114 S3346 RS: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2016
U.S. Senate
2016-09-15
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2016
.
(b)The table of contents of this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Definitions.TITLE I—Authorization of appropriationsSec. 101. Fiscal year 2017.TITLE II—Sustaining national space commitmentsSec. 201. Sense of Congress on sustaining national space commitments.Sec. 202. Findings.TITLE III—Maximizing utilization of the ISS and low-Earth orbitSec. 301. Operation of the ISS.Sec. 302. Transportation to ISS.Sec. 303. ISS transition plan.TITLE IV—Advancing human deep space explorationSubtitle A—Human exploration goals and objectivesSec. 411. Human exploration long-term goals.Sec. 412. Goals and objectives.Sec. 413. Vision for space exploration.Sec. 414. Exploration plan and programs.Sec. 415. Stepping stone approach to exploration.Subtitle B—Assuring core capabilities for explorationSec. 421. Space Launch System and Orion.Subtitle C—Journey to MarsSec. 431. Space technology infusion.Sec. 432. Findings on human space exploration.Sec. 433. Strategic framework for human spaceflight and exploration.Sec. 434. Advanced space suit capability.Sec. 435. Asteroid robotic redirect mission.Subtitle D—Scott Kelly Human Spaceflight and Exploration ActSec. 441. Short title.Sec. 442. Findings; sense of Congress.Sec. 443. Medical monitoring and research relating to human space flight.TITLE V—Advancing space scienceSec. 501. Maintaining a balanced space science portfolio.Sec. 502. Planetary science.Sec. 503. James Webb Space Telescope.Sec. 504. Sense of Congress on wide-field infrared survey telescope.Sec. 505. Sense of Congress on Mars 2020 rover.Sec. 506. Europa.TITLE VI—Maximizing efficiencySubtitle A—Agency information technology and cybersecuritySec. 611. Information technology governance.Sec. 612. Information technology strategic plan.Sec. 613. Cybersecurity.Sec. 614. Oversight implementation progress.Sec. 615. Software oversight.Sec. 616. Security management of foreign national access.Sec. 617. Cybersecurity of web applications.Subtitle B—Collaboration among mission directorates and other mattersSec. 621. Collaboration among mission directorates.Sec. 622. NASA launch capabilities collaboration.Sec. 623. Commercial space launch cooperation.Sec. 624. Detection and avoidance of counterfeit parts.Sec. 625. Education and outreach. 2.In this Act:
(1)The term Administration means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2)The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(3)Appropriate committees of CongressThe term appropriate committees of Congress means— (A)the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and
(B)the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives. (4)The term cis-lunar space means the region of space from the Earth out to and including the region around the surface of the Moon.
(5)The term deep space means the region of space beyond low-Earth orbit, to include cis-lunar space. (6)The term government astronaut has the meaning given the term in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code.
(7)The term ISS means the International Space Station. (8)The term ISS management entity means the organization with which the Administrator has a cooperative agreement under section 504(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18354(a)).
(9)The term NASA means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (10)The term Orion means the multipurpose crew vehicle described under section 303 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18323).
(11)The term Space Launch System has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18302).
<enum>I</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header>
<section id="id826D6FA408104664A23A24AEF79CCE3D"><enum>101.</enum><header>Fiscal year 2017</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated to NASA for fiscal year 2017, $19,508,000,000, as follows:</text> <paragraph id="id902B8A2BB4EC463B8BE9BD10F43F2B66"><enum>(1)</enum><text>For Exploration, $4,532,000,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id48A5E27190984B7A903F5A98DF6EA8D8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>For Space Operations, $4,950,700,000.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idAFD81D25B8AE43F9826930E1B730E843"><enum>(3)</enum><text>For Science, $5,395,000,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2AF3499D76BB4A87944D357786B31BCE"><enum>(4)</enum><text>For Aeronautics, $601,000,000.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idE634E0DA066E4793A2EA20E09C4270F5"><enum>(5)</enum><text>For Space Technology, $686,500,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF54C288652044502A7AFE19808795B29"><enum>(6)</enum><text>For Education, $108,000,000.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id7A0E810506C2430C99D75A475C15D375"><enum>(7)</enum><text>For Safety, Security, and Mission Services, $2,796,700,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idCBA219B3687648979005D9C774E3DB62"><enum>(8)</enum><text>For Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration, $400,000,000.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idEB089205746949A49003385ED1EA2642"><enum>(9)</enum><text>For Inspector General, $38,100,000.</text>
</paragraph></section><enum>II</enum><header>Sustaining national space commitments</header>
<section id="id632efd1ad1344caa803be18e80b64459"><enum>201.</enum><header>Sense of Congress on sustaining national space commitments</header>
<subsection id="id6f9612fc8c4b4b4ca6f41de322602823"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id31B00281506149E28371832032F50A91"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the United States, in collaboration with its international, academic, and industry partners, should sustain and build upon our national space commitments and investments across Administrations with a continuity of purpose to advance recent achievements of space exploration and space science to extend humanity’s reach into deep space, including cis-lunar space, the Moon, the surface and moons of Mars, and beyond;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7D0E04CB22C44DE68E85FF9982A91350"><enum>(2)</enum><text>NASA leaders can best leverage investments in the United States space program by continuing to develop a balanced portfolio for space exploration and space science, including continued development of the Space Launch System, Orion, Commercial Crew and Commercial Resupply Services, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the ongoing operations of the International Space Station;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idba32020e0d134b6ba68fed8751b2f656"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a national, government-led space program that builds on current science and exploration programs and advances human knowledge and capabilities and opens the frontier beyond Earth for ourselves, our international partners, commercial enterprise, and science is of critical importance to our national destiny and to a future guided by United States values and freedoms;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id701813539392482db67f649761446fee"><enum>(4)</enum><text>continuity of purpose and effective execution of core NASA programs are essential for efficient use of resources in pursuit of timely and tangible accomplishments;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id59E6595506894EF0988830B092B58CC6"><enum>(5)</enum><text>NASA could improve its efficiency and effectiveness by working with industry to streamline existing programs and requirements, procurement practices, institutional footprint, and bureaucracy while preserving effective program oversight, accountability, and safety;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7c977d5eb3bc447a859ee85e78dd9b5f"><enum>(6)</enum><text>United States Government astronauts changed the trajectory of human history toward the promise of the stars, and it is imperative that the United States maintain and enhance its leadership in space exploration and continue to expand freedom and opportunities in space for all Americans that are consistent with the Constitution of the United States; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id49CD51911EAA4E04A79DB7C58CFBD2EA"><enum>(7)</enum><text>NASA is and should remain a multimission agency with a balanced and robust set of core missions in science, space technology, aeronautics, human space flight and exploration, and education.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idbf8b52f0a48847f08d517f44b1cc4b10"><enum>202.</enum><header>Findings</header>
<subsection id="iddbfd5e7ca6f04723b9bc5c920abd458f"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress makes the following findings:</text> <paragraph id="id3584593A3B53476F99EE7F31F6A6B11E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Challenges of the past, such as the cancellation of major programs, have disrupted completion of major space systems thereby—</text>
<subparagraph id="id4C02ECCA0C2C4402B8ED1C127555F3D6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>impeding planning and pursuit of national objectives in human space exploration;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0BA7E357AABA478FB22AD65D9F23862A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>placing the Nation’s investment in space exploration at risk; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id699F484B703046D68C723C5EA27990E8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>degrading the aerospace industrial base.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idD1ED7EF70BB74C7FABB06F41DB7EC2B4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18301">42 U.S.C. 18301 et seq.</external-xref>) reflects a broad, bipartisan agreement on the path forward for NASA's core missions in science, space technology, aeronautics, human space flight and exploration, and education, which serves as the foundation for the policy updates by this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA1347925B2704CE8A89C61D22DB34E2B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Sustaining the investment and maximizing utilization of the ISS and ISS National Laboratory with our international and industry partners is—</text>
<subparagraph id="idA80A2C68BBF44F32A18570E2E0E77A40"><enum>(A)</enum><text>consistent with the goals and objectives of the United States space program; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC9321D4D74B8417C94E71A02D161CC64"><enum>(B)</enum><text>imperative to continuing United States global leadership in human space exploration, science, research, technology development, and education opportunities that contribute to development of the next generation of American scientists, engineers, and leaders, and to creating the opportunity for economic development of low-Earth orbit.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id96923d9070834e1783143ccfaf507176"><enum>(4)</enum><text>NASA has made measurable progress in development and testing of the Space Launch System and Orion exploration systems with the near-term objectives of the initial integrated test flight and launch in 2018, a human mission in 2021, and continued missions in cis-lunar space and eventually to the surface of Mars.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id76c551deb3074226ac95288d8f709543"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Commercial Crew Program is on schedule to reestablish the capability to launch United States government astronauts from United States soil into orbit by the end of 2018.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ida7d2f6fd0cbd490e878a1468a94147a0"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, in its 2015 Annual Report, urged continuity of purpose noting concerns over the potential for cost overruns and schedule slips that could accompany significant changes to core NASA programs.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Maximizing utilization of the ISS and low-Earth orbit</header>
<section id="idab4558e2702f41c583c1f2742c322527"><enum>301.</enum><header>Operation of the ISS</header>
<subsection id="idda626987817248f9bcf7a4d6853d1034"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="idbcfab7ccb26a4d0ea434ba4b483edf10"><enum>(1)</enum><text>after 15 years of continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit, the ISS continues to overcome challenges and operate safely;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id215EB4130693461DA6CE4A501B4CF039"><enum>(2)</enum><text>expansion of partnerships, scientific research, commercial applications, and exploration testbed capabilities of the ISS is essential to ensuring the greatest return on investments made by the United States and its international space partners in the development, assembly, and operations of that unique facility;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD435230A46D14D10B6115183001CD998"><enum>(3)</enum><text>stable and successful Commercial Cargo and Commercial Crew programs are critical to ensuring timely provisioning of the ISS and to reestablishing the capability to launch United States government astronauts from United States soil into orbit;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9628A37B93824DDA9061D249ACC35CB6"><enum>(4)</enum><text>sustaining United States leadership and progress in human space exploration is enabled by continuing utilization of the ISS—</text>
