Increasing (?) Space Science Funding
NASA to Cut Back Scientific Missions Because of Budget, NY Times
“Senator Pete Domenici, Republican of New Mexico, and 56 other senators have introduced a bill to mandate a 10 percent increase per year in NASA’s science budget from now through 2013.”
Reader note: “NASA’s Science budget is $5.3B in FY07 and Aeronautics Research another $724M. So how is the authorized amounts in S.2198 a good thing for NASA Science, Aero, or BPR? These are 10% annual increases over a much smaller base than is already in the President’s budget.”
S.2198 Protecting America’s Competitive Edge Through Education and Research Act of 2006
Subtitle B–National Aeronautics and Space Administration Matters
SEC. 221. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION EARLY-CAREER RESEARCH GRANTS.
(a) Purpose- It is the purpose of this section to authorize research grants in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for early-career scientists and engineers for purposes of pursuing independent research.
(b) Definition of Eligible Early-Career Researcher- In this section, the term `eligible early-career researcher’ means an individual who–
(1) completed a doctorate or other terminal degree not more than 10 years before the date of enactment of this Act and has demonstrated promise in the field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; or
(2) has an equivalent professional qualification in the field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
(c) Grant Program Authorized-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall award not less than 45 grants per year to outstanding eligible early-career researchers to support the work of such researchers in universities, private industry, or federally-funded research and development centers.
(2) APPLICATION- An eligible early-career researcher who desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit to the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration an application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Administrator may require.
(3) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION- In awarding grants under this section, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall give special consideration to eligible early-career researchers who have followed alternative career paths such as working part-time or in non-academic settings, or who have taken a significant career break or other leave of absence.
(4) DURATION AND AMOUNT- A grant under this section shall be 5 years in duration. An eligible early career-researcher who receives a grant under this section shall receive $100,000 for each year of the grant period.
(5) USE OF FUNDS- An eligible early career-researcher who receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds for basic research in natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, or computer sciences at a university, private industry, or federally-funded research and development center.
(6) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section–
(A) $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(B) $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(C) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(D) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
(E) $22,500,000 for fiscal year 2011.
SEC. 222. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION FOR BASIC SCIENCES.
(a) In General- There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for basic sciences for research specified in subsection (b), amounts as follows:
(1) $2,768,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
(2) $3,044,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
(3) $3,349,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(4) $3,684,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(5) $4,052,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(6) $4,457,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
(7) $4,903,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.
(b) Covered Research- The research specified in this subsection is research under programs as follows:
(1) The Solar System Exploration Research Program.
(2) The Mars Exploration Research Program.
(3) The Astronomical Search for Origins Research Program.
(4) The Structure and Evolution of the Universe Research Program.
(5) The Earth-Sun Connection Research Program.
(6) The Earth Systems Science Research Program.
(7) The Earth Science Applications Research Program.
(8) The Biological Sciences Research Program.
(9) The Physical Sciences Research Program.
(10) The Aeronautics Program.
(11) Such other basic research programs as the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration may determine to be appropriate, after notifying the appropriate committees of Congress of the Administrator’s intent to make the determination.
