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

This action withdraws the proposed rule published Friday, October 31, 2003 (68 FR 6204862049). NASA will issue internal guidance to automate the collection and transfer of Research and Development (R&D) abstracts to an appropriate central repository where they will be available for use by government agencies and other users.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). NASA will utilize the information collected to determine whether the Agency's recruitment efforts are reaching all segments of the country.

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 past performance information. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 70 FR 45370, August 5, 2005. No comments were received. 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.

This notice is issued in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i). NASA is contemplating the granting of an exclusive license in the United States to practice the inventions described and claimed in U.S. Patents 4,815,279, ``Hybrid Plume Plasma Rocket,'' 4,893,470, ``Method of Hybrid Plume Plasma Propulsion,'' and 6,334,302, ``Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket Engine,'' to Ad Astra Technologies, Inc., having a place of business in Houston, TX and incorporated in the state of Delaware. The fields of use may be limited to exoatmospheric applications. The patent rights in the inventions have been assigned to the United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The prospective exclusive license will comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7.