<subparagraph id="id64A4E2914544404087C1404C616EFCD2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to facilitate the commercialization and economic development of low-Earth orbit;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1E25B75E9DAF41A498E667A1660967D3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to serve as a testbed for technologies, and to conduct scientific research and development; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id804EF19934D54F939F07F18A60A20B88"><enum>(C)</enum><text>as an orbital facility enabling research upon—</text> <clause id="idEAC040FF0276472597A0EFA0E494614D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the health, well-being, and performance of humans in space; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idC8FB0C48A6D64E6E9D1F62202A5EBB13"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the development of in-space systems enabling human space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit;</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idC1A55B5B2B0B4520AF51FCDDF30F5D27"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the Administrator should continue to support the development of the Commercial Crew Program as planned to end reliance upon Russian transport of United States government astronauts to the ISS which has not been possible since the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2B910AD17C344C1DAB230086799D52E6"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the ISS should continue to provide a platform for fundamental, microgravity, discovery-based space life and physical sciences research that is critical for enabling space exploration, protecting humans in space, increasing pathways for commercial space development that depend on advances in basic research, and contribute to advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9519A4D3EF984D90A7BAA29C64D94954"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Continuation of the ISS</header><text>Congress reaffirms the policy set forth in section 501 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18351">42 U.S.C. 18351</external-xref>) that it shall be the policy of the United States, in consultation with its international partners in the ISS program, to support full and complete utilization of the ISS through at least 2024.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idb464b9e4c63a4e51a4d36f3e7fc00fe5"><enum>302.</enum><header>Transportation to ISS</header>
<subsection id="id917e6da773654ab5ac7d4a6325a83331"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress on commercial crew and commercial cargo programs</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id6a6fd0ea196e483683bfb3bedd8a1e2b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>NASA should build upon the success of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services and Commercial Resupply Services programs that have allowed private sector companies to partner with NASA to deliver cargo and scientific experiments to the ISS since 2012;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA20D71AEB1894146AA7DB842E2DD4642"><enum>(2)</enum><text>once certified to meet NASA’s safety and reliability requirements and fully operational to meet ISS crew transfer needs, the Commercial Crew Program transportation systems should serve as the primary means of transporting United States government astronauts and international partner astronauts from United States soil to and from the ISS;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6A9125C2848D435081011891E844E51E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Commercial Crew Program transportation systems should have the capability of serving as ISS emergency crew rescue vehicles;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC60BB955B1F347849653A7C893345D70"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the 21st Century Launch Complex Program has enabled significant modernization and infrastructure improvements as launch sites across the United States to support NASA's Commercial Resupply Services and other civil and commercial space flight missions; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8E76DC987E26423AA3759E38898C5A95"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the 21st Century Launch Complex Program should be continued in a manner that leverages State and private investments to achieve the goals of the program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb0e7a268a90d43e18740c8a1465013f8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>United States policy</header><text>It is the policy of the United States that, to foster the competitive development, operation, improvement and commercial availability of space transportation services, services for Federal Government access to and return from the ISS, whenever practicable, shall be procured via fair and open competition for well-defined, milestone-based, Federal Acquisition Regulation-based contracts under section 201(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18311">42 U.S.C. 18311(a)</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idEA8F21A70AF14804A5A46A1A71EDBF50"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Commercial cargo program</header><text>Section 401 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18341">42 U.S.C. 18341</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>Commercial Orbital Transportation Services </quote> and inserting <quote>Commercial Resupply Services</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id32229f79233343cbb3d80f4a866d5c49"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Crew safety</header><text>The Administrator shall protect the safety of United States crews by ensuring commercial crew systems meet all applicable human rating requirements in accordance with section 403(b)(1) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18342">42 U.S.C. 18342(b)(1)</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id86317062a5b34138b1865d24e1f5ad46"><enum>303.</enum><header>ISS transition plan</header>
<subsection id="idc2cbccfbe27c4228b2a6b26f85e92584"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress finds that NASA has been both the primary supplier and consumer of human space flight capabilities and services of the ISS and in low-Earth orbit.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ida44630fa436a4a19a07600e42da75fde"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that an orderly transition is needed for United States human space flight activities in low-Earth orbit from the current regime, that relies heavily on NASA sponsorship, to a regime where NASA is one of many customers of a low-Earth orbit commercial human space flight enterprise.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id26f33124377749db8eb6ebffc6449aaf"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Section 50111 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1FFE6A93459E47DEA68DABC5AB69103A" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="OLC"> <subsection id="id2f45a243a824484a8475c5706a9e9235"><enum>(c)</enum><header>ISS transition plan</header> <paragraph id="id7a82786f78a842e4970f572cf90fefe2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator, in coordination with the ISS management entity, ISS partners, the scientific user community, and the commercial space sector shall develop a plan to transition in a step-wise approach from the current regime that relies heavily on NASA sponsorship to a regime where NASA is one of many customers of a low-Earth orbit commercial human space flight enterprise.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc06aee0eb0504b7a9755d38dc9242b70"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the <short-title>National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2016</short-title>, and triennially thereafter until 2023, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes—</text>
<subparagraph id="idecb4fef9c6624d3d8a20525b822303c4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an identification of low-Earth orbit capabilities necessary to meet the Administration’s deep space human space flight exploration objectives and mission requirements beyond the period of operation and utilization of the ISS described in section 503 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18353">42 U.S.C. 18353</external-xref>), if any;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide1d4c73092114cea910255762ec338a6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>steps NASA is taking and will take, including demonstrations that could be conducted on the ISS, to stimulate and facilitate commercial demand and supply of products and services in low-Earth orbit;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ided41cfeb8da843578ec71444b3a2aba5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an assessment of current and projected commercial activities in low-Earth orbit, including on the ISS, and their potential for meeting the capabilities identified in subparagraph (A);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id22adffd4274140dfaf7ff761aed4fb8b"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an identification of barriers preventing the commercialization of low-Earth orbit, including issues relating to policy, regulations, commercial intellectual property, data, and confidentiality that could inhibit the use of the ISS as a commercial incubator;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8678da98f6b945b2b1437d2b233cb735"><enum>(E)</enum><text>an evaluation of the feasible and preferred service life of the ISS beyond the period described in section 503 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18353">42 U.S.C. 18353</external-xref>), through at least 2028, as a unique scientific, commercial, and exploration-related facility, including—</text>
<clause id="id66bca11dd0ff4e278e650efc2f68cb74"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a general discussion of international partner capabilities and prospects for extending the partnership, to include the potential for participation by additional countries, for the purposes of the human development and exploration of deep space;</text>
</clause><clause id="idc9b075ef3d1047ba940ad229d7f162d7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a review of essential systems, equipment upgrades, or potential maintenance that would be necessary to extend ISS operations and utilization;</text>
</clause><clause id="id42c65eb07b8f4cd3abe06ca6f49c61ab"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>an evaluation of the cost and schedule requirements associated with the development and delivery of essential systems, equipment upgrades, or potential maintenance identified under clause (ii);</text>
</clause><clause id="id35fc303b0c754632bca69620f4311c9f"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>an identification of possible international, academic, or industry partner contributions, cost-share, and program transitions to provide the upgrades identified under clause (ii);</text>
</clause><clause id="id5dbcf6664bb34c109955f5cbf0a2dd45"><enum>(v)</enum><text>impacts on the goals and objectives of the ISS National Laboratory and the management entity responsible for operation of the ISS National Laboratory;</text>
</clause><clause id="id782b5d7971854f17b1af943d229e63eb"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>impacts on services provided by the Commercial Resupply Services and Commercial Crew Program to the ISS;</text>
</clause><clause id="id8dfeed31ce064888a15e551560b7a971"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>impacts on the use of the ISS as a testbed to transition functions of the ISS to the commercial space sector and enhance economic development of low-Earth orbit, including the evolution of self-sustaining commercial activities;</text>
</clause><clause id="id3d8c31401c7d44a3a5734d2161d70000"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>an assessment on the technical limiting factor of the ISS lifetime, including a list of critical components and their expected lifetime and availability;</text>
</clause><clause id="id0dc64f3dd9d64f7a90a52c95b35ea5cb"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>an evaluation of the potential for expanding the use of ISS facilities to accommodate the needs of researchers and other users, including changes to policies, regulations, and laws that would stimulate greater private and public involvement on the ISS; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id2e65f503df304461a1080f29af37010e"><enum>(x)</enum><text>such other information as may be necessary to fully describe the justification for and feasibility of extending the service life of the ISS, including the potential scientific or technological benefits to the Federal Government or public, or to academic or commercial entities;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id81fcfaef1519495295d1ebd39c360484"><enum>(F)</enum><text>an evaluation of the functions, roles, and responsibilities for management and operation of the ISS and a determination of—</text>
<clause id="idca8331e9772b4109882b7c62110ceecb"><enum>(i)</enum><text>those functions, roles, and responsibilities the Federal Government should retain during the lifecycle of the ISS;</text>
</clause><clause id="id6A444C8E721A489E88E5A02E20965716"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>those functions, roles, and responsibilities that could be transferred to the commercial space sector;</text>
</clause><clause id="id11615f5cc8d649c5a9c120ee64b7c87c"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the metrics that would indicate the commercial space sector's readiness and ability to assume the functions, roles, and responsibilities described in clause (ii); and</text>
