(c) Payload experiments should involve students in all phases of the project, including concept development, initial planning, design, conduct, and analysis of the results of the experiments. Involvement of faculty or other professionals in a supervisory, advisory, or consultative relationship with the students is necessary.

(d) Projects may include; (1) Applied research;

(2) Basic research; and/or

(3) Other activities which have further educational uses beyond the immediate research effort.

§ 1214.1004 Results and data dissemination.

(a) A goal of this special category of payloads is to encourage student participation in various space science and technology experiments. Accordingly, subject to the exceptions listed below, NASA, unless otherwise agreed, will require all scientific or research results or data that are produced or obtained during the flight of a payload of this category to be made publicly available without restriction of disclosure and use no later than 2 years after the Shuttle mission on which the payload is flown. The exceptions are:

(1) Those results comprising an invention for which patent protection has been or will in a reasonable time be applied for.

(2) Data disclosing an invention prior to applying for patent protection thereon.

(b) Payloads of domestic educational institutions will be subject to all other provisions of subpart 1214.9, and each such institution will be required to sign a Launch Services Agreement with NASA.

(c) Domestic educational institutions proposing to fly SSCP experiments under this special policy should contact NASA Headquarters, Office of Space Flight, Code MB, Washington, DC 20546. Such applications must receive the approval of the NASA Education Division, Office of Human Resources and Education.

Candidate Recruitment and Selection Program

SOURCE: 54 FR 37940, Sept. 14, 1989, unless otherwise noted.

§ 1214.1100 Scope.

It is NASA policy to maintain an integrated Astronaut Corps. This subpart 1214.11 sets forth NASA procedures and assigns responsibilities for recruitment and selection of astronaut candidates. It applies to all pilot and mission specialist astronaut candidate selection activities conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

§ 1214.1101 Announcement.

(a) Astronaut candidate opportunities Will be announced nationwide by the Johnson Space Center (JSC) and publicized periodically unless specifically canceled by NASA.

(b) Civilian applicants may apply at any time.

(c) JSC is responsible for implementing and refining the astronaut candidate application process to minimize the effort required to file and/or update applications.

(d) Military personnel on active duty must apply through and be nominated by the military service with which they are affiliated. Military nominees will not be part of the continuing pool of applicants. The military services will convene their internal selection boards and provide nominees to NASA. The military nominees will be evaluated by NASA and the military services will be notified promptly of those nominees who are finalists.

(e) The Assistant Administrator for Equal Opportunity Programs, NASA Headquarters, will provide assistance in the recruiting process.

§ 1214.1102 Evaluation of applications. (a) All incoming applications will be reviewed by the JSC Human Resources Office to determine whether or not applicants meet basic qualifications. Those not meeting the basic qualification requirements will be so notified in writing and will not be eligible for further consideration. Those meeting the basic qualification requirements will

have their applications retained for review by a designated rating panel.

(b) The JSC Director, or designee, will appoint the rating panel composed of discipline experts who will review and rate qualified applicants as “Qualified" or "Highly Qualified.”

(c) Efforts will be made to assure that minorities and females are included among these discipline experts.

(d) The criteria for each level will be developed by JSC and will serve as the basis for the ratings. The evaluation will be based on the quality of the individual's academic background and experience and the extent to which the individual's academic achievements, experience, and special qualifications relate to the astronaut candidate position. Reference information on those rated "Highly Qualified" will normally be obtained. The JSC Director of Human Resources will monitor this process to assure adherence to applicable rules and regulations.

(e) Those rated "Highly Qualified" may be required to obtain a Class I or Class II physical. Only medically qualified applicants will be referred for final evaluation and possible interview and selection. Those who are not medically qualified will be so informed and will not be eligible for further consideration.

§ 1214.1103 Application cutoff date.

(a) The JSC Director, or designee, is responsible for identifying the need for additional astronaut candidates and for obtaining necessary approval to make selections.

(b) Once such approval has been obtained, the JSC Director will establish a cutoff date for the acceptance of applications. Applications received after the date of the request will be maintained and processed for the next selection. The cutoff date will normally occur every 2 years on or about July 1.

§ 1214.1104 Evaluation and ranking of highly qualified candidates.

(a) The JSC Director will appoint a selection board consisting of discipline experts and such other persons as appropriate to further evaluate and rank the "Highly Qualified” applicants.

(b) Efforts will be made to assure that minorities and females are included on this board.

