S 2159
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2159
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration
of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 15, 2007
Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself, Mrs. HUTCHISON, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr.
CARDIN, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. LOTT, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. VITTER,
Mr. WEBB, Mr. BENNETT, and Mr. ISAKSON) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing,
and Urban Affairs
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration
of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `NASA 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin
Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration began operation
on October 1, 1958, with about 8,000 employees and an annual budget
of $100,000,000;
(2) over the next 50 years, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
has been involved in many defining events which have shaped the course
of human history and demonstrated to the world the character of the
people of the United States;
(3) among the many firsts by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
are that--
(A) on December 6, 1958, the United States launched Pioneer 3, the
first United States satellite to ascend to an altitude of 63,580
miles;
(B) on March 3, 1959, the United States sent Pioneer 4 to the Moon,
successfully making the first United States lunar flyby;
(C) on April 1, 1960, the United States launched TIROS 1, the first
successful meteorological satellite, observing Earth's weather;
(D) on May 5, 1961, Freedom 7, carrying Astronaut Alan B. Shepard,
Jr., was the first American space flight involving human beings;
(E) on February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to
circle the Earth, making 3 orbits in his Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft;
(F) on December 14, 1962, Mariner 2 became the first spacecraft
to commit a successful planetary flyby (Venus);
(G) on April 6, 1965, the United States launched Intelsat I (also
known as Early Bird 1), the first commercial satellite (communications),
into geostationary orbit;
(H) on June 3 through 7, 1965, the second piloted Gemini mission,
Gemini IV, stayed aloft for 4 days, and astronaut Edward H. White
II performed the first EVA or `spacewalk' by an American;
(I) on June 2, 1966, Surveyor 1 became the first American spacecraft
to soft-land on the Moon;
(J) on May 31, 1971, the United States launched Mariner 9, the first
mission to orbit another planet (Mars) beginning November 13, 1971;
(K) on April 12, 1981, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
launched the Space Shuttle Columbia on the first flight of the Space
Transportation System (STS-1).
(L) on June 18, 1983, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
launched Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-7) carrying 3 mission specialists,
including Sally K. Ride, the first woman astronaut;
(M) in another historic mission, 2 months later, the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration launched STS-8 carrying the first black
American astronaut, Guion S. Bluford; and
(N) on July 23, 1999, the Space Shuttle Columbia's 26th flight was
led by Air Force Col. Eileen Collins, the first woman to command
a Shuttle mission;
(4) on April 9, 1959, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
unveiled the Mercury astronaut corps, 7 men with `the right stuff':
John H. Glenn, Jr., Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Alan B. Shepard, Jr.,
M. Scott Carpenter, L. Gordon Cooper, Virgil I. `Gus' Grissom, and
Donald K. `Deke' Slayton;
(5) on May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy, reflecting the highest
aspirations of the American people, proclaimed: `I believe this Nation
should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is
out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth.
No single space project in this period will be more impressive to
mankind, or more important in the long-range exploration of space;
and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.';
(6) on September 19, 1961, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
announced that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration center
dedicated to human space flight would be built in Houston, Texas;
(7) on February 17, 1973, the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston
was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center;
(8) on December 21, 1968, Apollo 8 took off atop a Saturn V booster
from the Kennedy Space Center for a historic mission to orbit the
Moon;
(9) as Apollo 8 traveled outward, the crew focused a portable television
camera on Earth and for the first time humanity saw its home from
afar, a tiny, lovely, and fragile `blue marble' hanging in the blackness
of space;
(10) this transmission and viewing of Earth from a distance was an
enormously significant accomplishment and united the Nation at a time
when American society was in crisis over Vietnam, race relations,
urban problems, and a host of other difficulties;
(11) on July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and
Edwin E. Aldrin made the first lunar landing mission while Michael
Collins orbited overhead in the Apollo command module;
(12) Armstrong set foot on the surface of the Moon, telling the millions
of listeners that it was `one small step for a man, one giant leap
for mankind', and Aldrin soon followed and planted an American flag,
but omitted claiming the land for the United States, as had routinely
been done during European exploration of the Americas;
(13) the 2 Moon walkers left behind an American flag and a plaque
bearing the inscription: `Here Men From The Planet Earth First Set
Foot Upon the Moon. Jul. 1969 A.D. We Came in Peace for All Mankind.';
(14) on April 24, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into
space aboard the STS-31 mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery, and
since then, the Hubble has revolutionized astronomy, while expanding
our knowledge of the universe and inspiring millions of scientists,
students, and members of the public with its unprecedented deep and
clear images of space;
(15) on July 4, 1997, the Mars Pathfinder landed on Mars and on January
29, 1998, an International Space Station agreement among 15 countries
met in Washington, DC, to sign agreements to establish the framework
for cooperation among the partners on the design, development, operation,
and utilization of the Space Station;
(16) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's stunning
achievements over the last 50 years have been won for all mankind
at great cost and sacrifice; in the quest to explore the universe,
many National Aeronautics and Space Administration employees have
lost their lives, including the crews of Apollo 1, the Space Shuttle
Challenger, and the Space Shuttle Columbia;
(17) the success of the United States space exploration program in
the 20th Century augurs well for its continued leadership in the 21st
Century, such leadership being attributable to the remarkable and
indispensable partnership between the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and its 10 space and research centers, including--
(A) from small spacecraft to supercomputers, science missions and
payloads to thermal protection systems, information technology to
aerospace, the Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley,
which provides products, technologies, and services that enable
NASA missions and expand human knowledge.