</clause><clause id="id61d4cafbefa84016a572efaba23cbc80"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>any necessary changes to any agreements or other documents and the law to enable the activities described in subparagraphs (B) and (C); and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id806286d4f05841ba9794592a7cc8cfff"><enum>(G)</enum><text>progress on meeting human exploration research objectives on ISS and prospects for accomplishing future exploration and other research objectives on future commercially supplied low-Earth orbit platforms or migration of those objectives to cis-lunar space.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idB2B88556F8E84C569F05EBBFABD9278C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Demonstrations</header><text>Demonstrations identified under paragraph (2) may—</text> <subparagraph id="id05f2ff947c9d4c129c27bc671d4f697a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>test the capabilities described in paragraph (2)(A); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9c06096f6b3147c0a725d43c0ea003bd"><enum>(B)</enum><text>demonstrate or test capabilities, including commercial modules or deep space habitats, Environmental Control and Life Support Systems, orbital satellite assembly, exploration space suits, a node that enables a wide variety of activity, including multiple commercial modules and airlocks, additional docking or berthing ports for commercial crew and cargo, opportunities for the commercial space sector to cost share for transportation and other services on the ISS, and other commercial activities.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Advancing human deep space exploration</header>
<subtitle id="ide32a02ed61574b5aba99a930dc530721"><enum>A</enum><header>Human exploration goals and objectives</header>
<section id="idB7C9BA13D0074C28949E7EE39948CEF4"><enum>411.</enum><header>Human exploration long-term goals</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 202(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18312">42 U.S.C. 18312(a)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1C93D3647F584A84B2C22E0706593852" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id4508C2409075431BBFFD8E2626F8FF50"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Long-term goals</header><text>The long-term goals of the human space flight and exploration efforts of NASA shall be—</text> <paragraph id="idB47C36B08442470F8208585360C2191A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to expand permanent human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and to do so, where practical, in a manner involving international, academic, and industry partners; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3BAD3E977E214EE488C9902F053904C3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the peaceful settlement of a location in space or on another celestial body and a thriving space economy in the 21st century.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="id95D54B6DA4EE4F30A38BEE4249D676CE"><enum>412.</enum><header>Goals and objectives</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 202(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18312">42 U.S.C. 18312(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id41D5FB7DFA0647D585392107E69F018B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id10BBC4B7EBC54ABCBB0CC780DBB5C0FB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA8A9A6771087477981DADAF8A8D387AD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8A42237A333E441691D5CBE218FEAB7B" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="id5588F99F444E431E930B3036C0D555AA"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to achieve human exploration of Mars, including the establishment of a capability to extend human presence, including potential human habitation, on the surface of Mars.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="idC03B245097DC4D74889215D63190DE4D"><enum>413.</enum><header>Vision for space exploration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 20302 of title 51, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph id="idEA39112180D94EB7BC70D59F500C750A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a), by inserting <quote>in cis-lunar space or</quote> after <quote>sustained human presence</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idACEAD38521294AD6866A2983C5F360C5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id86271AC7C67747F2A98449920E043030" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="OLC"> <subsection id="idF99E33F1525B49D58BFC4EC189335078"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Future exploration of Mars</header><text>The Administrator shall manage human space flight programs, including the Space Launch System and Orion, to enable humans to explore Mars and other destinations by defining a series of sustainable steps and conducting mission planning, research, and technology development on a timetable that is technically and fiscally possible, consistent with section 70504.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="idB63E7E0CD6044864A2957345E468DE90"><enum>414.</enum><header>Exploration plan and programs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 70502(2) of title 51, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id12E56D5A09AD47429516CD9E77AFF5D7" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="idB54E94938A7A4335A579058496FA153C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>implement an exploration research and technology development program to enable human and robotic operations consistent with section 20302(b) of this title;</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="id4FC8442CB1224F8D978B00BA1C28C771"><enum>415.</enum><header>Stepping stone approach to exploration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 70504 of title 51, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3A0A2B8BC6C249C7A244A7EB76511C81" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="USC"> <section id="idB34A5DC211C942E5A23A62AD44E4235A"><enum>70504.</enum><header>Stepping stone approach to exploration</header> <subsection id="id91A822749BD74C24932A15F1C75C8FC8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In order to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the long-term exploration and utilization activities of the United States, the Administrator shall take all necessary steps, including engaging international, academic, and industry partners to ensure that activities in the Administration's human exploration program balance how those activities might also help meet the requirements of future exploration and utilization activities leading to human habitation on the surface of Mars.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idEFE527B0B99247A9AED4A680AF26EF98"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Completion</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Within budgetary considerations, once an exploration-related project enters its development phase, the Administrator shall seek, to the maximum extent practicable, to complete that project without undue delays.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section></subtitle><subtitle id="id921CA54DD4A4413DBE6D3833C85F82C9" style="OLC"><enum>B</enum><header>Assuring core capabilities for exploration</header>
<section id="id520d9c1d7cdb4af1ae64e5401d855066"><enum>421.</enum><header>Space Launch System and Orion</header>
<subsection id="ided2c6adb20e04deb9c2c9557d4508912"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress makes the following findings:</text> <paragraph id="id4345d91e7f6248dbaf3451e352af0a6b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>NASA has made steady progress in developing and testing the Space Launch System and Orion exploration systems with the successful Exploration Flight Test of Orion in December of 2014, the final qualification test firing of the 5-segment Space Launch System boosters in June 2016, and a full thrust, full duration test firing of the RS–25 Space Launch System core stage engine in August 2016.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idEA290CFCC84444E590E51D174FC79F13"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Through the 21st Century Launch Complex program and Exploration Ground Systems (referred to in this section as <quote>EGS</quote>) programs, NASA has made significant progress in transforming exploration ground systems infrastructure to meet NASA’s mission requirements for the Space Launch System and Orion and to modernize NASA’s launch complexes to the benefit of the civil, defense, and commercial space sectors.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb1f47067c92942378ee6b04f72757a51"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress on Space Launch System, Orion, and EGS</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id58b5678bbb564cbfae5b267be277f48a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>as the United States works to send humans on a series of missions on or near Mars in the 2030s, the United States national space program should continue to make progress on its commitment by fully developing the Space Launch System, Orion, and related exploration ground systems;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id473FC90E30FB4055BF40F5C13D775174"><enum>(2)</enum><text>using the Space Launch System and Orion for a wide range of contemplated missions will facilitate the national defense, science, and exploration objectives of the United States; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idbd79ca5d65da4ac28cf4d6f1a77b36c1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>continuity of purpose within the Space Launch System and Orion programs are imperative as NASA prepares for the uncrewed mission, EM–1, planned for 2018 followed by the crewed mission, EM–2, in cis-lunar space planned for 2021, and for subsequent missions beginning with EM–3 extending into cis-lunar space and eventually to Mars.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1defd3f4fb734a2b8fd83de3d2a1aa53"><enum>(c)</enum><header>In general</header>
<paragraph id="idCF1549FFE51244748C4E02D264CE20D1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Exploration missions</header><text>The Administrator shall continue development of—</text> <subparagraph id="id97B7E4404BE540B68F5E79F21389102A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an uncrewed exploration mission to demonstrate the capability of both the Space Launch System and Orion as an integrated system by 2018;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id95B3CFBE04FD4E9CB7A2D192B574D9D8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a crewed exploration mission to demonstrate the Space Launch System, including the Core Stage and Exploration Upper Stages, and the crewed Orion by 2021;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id54D12BCB865E49BF908E23675B5F7940"><enum>(C)</enum><text>subsequent missions beginning with EM–3 using the Space Launch System and Orion to extend into cis-lunar space and eventually to Mars; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB1E0D058A53942F79F88035EFE8EC157"><enum>(D)</enum><text>development of a deep space habitat as the next element in a deep space exploration architecture along with the Space Launch System and Orion.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id03047730622746C281E0E6ACF6EB3105"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other uses</header><text>The Administrator shall assess the utility of the Space Launch System for use by the science community and for other Federal Government launch needs, including consideration of overall cost and schedule savings from reduced transit times and increased science returns enabled by the unique capabilities of the Space Launch System.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id35ffe0125e0f4c929eae4f08ea6c9a31"><enum>C</enum><header>Journey to Mars</header>
<section id="idE2D61D92B5EB4128960112B5BE0FE625"><enum>431.</enum><header>Space technology infusion</header>