(c) The "Highly Qualified" applicants who are determined to be the "Best Qualified" will be invited to the Johnson Space Center for an interview, orientation, and detailed medical evaluation.

(d) Background investigations will normally be initiated on those applicants rated "Best Qualified.”

§ 1214.1105 Final ranking.

Final rankings will be based on a combination of the selection board's initial evaluations and the results of the interview process. Veteran's preference will be included in this final ranking in accordance with applicable regulations.

§ 1214.1106 Selection of astronaut candidates.

The selection board will recommend to the JSC Director its selection of candidates from among those finalists who are medically qualified. The number and names of candidates selected to be added to the corps will be approved, as required, by JSC/ NASA management and the Associate Administrator for Space Flight, prior to notifying the individuals or the public.

§ 1214.1107 Notification.

Selectees and the appropriate military services will be notified and the public informed. All unsuccessful qualified applicants will be notified of nonselection and given the opportunity to update their applications and indicate their desire to receive consideration for future selections.

Subparts 1214.12-1214.16

[Reserved]

Subpart 1214.17-Space Flight
Participants

AUTHORITY: 42 U.S.C. 2473 and the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amend

ed.

SOURCE: 49 FR 17737, Apr. 25, 1984, unless otherwise noted.

§ 1214.1700 Scope.

This subpart establishes NASA policy and selection procedures for accommodation of space flight participants aboard flights of the Space Shuttle.

[56 FR 47148, Sept. 18, 1991]

§ 1214.1701 Applicability.

This subpart applies to NASA Headquarters and field installations.

§ 1214.1702 Relation to other part 1214 material.

Except as specifically noted, all regulatory provisions of Space Shuttle policies also apply to space flight participants. In the event of any inconsistencies in the policies, the regulatory policies established for crew members will govern with respect to space flight participants.

§ 1214.1703 Definitions.

(a) Space flight participants. All persons whose presence aboard a Space Shuttle flight is authorized in accordance with this regulation.

(b) Committee. The Space Flight Participant Evaluation Committee, established in NASA Headquarters for the purpose of directing and administering the program for space flight participants. The Committee consists of the following NASA Headquarters officials: Associate Deputy Administrator (Chair), General Counsel, Associate Administrator for External Relations, Associate Administrator for Management, Associate Administrator for Space Flight, Associate Administrator for Public Affairs and Assistant Administrator for Equal Opportunity Programs.

[56 FR 47148, Sept. 18, 1991]

§ 1214.1704 Policy.

(a) NASA policy is to provide Space Shuttle flight opportunities to persons (individuals outside the professional categories of NASA astronauts and payload specialists) whose presence onboard the Space Shuttle is not required for operation of payloads or for other essential mission activities, but is determined by the Administrator of NASA to contribute to other approved NASA objectives or to be in the national interest. However, flight oppor

tunities for space flight participants will not be available in the near term. NASA will assess Shuttle operations and mission and payload requirements on an annual basis to determine when it can begin to allocate and assign space flight opportunities for future space flight participants, consistent with safety and mission considerations. When NASA determines that a flight opportunity is available for a space flight participant, first priority will be given to a "teacher in space," in fulfillment of space education plans.

(b) To be considered for selection as space flight participants, applicants must:

(1) Be free of medical conditions which would either impair the applicant's ability to participate in, or be aggravated by, space flight, as determined by NASA physicians.

(2) Be willing to undergo appropriate background investigation.

(3) Be willing to undergo necessary training.

(4) Meet additional requirements that may be stated in Announcements of Opportunity (AO) soliciting applications for particular spaceflights.

(c) Persons accepted as space flight participant candidates will enter into an agreement with NASA for the period of training, flight, debriefing, and post-flight activities. The agreements will cover such pertinent matters as, but not limited to, responsibilities and authorities of the respective parties, compensation where appropriate, insurance, and liability.

(d) Typically the selection of space flight participants will be based on their comparative abilities to fulfill the objectives and purposes stated in Announcement of Opportunities (AO's) covering one or more Space Shuttle missions in which their participation is desired. A NASA-designated outside review panel will evaluate the qualifications of applicants to select those who most appropriately meet those purposes of participant flight associated with the particular AO. NASA will retain the authority to make final selection of space flight participants for flight training and eventual flight from among those applicants rated most highly in the review process. NASA will encourage the participation of a

wide and diverse array of participants, including women and minorities.

[49 FR 17737, Apr. 25, 1984, as amended at 56 FR 47148, Sept. 18, 1991]

§ 1214.1705 Selection of space flight participants.

