§60502 Transitioning Experimental Research Into Operational Services

Summary

The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy must create a process, working with the Administrator, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) leader, and other stakeholders, to move the Administration’s Earth science and space weather missions or sensors into regular operational use when appropriate. The process must include coordinating the yearly budget requests needed to carry out those transitions. Each agency’s Administrator (the Administration’s and NOAA’s) must name one official to lead their transition work and to coordinate with the other agency. For every mission or sensor chosen for transition, the two agencies must send Congress a joint plan with the strategy, milestones, and budget. That plan must be sent no later than 60 days after the mission or sensor successfully completes its critical design review.