THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1049 |
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to the hawaii center for astronautics research.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State needs a university research center dedicated to establishing and growing a well-trained workforce in the State to support research and development in a wide range of areas relating to astronautics. This center shall be known as the Hawaii center for astronautics research and shall conduct research and development in the areas of astrodynamics, propulsion, the space environment, guidance, navigation and control, and spacecraft design. Such a center would complement existing Hawaii-based research and development centers and assets, filling a scientific and technological gap endemic to Hawaii and providing needed capabilities both statewide and nationwide, strengthening Hawaii’s space-related technologies, and attracting more research and development funding, with the potential of becoming a beacon for international collaboration in astronautics research throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
The legislature also finds that a Hawaii center for astronautics research will stimulate economic growth and diversification in the State, promote the establishment and expansion of a well-trained workforce to support the design and development of operationally responsive space assets to maintain parity with the advancing capabilities of European and Asian nations. A Hawaii center for astronautics research will also support national security and the ability to operate safely in space and maintain space situational awareness, to improve space catalog development and maintenance capability, and to develop a global sensing system for real-time monitoring of the upper atmosphere to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics education programs and the growth of associated jobs throughout the State.
The legislature further finds that the Air Force Office of Scientific Research is working to create and develop Centers of Excellence in areas of interest to the Air Force, including astrodynamics and astronautics, national security, space situational awareness, and space object catalog development. Our nation faces many current and pending challenges that involve the field of astronautics at a fundamental level. These include development and maintenance of a modern space catalog that can be used to accurately and precisely track and support strategic characterization of space objects; development of new strategic capabilities in estimation, computation, and prediction capabilities to enhance space situational awareness; developing and delivering the capability for physics-based modeling of the 6-Degree-of-Freedom dynamical evolution of space debris; and leveraging Hawaii's parallel processing capabilities at the Maui high performance computing center to expand and enable new computational solutions to difficult problems in astronautics. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research is expected to appropriate matching funds to complete the establishment and organization of the Hawaii center for astronautics research.
The legislature further finds that a Hawaii center for astronautics research can address core concerns and challenges that the State and nation currently face. A Hawaii center for astronautics research will require a diverse set of researchers with broad skills in science, engineering, and mathematics. Many standard theories for control, estimation and dynamics that are currently used in civil and military applications do not adequately capture or apply to astronautics systems. Thus, it is critical that university departments and researchers have appropriate capabilities and professional backgrounds in space-based vehicles, science, and technology.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is establish and provide seed funding for the Hawaii center for astronautics research.
SECTION 2. Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§304A- Hawaii center for astronautics research. (a) There is established at the university the Hawaii center for astronautics research. The duties of the center shall include but not be limited to:
(1) Developing a well-trained workforce to support the expanding role that space vehicles play nationwide, including the design and development of operationally responsive space assets;
(2) Retaining scientific and technological leadership in space by addressing the lack of systematic investments over the last thirty years and maintaining parity with the advanced capabilities of European and Asian nations;
(3) Supporting national security and the ability to operate safely in space by predicting and mitigating orbital hazards and developing alternate space asset locations to ensure capabilities are not degraded in the event of a crisis;
(4) Maintaining space situational awareness by making required space catalog improvements that incorporate the altitude, non-gravitational models, and propulsive capabilities; and
(5) Developing a global sensing system for real-time monitoring of the upper atmosphere.
(b) The establishment and organization of the center shall be directed and coordinated by an astronautics research advisory board, which shall report to the Hawaii aerospace advisory committee. The members of the advisory board shall be nominated by the Hawaii aerospace advisory committee and approved by the governor.
(c) The center shall seek funding from the federal government and private sector to sustain the center. The programs of the center shall be developed in partnership with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and other federal- and state-based organizations.
(d) As used in this section, "center" means the Hawaii center for astronautics research."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to support the establishment and organization of the Hawaii center for astronautics research; provided that no funds shall be appropriated under this Act unless the Air Force Office of Scientific Research provides a dollar-for-dollar match of funds for the purposes of this Act.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.
INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Hawaii Center for Astronautics Research; Establishment; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes the Hawaii center for astronautics research. Makes an appropriation.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.