(a) The agency will publicly announce each space flight participant opportunity through appropriate means, including notice in the FEDERAL REGISTER and press releases. Each such Announcement of Opportunity will include a listing of basic qualification requirements to be met (including those of §1214.1704(b)), a statement of the specific National Aeronautics and Space Act purposes to which this opportunity is directed, what information is required of applicants to demonstrate their ability to fulfill those purposes, the criteria on which applicants will be judged, and administrative information such as to whom applications should be directed, the opening and closing dates for applications, and any other information or matters determined to be pertinent to the program in general and/or the specific flight.

(b) All applications received in response to the AO will be screened to eliminate those applicants not meeting the basic qualification requirements.

(c) Remaining applications will be forwarded to the outside review panel established for the announcement in question and composed of members appropriate to the specific purposes stated in that announcement. The review panel will evaluate all the applications and recommend to NASA a list of those applicants who appear most likely to meet the purposes.

(d) NASA selection of applicants qualified to undergo necessary training and be certified for flight will be made by the Committee, based upon criteria that include:

(1) Recommendation of the outside review panel.

(2) Ability to undergo successfully the necessary period of training to ensure adaptation to flight experience and mission activities.

(3) Ability to pass medical and psychological examinations to minimize the possibility of hazard to persons or missions.

(4) Adaptability to living and working in space.

(5) Willingness to enter into an agreement with NASA covering pre-flight, flight, and post-flight activities, with individual rights and responsibilities set forth in that agreeement.

(6) Satisfactory completion of a background investigation conducted to NASA's standards as adjudicated by the NASA Security Officer.

(e) The Committee will submit a list of those candidates suitable for selection to the NASA Administrator, who will select the requisite number to undergo the necessary training to prepare them for space flight.

(f) Those candidates who successfully complete the training will become qualified as space flight participants. Flight assignments will be made by the Administrator from this qualified group. NASA reserves the right to solicit additional space flight participant applications, if necessary.

(g) Authority to officially designate candidates for training, certify candidates as qualified space flight participants, and assign space flight participants to specific Space Shuttle flights is reserved to the Administrator.

The TDRSS represents a major investment by the U.S. Government with the primary goal of providing improved tracking and data acquisition services to spacecraft in low earth orbit or to mobile terrestrial users such as aircraft or balloons. It is the objective of NASA to operate as efficiently as possible with the TDRSS. This is to the mutual benefit of all users. Such user consideration will permit NASA and non-NASA service to be delivered without compromising the mission objectives of any individual user. To encourage users toward achieving efficient TDRSS usage, this reimbursement policy has been established to purposely influence users to operate with TDRSS in the most efficient and orderly manner possible. Additionally, the reimbursement policy is designed to comply with the Bureau of the Budget Circular A-25 on User Charges, dated September 23, 1959, which requires that a reasonable charge should be made to each identifiable recipient for a measurable

unit or amount of Government service or property from which a special benefit is derived.

[56 FR 28048, June 19, 1991]

§ 1215.101 Scope.

This subpart sets forth the policy governing TDRSS services provided to non-U.S. government users and the reimbursement for rendering such services. It excludes TDRSS services provided as standard or optional services to Space Transportation System (STS) users under existing policy for Shuttle and Spacelab (14 CFR subparts 1214.1, 1214.2, and 1214.8); i.e., user command and telemetry support, which utilizes and is a part of the Shuttle or Spacelab communications system, is a Shuttle/ Spacelab service. Cooperative missions are also not under the purview of this subpart. The arrangements for TDRSS services for cooperative missions will be covered in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), as a consequence of negotiations between NASA and the other concerned party. Any MOU which includes provision for any TDRSS service will require signatory concurrence by the Associate Administrator for Space Operations prior to dedicating Office of Space Operations resources for support of a cooperative mission. [56 FR 28048, June 19, 1991]

(a) User. Any non-U.S. Government representative or entity who contracts with NASA to use TDRSS services.

(b) TDRSS. The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System including Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS), the White Sands Ground Terminal (WSGT), and the necessary TDRSS operational areas, interface devices and NASA communication circuits to unify the above into a functioning system. It specifically excludes the user ground system/TDRSS interface.

(c) Bit stream. The digital electronic signals acquired by TDRSS from the user craft or the user generated input commands for transmission to the user craft.

(d) Flexible support. Support requests which permit NASA, at its option, to schedule service at any time during the