(B) the Dryden Flight Research Center, the leading center for innovative
flight research;
(C) the Glenn Research Center, which develops power, propulsion,
and communication technologies for space flight systems and aeronautics
research;
(D) the Goddard Space Flight Center, which specializes in research
to expand knowledge on the Earth and its environment, the solar
system, and the universe through observations from space;
(E) the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the leading center for robotic
exploration of the Solar System;
(F) the Johnson Space Center, which manages the development, testing,
production, and delivery of all United States human spacecraft and
all human spacecraft-related functions;
(G) the Kennedy Space Center, the gateway to the Universe and world
leader in preparing and launching missions around the Earth and
beyond;
(H) the Langley Research Center, which continues to forge new frontiers
in aviation and space research for aerospace, atmospheric sciences,
and technology commercialization to improve the way the world lives;
(I) the Marshall Space Flight Center, a world leader in developing
space transportation and propulsion systems that accelerate exploration
and scientific discovery, including the Michoud Assembly Facility,
which has been a world-class facility since 1961 for fabrication
of large space structures, including the Saturn V and the Space
Shuttle External Tank, and which will have a critical role in the
Constellation program, including manufacturing major pieces of the
Orion crew capsule, the Ares I upper stage, and the Ares V core
stage; and
(J) the Stennis Space Center, which is responsible for rocket propulsion
testing and for partnering with industry to develop and implement
remote sensing technology;
(18) the United States should pay tribute to the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, and to its successful partnerships with
the space and research centers, by minting and issuing a commemorative
silver dollar coin; and
(19) the surcharge proceeds from the sale of a commemorative coin
would generate valuable funding for the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Families Assistance Fund, for the purposes of providing
need-based financial assistance to the families of any National Aeronautics
and Space Administration personnel who lose their lives as a result
of injuries suffered in the performance of their official duties,
and for other worthy and important purposes.
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) Denominations- In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Secretary
of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the `Secretary')
shall mint and issue the following coins:
(1) $50 GOLD COINS- Not more than 50,000 $50 gold coins, which shall--
(B) have a diameter of 32.7 millimeters; and
(C) contain 1 troy ounce of fine gold.
(2) $1 SILVER COINS- Not more than 300,000 $1 coins of each of the
9 designs specified in section 4(a)(3)(B), which shall--
(B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
(C) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.
(b) Legal Tender- The coins minted under this Act shall be legal tender,
as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code.
(c) Numismatic Items- For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, United
States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall be considered to
be numismatic items.
(d) Mintage Level Limit- Notwithstanding the mintage level limit described
under section 5112(m)(2)(A)(ii) of title 31, United States Code, the
Secretary may mint and issue not more than 300,000 of each of the 9
$1 coins authorized to be minted under this Act.
SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.
(1) IN GENERAL- The design of the coins minted under this Act shall
be emblematic of the 50 years of exemplary and unparalleled achievements
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(2) DESIGNATION AND INSCRIPTIONS- On each coin minted under this Act,
there shall be--
(A) a designation of the value of the coin;
(B) an inscription of the year `2008'; and
(C) inscriptions of the words `Liberty', `In God We Trust', `United
States of America', and `E Pluribus Unum', and such other inscriptions
as the Secretary may determine to be appropriate for the designs
of the coins.
(i) OBVERSE- The obverse of the $50 coins issued under this Act
shall bear an image of the sun.
(ii) REVERSE- The reverse of the $50 coins issued under this Act
shall bear a design emblematic of the sacrifice of the United
States astronauts who lost their lives in the line of duty over
the course of the space program.
(iii) HIGH RELIEF- The design and inscriptions on the obverse
and reverse of the $50 coins issued under this Act shall be in
high relief.
(i) OBVERSE- The obverse of the $1 coins issued under this Act
shall bear 9 different designs, each of which shall consist of
an image of 1 of the 9 planets of the solar system, including
Earth.
(ii) REVERSE- The reverse of the $1 coins issued under this Act
shall bear different designs, each of which shall be emblematic
of the contributions of the research and space centers, subject
to the following requirements:
(I) EARTH COIN- The reverse of the $1 coins issued under this
Act which bear an image of the Earth on the obverse shall bear
images emblematic of, and honoring, the discoveries and missions
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Mercury,
Gemini, and Space Shuttle missions and other manned Earth-orbiting
missions, and the Apollo missions to the Moon.