<subsection id="idd2986b8ea3694fce92cd79f533791bfd"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that advancing propulsion technology would improve the efficiency of trips to Mars and could shorten travel time to Mars and reduce astronaut health risks, reduce radiation exposure, consumables, and mass of materials required for the journey.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id110c081cb9a346d280bc2260f3cced5a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Policy</header><text>It is the policy of the United States that the Administrator shall develop technologies to support the Administration’s core missions as described in section 2(3) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18301">42 U.S.C. 18301(3)</external-xref>) and support sustained investments in early stage innovation and fundamental research, and technologies to expand the boundaries of the national aerospace enterprise.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idb2f4d599cea9479cbc9ee392efcb77af"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Propulsion technologies</header><text>A goal of propulsion technologies developed under subsection (b), shall be to significantly reduce human travel time to Mars.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id8eab5305d46143afba54a5e70389f8fb"><enum>432.</enum><header>Findings on human space exploration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress makes the following findings:</text> <paragraph id="id000c1bccb1214e30b96282c59ab91743"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In accordance with section 204 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (124 Stat. 2813), the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, through its Committee on Human Spaceflight, conducted a review of the goals, core capabilities, and direction of human space flight, and published the findings and recommendations in a 2014 report entitled, <quote>Pathways to Exploration: Rationales and Approaches for a U.S. Program of Human Space Exploration</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idcd5de14da0b34166996cd3d583b98b30"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Committee on Human Spaceflight included leaders from the aerospace, scientific, security, and policy communities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id76744879DF8E46ECA6691745AAB844FC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>With input from the public, the Committee on Human Spaceflight concluded that many practical and aspirational rationales for human space flight together constitute a compelling case for continued national investment and pursuit of human space exploration toward the horizon goal of Mars.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id14C42B01B533401BA996A3BA4C14FB55"><enum>(4)</enum><text>According to the Committee on Human Spaceflight, the rationales include economic benefits, national security, national prestige, inspiring students and other citizens, scientific discovery, human survival, and a sense of shared destiny.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd4f2caa8d42a48f0beafe9537a56b67d"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Committee on Human Spaceflight affirmed that Mars is the appropriate long-term goal for the human space flight program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0457cd3fdc5d4a8d91ef12a49b19d1a3"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Committee on Human Spaceflight recommended that NASA define a series of sustainable steps and conduct mission planning and technology development as needed to achieve the long-term goal of placing humans on the surface of Mars.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1052DDBC6E414573961DB9E6C408B559"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Expanding human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and advancing toward human missions to Mars requires early planning and timely decisions to be made in the near-term on the necessary courses of action for commitments to achieve short-term and long-term goals and objectives.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9B38C02D16574FBC8E093684907D2E65"><enum>(8)</enum><text>In addition to the 2014 report described in paragraph (1), there are several independently developed reports or concepts that describe potential Mars architectures or concepts and identify Mars as the long-term goal for human space exploration, including NASA's <quote>The Global Exploration Roadmap</quote> of 2013, <quote>NASA's Journey to Mars–Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration</quote> of 2015, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's <quote>Minimal Architecture for Human Journeys to Mars</quote> of 2015, and Explore Mars' <quote>The Humans to Mars Report 2016</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="ide7178f8895b941d5a99a3f96c163fda8"><enum>433.</enum><header>Strategic framework for human spaceflight and exploration</header>
<subsection id="idc72b91740f9e483db8b6c83fceea1bfe"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id5FB31ABD653D4E5C87CA09477D00F4FF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>expanding human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and advancing toward human missions to Mars in the 2030s requires early planning and timely decisions to be made in the near-term on the necessary courses of action for commitments to achieve short-term and long-term goals and objectives;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3D56682580F14734A36B76DEF7599048"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for strong and sustained United States leadership, a need exists to advance a strategic framework, addressing exploration objectives in collaboration with international, academic, and industry partners;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id834F5C57F90144C7B1880CCED6ACF077"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an approach that incrementally advances toward a long-term goal is one in which nearer-term developments and implementation would influence future development and implementation; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB9D8BB6D7EC4451EB1D94CC48896F5CC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>a strategic framework should begin with low-Earth orbit, then address progress beyond low-Earth orbit to cis-lunar space in greater detail than future missions ultimately aimed at human arrival and activities on or near Mars.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4d5584d9d581469780b04f50a038fb64"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Strategic framework</header>
<paragraph id="idEC172B74D6684B98BEC608CF2C219895"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall develop a strategic framework, including, a critical decision plan, to expand human presence beyond low-Earth orbit, including to cis-lunar space, the moons of Mars, the surface of Mars, and beyond.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id708885352d614ba18997f8edcf268058"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Scope</header><text>The strategic framework shall include—</text> <subparagraph id="idf56e46e82ee54ffeb30f6fc65333ee6d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an integrated set of exploration, science, and other goals and objectives of a United States human space exploration program with the long-term goal of human missions near to or on the surface of Mars in the 2030s;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8F764A9311DC438BB149815B47A89FB3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>opportunities for international, academic, and industry partnerships for exploration-related systems, services, research, and technology if those opportunities provide cost-savings, accelerate program schedules, or otherwise benefit the exploration objectives developed under subparagraph (A);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id260977d122c841c6aa63749faf68b334"><enum>(C)</enum><text>precursor missions in cis-lunar space and other missions or activities necessary to meet the exploration objectives developed under subparagraph (A);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5CCEB826ECF94F538FF82BFFECE42F9E"><enum>(D)</enum><text>capabilities and technologies, including the Space Launch System, Orion, a deep space habitat, and other capabilities, that enable the exploration objectives developed under subparagraph (A);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8D23BEFE08EA4FD9B950E8858DB45D0A"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a description of how cis-lunar elements, objectives, and activities advance the human exploration of Mars;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idab0709529759458db2ac7e6481d01d1e"><enum>(F)</enum><text>an assessment of potential human health and other risks, including radiation exposure; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8A990FC7C959461D9445D48F12BF426B"><enum>(G)</enum><text>mitigation plans, whenever possible, to address the risks identified in subparagraph (F).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3000e31a38dc472681f59154b69736d1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>In developing the strategic framework, the Administrator shall consider—</text>
<subparagraph id="idae379a49702b49c3ba9742ad16d7e3bc"><enum>(A)</enum><text>using key exploration capabilities, namely the Space Launch System and Orion;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id39DB3B4395684ED98905BE743395A8F1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>using existing commercially available technologies and capabilities or those technologies and capabilities being developed by industry for commercial purposes;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id854C38AE823C4F6397644DE53B444E35"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an organizational approach to ensure collaboration and coordination among NASA's Mission Directorates under section 621, when appropriate;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida0b40ba27f734954ac08dbd797967ca5"><enum>(D)</enum><text>building upon the initial uncrewed mission, EM–1, and first crewed mission, EM–2, of the Space Launch System and Orion to establish a sustainable cadence of missions extending human exploration missions into cis-lunar space;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id20eb821818794947859ab7e366636bd6"><enum>(E)</enum><text>developing the precursor missions and activities that will demonstrate, test, and develop key technologies and capabilities essential for achieving human missions to Mars, including long-duration human operations beyond low-Earth orbit, space suits, solar electric propulsion, deep space habitats, environmental control life support systems, Mars lander and ascent vehicle, entry, descent, landing, ascent, Mars surface systems, and in-situ resource utilization;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id840b861ca7f443d5a3df5c6e9ab6524f"><enum>(F)</enum><text>demonstrating and testing one or more habitat modules in cis-lunar space to prepare for Mars missions;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1D2C1FE561AC42DC9A8AEF9219A4786B"><enum>(G)</enum><text>using public-private, firm fixed-price partnerships, where practicable;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id17af72cdd7554729980ba302f3812b2b"><enum>(H)</enum><text>collaborating with international, academic, and industry partners, when appropriate;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id046759BA71604F0CADB96B131B9BD612"><enum>(I)</enum><text>risks to human health and sensitive onboard technologies, including radiation exposure;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8C6F965284734449AA8B71F0DD54FCD4"><enum>(J)</enum><text>evaluating the risks identified through research outcomes under the NASA Human Research Program's Behavioral Health Element; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4B9E0BD4C7E5415B8D3BFE64823137C3"><enum>(K)</enum><text>the recommendations and ideas of several independently developed reports or concepts that describe potential Mars architectures or concepts and identify Mars as the long-term goal for human space exploration, including the reports described under section 432(8).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idDF5145B3523C4F3B95090F959EC48D09"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Critical decision plan on human space exploration</header><text>As part of the strategic framework, the Administrator shall include a critical decision plan—</text> <subparagraph id="idA1E3DEAC211549D5A0AD0BF126C30114"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identifying and defining key decisions guiding human space exploration priorities and plans that need to be made before June 30, 2020, including decisions that may guide human space exploration capability development, precursor missions, long-term missions, and activities; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB3A1336668F74E13835B67A61775C514"><enum>(B)</enum><text>defining decisions needed to maximize efficiencies and resources for reaching the near, intermediate, and long-term goals and objectives of human space exploration.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ide31619beef1b40d9b069ba2b8a432aed"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>The Administrator shall submit an initial strategic framework, including a critical decision plan, to the appropriate committee of Congress before December 31, 2017, and an updated strategic framework biennially thereafter.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id41ebc4d7bd264d7e8996d49cc9aef5df"><enum>434.</enum><header>Advanced space suit capability</header>
<subsection id="idEBD766A880A44DD499884D9B73857E9D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a detailed plan for achieving an advanced space suit capability that aligns with the crew needs for exploration enabled by the space launch system and Orion, including an evaluation of the merit of delivering the planned suit system for use on the ISS.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0E39365E489C4414A76BDC4E8DFE61E7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In developing the detailed plan under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consider leveraging NASA's existing investments and technologies.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1A901943EC6C4504B63D3E9BB125FA06"><enum>435.</enum><header>Asteroid robotic redirect mission</header>
