015 and would conduct scientific investigations of Pluto and its moon, Charon, as it flies past these bodies. The spacecraft may then continue on an extended mission into the Kuiper Belt, where it would investigate one or more of the objects found there. The spacecraft would require electrical power for normal spacecraft operations and to operate the science instruments. One radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) containing plutonium dioxide would be used for this purpose. A backup launch opportunity could occur in February 2007 with an arrival at Pluto in 2019 or 2020 depending upon the exact date of launch.