(II) JUPITER COIN- The reverse of the $1 coins issued under
this Act which bear an image of the planet Jupiter on the obverse
shall include a scientifically accurate depiction of the Galilean
moon Europa and depict both a past and future mission to Europa.
(III) SATURN COIN- The reverse of the $1 coins issued under
this Act which bear an image of the planet Saturn on the obverse
shall include a scientifically accurate depiction of the moon
Titan and depict both a past and a future mission to Titan.
(IV) PLUTO (AND OTHER DWARF PLANETS) COIN- The reverse of the
$1 coins issued under this Act which bear an image of the planet
Pluto on the obverse shall include a design that is emblematic
of telescopic exploration of deep space by the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration and the ongoing search for Earth-like
planets orbiting other stars.
(4) REALISTIC AND SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE DEPICTIONS- The images for
the designs of coins issued under this Act shall be selected on the
basis of the realism and scientific accuracy of the images and on
the extent to which the images are reminiscent of the dramatic and
beautiful artwork on coins of the so-called `Golden Age of Coinage'
in the United States, at the beginning of the Twentieth Century, with
the participation of such noted sculptors and medallic artists as
James Earle Fraser, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Victor David Brenner,
Adolph A. Weinman, Charles E. Barber, and George T. Morgan.
(b) Selection- The design for the coins minted under this Act shall
be--
(1) selected by the Secretary, after consultation with the Administrator
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Commission
of Fine Arts; and
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Coin Advisory Committee.
SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.
(a) Quality of Coins- Coins minted under this Act shall be issued in
proof quality only.
(b) Mint Facility- Only 1 facility of the United States Mint may be
used to strike any particular combination of denomination and quality
of the coins minted under this Act.
(c) Period for Issuance- The Secretary may issue coins minted under
this Act only during the 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2008.
(d) Issuance of Gold Coins- Each gold coin minted under this Act may
be issued only as part of a complete set with 1 of each of the 9 $1
coins minted under this Act.
SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS.
(a) Sale Price- The coins issued under this Act shall be sold by the
Secretary at a price equal to the sum of--
(1) the face value of the coins;
(2) the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect to such coins;
and
(3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including labor,
materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and
shipping).
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders for the
coins minted under this Act before the issuance of such coins.
(2) DISCOUNT- Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders under paragraph
(1) shall be at a reasonable discount.
(c) Presentation- In addition to the issuance of coins under this Act
in such other methods of presentation as the Secretary determines to
be appropriate, the Secretary shall provide, as a sale option, a presentation
case which displays the $50 gold coin in the center, surrounded by the
$1 silver coins in elliptical orbits. All such presentation cases shall
bear a plaque with appropriate inscriptions that include the names and
dates of the spacecraft missions on which United States astronauts lost
their lives over the course of the space program and the names of such
astronauts.
SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.
(a) In General- All sales of coins minted under this Act shall include
a surcharge as follows:
(1) A surcharge of $50 per coin for the $50 coin.
(2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 coin.
(3) A surcharge of $1 per coin for any bronze duplicate minted under
section 8.
(b) Distribution- Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, United States
Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins
issued under this Act shall be promptly distributed as follows:
(1) The first $4,000,000 available for distribution under this section,
to the NASA Family Assistance Fund, for the purpose of providing need-based
financial assistance to the families of NASA personnel who lose their
lives as a result of injuries suffered in the performance of their
official duties.
(2) Of amounts available for distribution after the payment under
paragraph (1), 1/2 of the next $1,000,000 to each of the following:
(A) The Dr. Ronald E. McNair Educational (D.R.E.M.E.) Science Literacy
Foundation for the purposes of improving and strengthening the process
of teaching and learning science, math, and technology at all educational
levels, elementary through college through the promotion of innovative
educational programs.
(B) The Challenger Center for Space Science Education, for the purposes
of creating positive learning experiences using space science as
a theme that raise student expectations of success, fostering a
long-term interest in mathematics, science, and technology, and
motivating students to pursue careers in these fields.
(3) The remainder of the amounts available for distribution after
the payments under paragraphs (1) and (2), to the Secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution for the preservation, maintenance, and display
of space artifacts at the National Air and Space Museum (including
the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center).
(c) Audits- The NASA Family Assistance Fund, the Dr. Ronald E. McNair
Educational Science Literacy Foundation, the Challenger Center for Space
Science Education, and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
shall be subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of
title 31, United States Code, with regard to the amounts received under
subsection (b).
(d) Limitation- Notwithstanding subsection (a), no surcharge may be
included with respect to the issuance under this Act of any coin during
a calendar year if, as of the time of such issuance, the issuance of
such coin would result in the number of commemorative coin programs
issued during such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program
issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31, United States
Code (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act). The Secretary
may issue guidance to carry out this subsection.
SEC. 8. BRONZE DUPLICATES.
The Secretary may strike and sell bronze duplicates of the $50 gold
coins authorized under this Act, at a price determined by the Secretary
to be appropriate. Such duplicates shall not be considered to be United
States coins and shall not be legal tender.
END