<subsection id="id07055145cf1349f385ce9569013d6b1a"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress makes the following findings:</text> <paragraph id="id96790cc26e2f486a924dc3e2471b679f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>NASA initially estimated that the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission would launch in December 2020 and cost no more than $1.25 billion, excluding launch and operations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1810915414d142e880770c9cd9f93192"><enum>(2)</enum><text>On July 15, 2016, NASA conducted its Key Decision Point–B review of the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission or approval for Phase B in mission formulation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idea74a1fc36a1470d931f1e9e61e96f27"><enum>(3)</enum><text>During the Key Decision Point–B review, NASA estimated that costs have grown to $1.4 billion excluding launch and operations for a launch in December 2021 and the agency must evaluate whether to accept the increase or reduce the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission’s scope to stay within the cost cap set by the Administrator.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide70e11cb368d4f15978eb4f5ff8f4602"><enum>(4)</enum><text>In April 2015, the NASA Advisory Council—</text> <subparagraph id="id959f1883f2f64e26adac512a860089e5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>issued a finding that—</text>
<clause id="id4863057A76E74FE68B6AA3B125C8DAA2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>high-performance solar electric propulsion will likely be an important part of an architecture to send humans to Mars; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id72E32F9BEAE44236802C1DA31E51EA21"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>maneuvering a large test mass is not necessary to provide a valid in-space test of a new solar electric propulsion stage;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7b4363d56dd54c52bf4c6cecb7e1d445"><enum>(B)</enum><text>determined that a solar electric propulsion mission will contribute more directly to the goal of sending humans to Mars if the mission is focused entirely on development and validation of the solar electric propulsion stage; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id422d227aba7346aab557511f393b6a2b"><enum>(C)</enum><text>determined that other possible motivations for acquiring and maneuvering a boulder, such as asteroid science and planetary defense, do not have value commensurate with their probable cost.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id537cf4b7543640fba1f88e1e7b13a690"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission is competing for resources with other critical exploration development programs, including the Space Launch System, Orion, commercial crew, and a habitation module.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide721fed437f042dd869a606fb9bceaad"><enum>(6)</enum><text>In 2014, the NASA Advisory Council recommended that NASA conduct an independent cost and technical assessment of the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9D56AFF3E6B44FC7952AD61D64D5BF7C"><enum>(7)</enum><text>NASA completed the assessment under paragraph (6) and reviewed it as part of the agency’s Key Decision Point–B review.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id52e470e35a9b4f9f947545c6b51b0dc7"><enum>(8)</enum><text>In 2015, the NASA Advisory Council recommended that NASA preserve the following key objectives if the program needed to be descoped:</text>
<subparagraph id="idb3d318b8cdc14654ace0951e0816942c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Development of high power solar electric propulsion.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7586896620c244ecbf49ebbf15205fba"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Ability to maneuver in a low gravity environment in deep space.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd7945031b8544e8eade406814c3f0c32"><enum>(9)</enum><text>In January 2015 and July 2015, the NASA Advisory Council expressed its concern to NASA about the potential for growing costs for the program and highlighted that choices would need to be made about the program’s content.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1949bc26f3c548b380c08399548e62a9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id4036d2d4ba9f4095bccaa79bb71172a7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the technological and scientific goals of the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission may not be commensurate with the cost; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idaeb95858ec6b441f863cf125a20e28c3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>alternative missions may provide a more cost effective and scientifically beneficial means to demonstrate the technologies needed for a human mission to Mars that would otherwise be demonstrated by the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide25ef9189d2a499e838b60113fecf519"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Evaluation and report</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall—</text> <paragraph id="id92BF9EA9AF0E402382AADE8962D54E93"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conduct an evaluation of—</text>
<subparagraph id="id2d46dd1a8d6d4256a646040fd287c038"><enum>(A)</enum><text>alternative approaches to the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission for demonstrating the technologies and capabilities needed for a human mission to Mars that would otherwise be demonstrated by the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1a190d9229584eff9afce330ec662f3d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the scientific and technical benefits of the alternatives approaches identified in subparagraph (A) compared to the Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission to future human exploration;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd9ba6f25441946caab4b76d8bc6b6171"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the commercial benefits of the alternative approaches identified in subparagraph (A), including the impact on the development of domestic solar electric propulsion technology to bolster United States competitiveness in the global marketplace; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id10eb3d05bb504eeba0b0a76b57f946b2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a comparison of the estimated costs of the alternative approaches identified in subparagraph (A); and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4961B59C3A154F729333C27285ACD65B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to the appropriate Committees of Congress a report on the evaluation under paragraph (1), including any recommendations.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id1B16385B5980491387699F036566F712" style="OLC"><enum>D</enum><header>Scott Kelly Human Spaceflight and Exploration Act</header>
<section id="id8FF9875D4EEF476CB404564EF7A87016"><enum>441.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This subtitle may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Scott Kelly Human Spaceflight and Exploration Act</short-title></quote>.</text> </section><section id="idE91D81122CC6422082023FAEA107A234"><enum>442.</enum><header>Findings; sense of Congress</header> <subsection id="idf5e26993d39f4a84976b7146f25d182c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress makes the following findings:</text>
<paragraph id="idc3015bc79f9249c8a55c3bee0bd371de"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Human space exploration can pose significant challenges and is full of substantial risk, which has ultimately claimed the lives of 24 National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts serving in the line of duty.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id12b8f6b55a584ced80e8703adf551bc4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>As United States government astronauts participate in long-duration and exploration spaceflight missions they may experience increased health risks, such as vision impairment, bone demineralization, and behavioral health and performance risks, and may be exposed to galactic cosmic radiation. Exposure to high levels of radiation and microgravity can result in acute and long-term health consequences that can increase the risk of cancer and tissue degeneration and have potential effects on the musculoskeletal system, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, immune function, and vision.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3cba6847ea5a4db3a240ed67cd8f7be2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>To advance the goal of long-duration and exploration spaceflight missions, United States government astronaut Scott Kelly participated in a 1-year twins study in space while his identical twin brother, former United States government astronaut Mark Kelly, acted as a human control specimen on Earth, providing an understanding of the physical, behavioral, microbiological, and molecular reaction of the human body to an extended period of time in space.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9014762525064f5fa6c4773ab3fa86fe"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Since the Administration currently provides medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment for United States government astronauts during their active employment, given the unknown long-term health consequences of long-duration space exploration, the Administration has requested statutory authority from Congress to provide medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment to former crewmembers of human space flights for psychological and medical conditions associated with human space flight.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idea14ec512431428fa84c0d1db0b3726d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id0E744CC073254CE18224B5AE6EA1931A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the United States should continue to seek the unknown and lead the world in space exploration and scientific discovery as the Administration prepares for long-duration and exploration spaceflight in deep space and an eventual mission to Mars;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idED8449A0D17B48B48E862A6B21C1C4B4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>data relating to the health of astronauts will become increasingly valuable to improving our understanding of many diseases humans face on Earth;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id88a6e6de693f4b24a97d9f5c1ad3a23f"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Administration should provide the type of monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment described in subsection (a) only for conditions the Administration considers unique to the training or exposure to the spaceflight environment of crewmembers of human space flights and should not require any former crewmembers to participate in the Administration’s monitoring;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id62804e3626d3473784c0c69af1203fe6"><enum>(4)</enum><text>such monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment should not replace a former crewmember’s private health insurance;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3ed99ffe50d2461a93a80749d968178e"><enum>(5)</enum><text>expanded data acquired from such monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment should be used to tailor treatment, inform the requirements for new spaceflight medical hardware, and develop controls in order to prevent disease occurrence in the astronaut corps;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0372C6CDC91E44458E4E3B83E9CF5203"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the Administration's existing radiation exposure standards, which have been used for missions pertaining to the Space Shuttle and the ISS, would limit missions to durations of 150 to 250 days and would pose significant challenges to long-duration or exploration spaceflight or a multiyear mission to Mars; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB08656D68EAE4F67B65AEBCFDC6C1E85"><enum>(7)</enum><text>the 340-day space mission of Scott Kelly aboard the ISS—</text> <subparagraph id="id014E41FCF9A24F1BA3055CBCE966EECC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>was pivotal for the goal of the United States for humans to explore deep space and Mars as the mission generated new insight into how the human body adjusts to weightlessness, isolation, radiation, and the stress of long-duration space flight; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9B445E4F11A94DD4B4D9DED59A3136E8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>will help support the physical and mental well-being of astronauts during longer space exploration missions in the future.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id68cbd9ce0745473395ee4260c7555587"><enum>443.</enum><header>Medical monitoring and research relating to human space flight</header>
<subsection id="id86285fb62fe54f9593dd7f60bf890272"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter III of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/201">chapter 201</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id72e4679ee9654557b37b6cc96e029eae" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="USC">
<section id="id56d74803ad544743ae280450857186c6"><enum>20148.</enum><header>Medical monitoring and research relating to human space flight</header>
