HI SB2583

Appropriates $250,000 from general revenues for fiscal year 2014-2015 to support a joint NASA and Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems engineering assessment for establishing a laser optical communications ground station in Hawaii.

Funds contingent on NASA providing a dollar-for-dollar match of $250,000 for the study purposes.

Engineering assessment to include site surveillance and selection, power and cooling analysis, environmental assessments and permits, structural pad assessment, and transportation analysis for communications equipment.

Study aims to support infrastructure construction beginning in 2016, with the laser communications station planned for operational status around 2020.

Appropriated funds to be expended by the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems; Act takes effect July 1, 2014.