National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1998, 1999, and 2000

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle A: Authorizations Subtitle B: Limitations and Special Authority Title II: International Space Station Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999 - Title I: Authorization of Appropriations - Subtitle A: Authorizations - Authorizes appropriations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for: (1) human space flight; (2) science, aeronautics, and technology; (3) mission support; and (4) the Inspector General. Subtitle B: Limitations and Special Authority - Sets forth funds uses, limitations, and special authorities. Title II: International Space Station - Directs the Administrator to make specified commercialization reports with respect to the International Space Station. (Sec. 203) Prohibits: (1) transfer of funds to Russia or Russian contractors for work on the Station for which the Ryssian Government had pledged to pay; and (2) placement of U.S. astronauts on the Mir Space Station without specified safety certifications. Requires NASA to make contingency plans. (Sec. 204) Mandates a specified study by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences concerning any specified potential effects on the assembly schedule, budget and capabilities of the Space Station. (Sec. 205) Directs the Administrator, in consultation with the Comptroller General, to: (1) establish an updated total life cycle cost estimate for the International Space Station; and (2) submit a specified report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Science. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to revise certain reporting provisions. (Sec. 302) Allows the Administrator to acquire, where appropriate and cost effective, private sector space science and earth remote sensing data and space goods and services. (Sec. 304) Requires a specified report on space shuttle privatization. (Sec. 305) Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1993 to make the launch voucher (demonstration) program permanent. (Sec. 308) Permits NASA to participate in the Next Generation Internet. (Sec. 310) Expresses the sense of the Congress that NASA should give high priority to correcting its computer systems with respect to the year 2000 problem. (Sec. 311) Amends the Unitary Wind Tunnel Plan Act of 1949 to include hypersonic wind tunnel construction within the scope of covered research and development facilities. (Sec. 312) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Administrator should donate educationally useful Federal equipment to schools to enhance science and mathematics programs. (Sec. 313) Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to permit the Administrator to vest title in tangible personal property to a participant in a cooperative agreement if the participant's primary purpose is research or technology development. (Sec. 314) Amends the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 to make modifications to, and extend the authority for, the NASA Mid-Range Procurement Test Program. (Sec. 315) Amends Federal law to prohibit the launch of a payload containing material for obtrusive space advertising. Requests the President to negotiate with foreign launching nations for the purpose of reaching one or more agreements prohibiting the use of outer space for obtrusive space advertising, and expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should take such action as is feasible to enforce the terms of any such agreement. (Sec. 316) Provides for the administration of the Commercial Space Center Program at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Sec. 317) Authorizes the provision of liability insurance and indemnification to developers of experimental aerospace vehicles.