<subsection id="id686c2c0ccbaf4632a230f68c534cb517"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator may provide for the medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of a United States government astronaut, or a former United States government astronaut or payload specialist for conditions that the Administrator considers associated with human space flight, including scientific and medical tests for psychological and medical conditions.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idd67cd9bec47a44c2b0eaa4a42aed6dcc"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exclusions</header><text>The Administrator may not—</text> <paragraph id="id0280fa2187dd46eb8beead01c06e1146"><enum>(1)</enum><text>provide for medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment of a United States government astronaut, or a former United States government astronaut or payload specialist under subsection (a) for any psychological or medical condition that is not associated with human space flight; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idfaf7f71c943c41e3980d0b5330bce57c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>require a former United States government astronaut or payload specialist to participate in the monitoring authorized under subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0763384215fb44f59290b291af7d6b61"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Privacy</header><text>Consistent with applicable provisions of law relating to privacy, the Administrator shall protect the privacy of all medical records generated under subsection (a) and accessible to the Administration.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idf06aa9ce90db44608b4dd48e4191f4ed"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The Administrator shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="ide0f7822df6b54ae3a8e6c50b8d8c1be8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text>The table of contents for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/201">chapter 201</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/51/20147">section 20147</external-xref> the following:</text>
<quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2AF30890C8244620A9DE2CD1062BEA3D" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="OLC"><toc changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" reported-display-style="strikethrough"><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">20148. Medical monitoring and research relating to human space flight.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section></subtitle><enum>V</enum><header>Advancing space science</header>
<section id="idd9bd6be995934ca79fb4a69f09270cb5"><enum>501.</enum><header>Maintaining a balanced space science portfolio</header>
<subsection id="ide7bb5cb4c98341f4832ea1dc6da52489"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Science portfolio</header><text>Section 803 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/267">Public Law 111–267</external-xref>; 124 Stat. 2832) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD8CA76250C9049AE93713F385D6E9FBA" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="OLC">
<section id="id1e27a56eb075458a8505522e1b262459"><enum>803.</enum><header>Overall science portfolio</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress restates its sense that—</text> <paragraph id="idF8A9E6DC3C914C5EB3EEB1174CCE55C2"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a balanced and adequately funded set of activities, consisting of research and analysis grants programs, technology development, suborbital research activities, and small, medium, and large space missions, contributes to a robust and productive science program and serves as a catalyst for innovation and discovery; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5201845079E24C2989A1E01E7524C573"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Administrator should set science priorities by following the guidance provided by the scientific community through the National Academy of Sciences’ decadal surveys.</text></paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id229ffe40ad024167becc271514e22938"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>The item relating to section 803 in the table of contents in section 1(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/267">Public Law 111–267</external-xref>; 124 Stat. 2806) is amended by striking <quote>Overall science portfolio-sense of the Congress</quote> and inserting <quote>Overall science portfolio</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ida941b81ed7004c00803a63af7a906589"><enum>502.</enum><header>Planetary science</header>
<subsection id="idf43e6732ee4d46298dc0c7f9685287fd"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress finds that—</text> <paragraph id="id986f20d027c94800961189ea5d262683"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Administration support for planetary science is critical to enabling greater understanding of the solar system and the origin of the Earth;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc4901539ab024e14b758fd9fdd1cdeb4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the United States leads the world in planetary science and can augment its success in that area with appropriate international, academic, and industry partnerships;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb23ab65870f446478452ce15eceb2d3c"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a mix of small, medium, and large planetary science missions is required to sustain a steady cadence of planetary exploration; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id700e93d232334d81b31d2f0447a17916"><enum>(4)</enum><text>robotic planetary exploration is a key component of preparing for future human exploration.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2e7a4c7f5ae54263980d846940a71811"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Mission priorities</header> <paragraph id="id9B0FA98D4C334AB5AF680698C0C0A1BD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In accordance with the priorities established in the most recent decadal survey for planetary science, the Administrator shall ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, the completion of a balanced set of Discovery, New Frontiers, and flagship missions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5A1F7D0948F6423EB2E77253FA0F0E76"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Mission priority adjustments</header><text>Consistent with the set of missions described in paragraph (1), and while maintaining the continuity of scientific data and steady development of capabilities and technologies, the Administrator may seek, if necessary, adjustments to mission priorities, schedule, and scope in light of changing budget projections.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id075da182baad453dae05853bb5d2d219"><enum>503.</enum><header>James Webb Space Telescope</header>
<subsection id="id49CA64A956904208BFBA1549EF7717C9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="idD691176DD3E649A3BAD985D7293A7053"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the James Webb Space Telescope should significantly advance our understanding of star and planet formation, improve our knowledge of the early universe, and support United States leadership in astrophysics; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7c6d89786a0d498bb6bdbff82fab89c1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>consistent with annual Government Accountability Office reviews of the James Webb Space Telescope program, the Administrator should continue robust surveillance of the performance of the James Webb Space Telescope project and continue to improve the reliability of cost estimates and contractor performance data and other major spaceflight projects in order to enhance NASA’s ability to successfully deliver the James Webb Space Telescope on-time and within budget.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idB77800E4CE09431EA968BED16F2303E0"><enum>504.</enum><header>Sense of Congress on wide-field infrared survey telescope</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="idd0c4ba6b2b3c41df901a638309d61938"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (commonly known as <quote>WFIRST</quote>) mission has the potential to enable scientific discoveries that will transform our understanding of the universe; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3a0ded8068804ce0a6106a22700d0b4c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Administrator, to the extent practicable, should make progress on the technologies and capabilities needed to position the Administration to meet the objectives, as outlined in the 2010 National Academies’ Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey, in a way that maximizes the scientific productivity of meeting those objectives for the resources invested.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="idbd3c4742b0044180be8f896502a82d4c"><enum>505.</enum><header>Sense of Congress on Mars 2020 rover</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id6C7546B30043496484597A1F451F47B8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Mars 2020 mission, to develop a Mars rover and to enable the return of samples to Earth, should remain a priority for NASA; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id240C017330554CEABBE9471A11F50469"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Mars 2020 mission—</text> <subparagraph id="id675763098EF041629AA72DDB9BA23910"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">should significantly increase our understanding of Mars;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3FFD294720674970A2164450AE1C662D"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">should help determine whether life previously existed on that planet; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1866355F48294B388A8B541B099CE4CD"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">should provide opportunities to gather knowledge and demonstrate technologies that address the challenges of future human expeditions to Mars.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="ide2a401348b9340beb7ed0d17203276ff"><enum>506.</enum><header>Europa</header>
<subsection id="idD1836E983790467997822DD7E555A285"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congress makes the following findings:</text> <paragraph id="id7fb74c00e28849b79c7d190a302b244e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Studies of Europa, Jupiter's moon, indicate that Europa may provide a habitable environment, as it contains key ingredients known to support life on Earth, including liquid water, heat, chemistry, and time.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6e2caea149fa4e659471b2fd46ff0444"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In 2012, using the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA scientists observed water vapor around the south polar region of Europa, which provides potential evidence of water plumes in that region.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide508037a92dc4d7abd96915b7ca0e070"><enum>(3)</enum><text>For decades, the Europa mission has consistently ranked as a high priority mission for the scientific community.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE9674EC41BFF4EFEABE60B7A13F786CA"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Europa mission was ranked as the top priority mission in the previous Planetary Science Decadal Survey and ranked as the second-highest priority in the current Planetary Science Decadal Survey.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3131c5523ae24b1cbb6b1b6256404592"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="idbf8422faa9434f55bc874dc82c96c162"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Europa mission could provide another avenue in which to capitalize on our Nation’s current investment in the Space Launch System that would significantly reduce the transit time for such a deep space mission; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3d2aafa13fe246d39bffd7131348147a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a scientific, robotic exploration mission to Europa, as prioritized in both Planetary Science Decadal Surveys, should be supported.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>VI</enum><header>Maximizing efficiency</header>
<subtitle id="id840FEE3FA1E34D84AE8E7A158A7FBA1E" style="OLC"><enum>A</enum><header>Agency information technology and cybersecurity</header>
<section id="idf0ee1070b3b7462f9a2db74595d4a842"><enum>611.</enum><header>Information technology governance</header>
