§2463. Tracking and data relay satellite services; report to Congressional committees; authorization to contract

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is authorized, when so provided in an appropriation Act, to enter into and to maintain a contract for tracking and data relay satellite services. Such services shall be furnished to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in accordance with applicable authorization and appropriations Acts. The Government shall incur no costs under such contract prior to the furnishing of such services except that the contract may provide for the payment for contingent liability of the Government which may accrue in the event the Government should decide for its convenience to terminate the contract before the end of the period of the contract. Facilities which may be required in the performance of the contract may be constructed on Government-owned lands if there is included in the contract a provision under which the Government may acquire title to the facilities, under terms and conditions agreed upon in the contract, upon termination of the contract.

The Administrator shall in January of each year report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate the projected aggregate contingent liability of the Government under termination provisions of any contract authorized in this section through the next fiscal year. The authority of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to enter into and to maintain the contract authorized hereunder shall remain in effect unless repealed by legislation enacted by the Congress after July 30, 1977.

( Pub. L. 95–76, §6, July 30, 1977, 91 Stat. 315 ; Pub. L. 103–437, §15(c)(3), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4592 .)

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1978, and not as part of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 which is classified principally to this chapter.

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in the following prior appropriation authorization acts:

Pub. L. 94–307, §6, June 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 680 .

Pub. L. 94–39, §6, June 19, 1975, 89 Stat. 221 .

Pub. L. 93–316, §7, June 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 243 .

Amendments

1994-Pub. L. 103–437 substituted "Science, Space, and Technology" for "Science and Technology" in second par.

Change of Name

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Science of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995.