History

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has a long tradition of turning to accomplished citizens for advice and guidance on major program and policy issues before the agency. This tradition originates with NASA's predecessor organization, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). Established in 1915, the NACA became the United States ' premier aeronautical research institution; it was governed by an advisory committee appointed by the President of the United States . The NACA's "main committee" served as a board of directors, and a group of research advisory committees guided the NACA's research in specific areas.

With the creation of NASA in 1958, the NACA was abolished, and its research centers-- Ames Research Center, Lewis Research Center , and Langley Aeronautical Laboratory--were incorporated within the new space and aeronautics agency along with some elements of the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy, then engaged in rocket-related work. The tradition of turning to nongovernment sources for independent judgment and guidance survived, however, as NASA established new advisory committees to assist it with planning for its new and continuing responsibilities in aeronautics, space technology, space science and applications, and human space flight.

In 1967, the U.S. Congress directed NASA to form an Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) to advise the NASA Administrator on safety issues and hazards in NASA's aerospace programs. The Congress envisioned a continuity of membership and a degree of professional technical expertise for the ASAP that makes it unique in NASA's advisory committee structure to this day. By 1971, the principal sources of advisory committee support for the NASA Administrator, in addition to the ASAP, were the Space Program Advisory Council and the Research and Technology Advisory Council and their subcommittees focused on particular aerospace science and engineering disciplines. These two advisory committee structures, which enjoyed notable success in the approximately 6 years of their existence, were combined in 1977 to form the NASA Advisory Council (NAC) and its standing advisory committees focusing on particular program areas. The Council, first chartered on December 12, 1977, held its first meeting on May 1 and 2, 1978.

Current Council

On October 2, 2005, the NASA Administrator signed a new NASA Advisory Council (the “Council”) charter which streamlined the manner in which NASA receives advice from outside advisory committees. The charter has since been slightly revised, but the changes made in October 2005 remain. The Council consists of six committees, each chaired and populated exclusively by Council members. The six committees are:

• Aeronautics Committee
• Audit and Finance Committee
• Exploration Committee
• Human Capital Committee
• Science Committee
• Space Operations Committee

Additionally, there are two members on the Council from the National Academies. The Chairs of the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board and the Space Studies Board sit on the Council as ex-officio members.

The Council is considered "internal" in that it is chartered by NASA, its members are chosen by NASA, and it provides advice and counsel directly to the NASA Administrator. NASA also receives valuable advice from "external" advisory groups, in particular, the Space Studies Board and the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board. These two boards, however, are advisory to many elements of the Federal Government and are primarily responsible to their parent academies. Thus, they provide their counsel from a different perspective than that of NASA's own advisory structure.

NASA Advisory Council Meetings

The Council and its committees act in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Consequently, the meetings of the Council are open to the public unless they deal with matters qualifying for exemption under the Government in the Sunshine Act. Meetings are announced in advance by NASA in the Federal Register.

The Council normally gathers four times a year for meetings that usually last 2 days. Meetings are held at various sites in Washington , DC , as well as at NASA Centers or off-site conference facilities. Committee meetings may be held immediately prior to full Council meetings, or at different times and locations.

The records and files of the Council are maintained by the Executive Director. Copies of these records are available to the public upon request, subject to the exemptions allowed in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

NASA Advisory Group Staff Support

Executive Director and staff support for the Council is provided by the NASA Office of External Relations. Management and legal compliance oversight for all NASA advisory committees is provided by the NASA Advisory Committee Management Officer (ACMO), who is also in the Office of External Relations. The Council's committees, subcommittees, and task forces are also supported by executive secretaries and support staff assigned from the NASA program area that is of concern to each respective group.

December 2006