<subsection id="id224855270b394ef4be92fc386f716fec"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator, in consultation with the chief information officer of NASA, shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id98932112b1f74d38944e9e23f476719b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>ensure the NASA Chief Information Officer has a significant role in the management, governance, and oversight processes related to information technology operations and investments and information security programs for the protection of NASA systems;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6664eafba4844e4e9255d96352f98b2b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>establish the NASA Chief Information Officer as a direct report to the Administrator;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idaf4ba8f2342b43a9a90be4ef69ec91d9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>ensure the NASA Chief Information Officer has the appropriate resources and insight to oversee NASA information technology and information security operations and investments;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id961fb110e9a044ea804409ef0ac51db5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>provide an information technology program management framework to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of information technology investments, including relying on metrics for identifying and reducing potential duplication, waste, and cost;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idbe1ed55fdc8140adac40b8b2acddf79f"><enum>(5)</enum><text>establish a monetary threshold for all agency information technology investments and related contracts, including non-highly and highly specialized and specialized information technology, regardless of the procurement instrument, over which the NASA Chief Information Officer shall have final approval;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id667d331e973f4c6b9fd8d27a74753deb"><enum>(6)</enum><text>improve the operational linkage between the NASA Chief Information Officer and each NASA mission directorate, center, and mission support office to ensure both agency and mission needs are considered in agency-wide information technology and information security management and oversight;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6d76cd01bb3d45a192845184d15db629"><enum>(7)</enum><text>review the portfolio of information technology investments and spending, including information technology-related investments included as part of activities within NASA mission directorates that may not be considered information technology, to ensure investments are recognized and reported appropriately based on guidance from the Office of Management and Budget;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id91ec73e391ef4e7da9d39c22d802cd8b"><enum>(8)</enum><text>consider appropriate revisions to the charters of information technology boards and councils that inform information technology investment and operation decisions; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id71D0FDD1630740D59C7C71DEA2883251"><enum>(9)</enum><text>consider whether the Chief Information Officer should have a seat on any boards or councils described in paragraph (8).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id71a95aabf5be4920b63c45aa96b82756"><enum>612.</enum><header>Information technology strategic plan</header>
<subsection id="id7542ba9c78764cb6b71ea3e191b7d9bb"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subsection (b), the NASA Chief Information Officer, in consultation with the chief information officer of each Administration center, shall develop an information technology strategic plan to guide NASA information technology management and strategic objectives.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idBFD94F04FB674B84B48975ED1754C1CA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>In developing the strategic plan, the NASA Chief Information Officer shall ensure that the strategic plan is consistent with—</text>
<paragraph id="id599A0567AC594B338E17ED3AA57688A1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the deadline under section 306(a) of title 5, United States Code; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idD23F8651011A4A84A0962A6E63F2DB3B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the requirements under section 3506 of title 44, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9cc09baee3634a8a88dbd8f873416806"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The strategic plan shall include—</text> <paragraph id="idc92f9d6ac9284e15a566a19b9afb1aea"><enum>(1)</enum><text>near and long-term goals and objectives for leveraging information technology;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2a528b0404504191b68bfecc11a1b576"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a plan for how the NASA Chief Information Officer will submit to Congress of a list of information technology projects, including completion dates and risk level in accordance with guidance from the Office of Management and Budget;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ida2d5a491d7f84eb6bbf079e3ac3f7c09"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an implementation overview for an agency-wide centralized approach to information technology investments and operations, including reducing barriers to cross-center collaboration;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idabd4b39c11fb44c78471d46b427b59df"><enum>(4)</enum><text>coordination by the NASA Chief Information Officer with centers and mission directorates to ensure that information technology policies are effectively and efficiently implemented across the agency;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id92cc7296028e4328b057f2d793ea7f96"><enum>(5)</enum><text>a plan to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of information technology investments, including a description of how unnecessarily duplicative, wasteful, legacy, or outdated information technology across NASA will be identified and eliminated, and a schedule for the identification and elimination of such information technology;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb596caa6dfba4cf08997a2512d335d73"><enum>(6)</enum><text>a plan for improving the information security of agency information and agency information systems, including improving security control assessments and role-based security training of employees; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="iddc6e70f7386d426bb47f6bce52e7df52"><enum>(7)</enum><text>submission by the NASA Chief Information Officer to Congress of information regarding high risk projects and cybersecurity risks.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id914951CBB133487E82FB04EC5918DCE2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Congressional oversight</header><text>The NASA Chief Information Officer shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the strategic plan under subsection (a) and any updates thereto.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id081a352a86c74b398cd639b90d274e64"><enum>613.</enum><header>Cybersecurity</header>
<subsection id="id03FC7C6498494B749A34002CD5372F17"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Finding</header><text>The security of NASA information and information systems is vital to the success of the mission of the agency.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id2C12F04A92364E3E8BEC0C91EE3F2629"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Information security plan</header><text>Section 1207 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18445">42 U.S.C. 18445</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id152A07EEBCC24232B85AF47CBF4FEDFE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (a) through (c) as subsections (b) through (d), respectively;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id920A277EBD66461FBEECA40308307EEC"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting before subsection (b), as redesignated, the following:</text>
<quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id10c5de3974bb42399433c7e49e4a6c45" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idecf6cbb7ee314145af42dfd2ad85833c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Agency-Wide information security plan</header>
<paragraph id="id8ab6a4f736734ce7a80237bb1661cad8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the <short-title>National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2016</short-title>, the Administrator shall implement the information security plan developed under paragraph (2) and take such further actions as the Administrator considers necessary to improve the information security system in accordance with this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0c9f6b9e9dac480da5774b77b53e7bef"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Information security plan</header><text>Subject to paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), the chief information officer of NASA, shall develop an agency-wide information security plan to enhance information security for NASA information and information infrastructure.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id19375876CAA84FDEB7B46B285D881A9C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>In developing the plan under paragraph (2), the chief information officer shall ensure that the plan—</text>
<subparagraph id="idC2724B06572F496CB47FC64EDE907E46"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is consistent with policies, standards, guidelines, and directives on information security under subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6BAD4C0853B842C68BC2556C90B9EDF8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is consistent with the standards and guidelines under section 11331 of title 40, United States Code; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id45F435C9DBE848D8A14FD1CFE5B18426"><enum>(C)</enum><text>meets applicable National Institute of Standards and Technology information security standards and guidelines.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA9E6377BC75849C795B46D240E32A072"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Approval</header><text>The chief information officer shall submit the plan to the Administrator for approval prior to its implementation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5c71516955d44228addc93d78dcea442"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The plan shall include—</text> <subparagraph id="ida3c5d5a046a343599b8d7055fe1e4020"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an overview of the requirements of the information security system;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id81A0AAF1AE074CB0AB0CE6F17A0A4E74"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an agency-wide risk management framework for information security;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6d58aa0de71a489cb3bec1b22133fa22"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of the information security system management controls and common controls that are necessary to ensure compliance with information security-related requirements;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id159d2a2cb7e84f11b07b08fef5f17fda"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an identification and assignment of roles, responsibilities, and management commitment for information security at the agency;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id181b3719401241d1b75bccacb1dac805"><enum>(E)</enum><text>coordination among organizational entities, including between each center, facility, mission directorate, and mission support office, and among agency entities responsible for different aspects of information security;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id88e88cde85b44c0d89ecdbea5af39ed7"><enum>(F)</enum><text>heightened consideration of the need to protect the information security of mission-critical systems and activities and high-impact and moderate-impact information systems; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5a7cb08f0b024f3481bf1daff224a802"><enum>(G)</enum><text>a schedule of frequent reviews and updates, as necessary, of the plan.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc102e3dbe04449388b91e29dc86c8003"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (b), as redesignated—</text> <subparagraph id="idA3E700E265984A14B7482DB22EC64A20"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text>
<clause id="id85b3a48059a040d786fd7142333e859c"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text> </clause><clause id="idb3c799ff22fa4d56ac43d4067a432c9c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ide22b6fcb49ae45febb3b568c72646bc9"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf1048f2c3e994d6396a671f58af96ad2" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="id0f1a024e466843c3bd7269b5130eedc3"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an update on the agency’s efforts to apply additional information security protections to secure high-impact and moderate-impact information systems and mission-critical systems and activities, including those systems that control spacecraft and maintain critical data sources.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id107E97FABEED4F82B1CE9E2B674A5FBD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>section 3545</quote> and inserting <quote>section 3555</quote>.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="iddf56542c3abd4d0098b566799235ff17"><enum>614.</enum><header>Oversight implementation progress</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter until the information security plan under section 1207 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18445">42 U.S.C. 18445</external-xref>), as amended, is developed and implemented agency-wide, the Administrator shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress an update on the progress made toward implementation of or response to—</text>
