NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
CHARTER OF THE
AEROSPACE SAFETY ADVISORY PANEL

1.  Official Designation:  Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (“The Panel”)

2.  Authority:  Originally established under Section 6 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1968, as amended (P.L. 90-67, codified at 42 U.S.C.        § 2477).  The Panel was reauthorized with enactment, on December 18, 2010, of Title 51 – National and Commercial Space Programs, Chapter 311 – Safety, § 31101, Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (P.L. 111-314).  Further, the NASA Administrator hereby renews and amends the Panel’s charter, pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA),
5 U.S.C. App. §§ 1 et seq.

3.  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 on matters related to safety.

4.  Description of Duties:  In accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 2477 (as reauthorized in 2010), the Panel shall:  review safety studies and operations plans referred to it 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, 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.  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.

5.  Official to Whom the Committee Reports:  The Panel will function in an advisory capacity to the NASA Administrator, the Congress, and through the NASA Administrator to those organizational elements responsible for management of the NASA safety and mission assurance activities.

6.  Support:  The Office of International and Interagency Relations, NASA Headquarters, will provide staff support and operating funds for the Panel and is responsible for fulfilling the reporting requirements of Section 7(b) of FACA. 

7.  Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years:  NASA Headquarters will provide the budget for operation of the Panel.  The estimated annual operating costs total $550,000, including 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.

8.  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 employee who will:  call, attend, and adjourn Panel 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.

9.  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.  Special meetings of the full Panel may be required and supported as needed.  Additional meetings of individual panelists or small groups of panelists may be required (for fact finding, preparatory, or administrative work) and supported as needed.

10.  Duration:  Since the Panel is a nondiscretionary Federal advisory committee required by statute, it is envisoned to be a continuing entity with charter renewals. 

11.  Termination:  The Panel shall terminate two years from the date of the filing of this charter unless renewed or terminated earlier by the NASA Administrator.

12.  Membership and Designation:  In accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 2477 (as reauthorized in 2010), 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.  Most members will serve as Special Government Employees.  The Panel will be comprised of recognized safety, management, and engineering experts from industry, academia, and other Government agencies. 

13.  Committees, Subcommittees, and Task Forces:  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.  However, if the Panel is terminated, all subcommittees, task forces, and work groups will also terminate.

14.  Recordkeeping:  The records of the Panel, formally and informally established subcommittees, or other subgroups of the committee shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 26, Item 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).

15.  Filing Date:  This charter shall become effective upon the filing of this Charter with the appropriate U.S. Senate and House of Representatives oversight committees.

Charles F. Bolden, Jr.
NASA Administrator
October 30, 2011

PDF Version of 2011 Signed Charter
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