<paragraph id="idA6BC9AE3728C44A2B1D29805F1599E56"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the information security plan under that section; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idEB76084DDB3342A48C75AAD577FE64B3"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the information security-related recommendations made by the NASA Inspector General and the Comptroller General in the 5 years preceding the date of enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="id177ff40b1fd04a59ba0421a613259220"><enum>615.</enum><header>Software oversight</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall—</text> <paragraph id="id9b7dee9af6304d4b9898428cd64d5da4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>develop a strategic plan to transition NASA from legacy software by adopting a service-based acquisition model in line with industry best practices;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idf5ec81ef2ad045859c2639541ea05a24"><enum>(2)</enum><text>develop and implement an agency-wide software license management policy to improve centralization, lifecycle management, and procurement education, including education on contract negotiations, relevant laws and regulations, and agency-wide contract terms and conditions; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id72cc6eb87daf44dc9645fb943983864c"><enum>(3)</enum><text>direct an agency-wide inventory of NASA's total software licenses and spending, including costs, benefits, usage, and trending data.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="id493b5be654da48bc96ec4f7a2cdeb886"><enum>616.</enum><header>Security management of foreign national access</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress when the agency has implemented the information technology security recommendations from the National Academy of Public Administration on foreign national access management, based on reports from January 2014 and March 2016.</text>
</section><section id="id3e87f220a6604ab69c34c887f76c9238"><enum>617.</enum><header>Cybersecurity of web applications</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the NASA Chief Information Officer shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id784579532393481ba73b4a9670781fbb"><enum>(1)</enum><text>develop a plan, including such actions and milestones as are necessary, to fully remediate security vulnerabilities of NASA web applications within a timely fashion after discovery; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc1eed7b8de45462ca38298785e0f9a68"><enum>(2)</enum><text>implement the recommendation from the NASA Inspector General in the audit report dated July 10, 2014, (IG–14–023) to remove from the Internet or secure with a web application firewall all NASA web applications in development or testing mode.</text>
</paragraph></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id63438B077082499FAEDB817504545A5E" style="OLC"><enum>B</enum><header>Collaboration among mission directorates and other matters</header>
<section id="ida64ae74375f945a3a04adf25c9263dec"><enum>621.</enum><header>Collaboration among mission directorates</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall encourage an interdisciplinary approach among all NASA mission directorates and divisions, whenever appropriate, for projects or missions—</text>
<paragraph id="ida20657ec9e8f48518c6ed7507e56961d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to improve coordination, and encourage collaboration and early planning on scope;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id1cae2195ff6d427880d956c7792f789e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to determine areas of overlap or alignment;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ideaac371114de4e2692a8ea46a2bb6d84"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to find ways to leverage across divisional perspectives to maximize the outcomes; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id858798470e7a478192a54e5c5d8c27e7"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to be more efficient with resources and funds.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="id741A49CDF7AF43868594C30C3AA4E6DF"><enum>622.</enum><header>NASA launch capabilities collaboration</header>
<subsection id="id856970beb8e84329b342b29ad5f3bd64"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress makes the following findings:</text> <paragraph id="id048249a9f2924762b11afd53a8752636"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Launch Services Program is responsible for the acquisition, management, and technical oversight of commercial launch services for NASA’s science and robotic missions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4b95626c35a34753a0ba04ec2cbe520b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Commercial Crew Program is responsible for the acquisition, management, and technical oversight of commercial crew transportation systems.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id388d1a3ebdeb4532a59a7ae00f8fe0ee"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Launch Services Program and Commercial Crew Program have worked together to gain exceptional technical insight into the contracted launch service providers that are common to both programs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2cd4d10352ad49249391fc72a0527503"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Launch Services Program has a long history of oversight of 12 different launch vehicles and over 80 launches.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5E7E2D31273F432FB65C2063F943E6AC"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Co-location of the Launch Services Program and Commercial Crew Program has enabled the Commercial Crew Program to efficiently obtain the launch vehicle technical expertise of and provide engineering and analytical support to the Commercial Crew Program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id807c8d61881d49e49399cad51605a8fc"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="idC4A34B4E7D4A4F23806A739AD5447161"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Launch Services Program and Commercial Crew Program each benefit from communication and coordination of launch manifests, technical information, and common launch vehicle insight between the programs; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE25657A7BC3B4ADAB73133BA6AA78810"><enum>(2)</enum><text>such communication and coordination is enabled by the co-location of the programs.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide66ee4f6eae4499395e953a9ebae1abd"><enum>(c)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall pursue a strategy for acquisition of crewed transportation services and non-crewed launch services that continues to enhance communication, collaboration, and coordination between the Launch Services Program and the Commercial Crew Program.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id886AF32788CA4399AB44B4C67B305E1E"><enum>623.</enum><header>Commercial space launch cooperation</header>
<subsection id="id6B19B2FD133740A4AD2695EEDDF1D27A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Finding</header><text>Congress recognized the benefit of commercial space launch cooperation between the Federal Government and the private sector when it granted the Secretary of Defense authority to foster cooperation between the Department of Defense and certain covered entities relating to space transportation infrastructure under section 2276 of title 10, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id6af00047d2cd4bb0a788ea3ac941a24e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>In general</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/505">Chapter 505</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id33FF9E6BFB4041FD87DD9EBD471C4AF6" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="USC"> <section id="id7b3240ed508d426ea774311ca680068c"><enum>50507.</enum><header>Commercial launch cooperation</header> <subsection id="id93a1c5c27b9740cf88bf5cae690221cb"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority for agreements relating to space transportation infrastructure</header><text>Notwithstanding section 50504, the Administrator—</text>
<paragraph id="idbbcfe4d370694707a5814b8c19db878a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>may enter into an agreement with a covered entity to provide the covered entity with support and services related to the space transportation infrastructure of the Administration—</text>
<subparagraph id="ida484ffbe76b74c00a7db74d87f7e686b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to maximize the use of the space transportation infrastructure of the Administration by the private sector in the United States; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd07c53f7319643108f4c29fda70bc75b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to encourage commercial space activities by enabling investment by covered entities in the space transportation infrastructure of the Administration; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id53d31c345a2841f6a558855158238a4b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>at the request of the covered entity, may include that support and services in the contracted space launch and reentry range support requirements of the Administration if—</text>
<subparagraph id="id874a00d1773f4e7e9b7b5da6e20e3dd1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Administrator determines that including that support and services in the requirements—</text> <clause id="id81dc37cb685b4375a48d554d3d5e5f2c"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is in the best interest of the Federal Government;</text>
</clause><clause id="id1d9d8c2a46894453b9709314d8cdd2e2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>does not interfere with the requirements of the Administration; and</text> </clause><clause id="idb124c5944f8c414a9409713332abc8d8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>does not compete with the commercial space activities of other covered entities; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5ca1cfebe89748be9f97d16330155eef"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any commercial requirement included in the agreement has full non-Federal funding before the execution of the agreement.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida748c31039204c018db3874d8aaf99d1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contributions</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="idfcd6f88c3647450c8f4522a4b51dc873"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator may enter into an agreement with a covered entity on a cooperative and voluntary basis to accept funds, services, and equipment to carry out the purposes in subsection (a)(1).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id180da0a4cc924098bf9cc0cf75149c0b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of contributions</header><text>Any funds, services, or equipment accepted by the Administrator under this subsection—</text> <subparagraph id="id8c05f193f282493cbe48eee735f8f79f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>may be used only for the objectives specified in this section in accordance with terms of use set forth in the agreement entered into under this subsection; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc2467f8a7a86489cb0ae9fece8154f29"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall be managed by the Administrator in accordance with regulations promulgated under subsection (d).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd937d06ced6c4abe80a69c06d355ed52"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Requirements with respect to agreements</header><text>An agreement entered into with a covered entity under this subsection shall—</text> <subparagraph id="ida1876634e7c34053b7ae33e319c2123d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>address the terms of use, ownership, and disposition of the funds, services, or equipment contributed under the agreement; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcc36353d2e81443ea2dace0f27492236"><enum>(B)</enum><text>include a provision that the covered entity will not recover the costs of its contribution through any other agreement with the United States.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id884e553cda6147a08e6d0bdf874e8be3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>Not later than January 31 of each year, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the process used to establish agreements under subsections (a) and (b), including noticing announcements of opportunities and criteria for selecting a covered entity, and the funds, services, and equipment accepted and used by the Administrator under this section during the preceding fiscal year.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idbc307b4c2caf4c0ead98d00cd953bdd6"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The Administrator shall promulgate regulations to carry out this section.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id56ed6905a7e740e790fe914a7a7932fd"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="id356ca6d10f5d4a67ba3b594c05a2d8ec"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered entity</header><text>In this section, the term <term>covered entity</term> means—</text> <subparagraph id="ida9d001b6a4f7422a9e4770de75fe2622"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a non-Federal entity that—</text>
<clause id="id31a7fa4f2d024169b0ded767224a66a1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction within the United States; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id2d172f45a72341838cd708ee981a7aeb"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is engaged in commercial space activities; or</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfe5b1a1dad52475d8ac5546fe75f8d09"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, a non-Federal entity described in subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idbaccc478e8644c50a6b01e047a8b37a2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Launch support facilities</header><text>The term <term>launch support facilities</term> has the meaning given the term in section 50501.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id84973b31f5a144af9e9028ad1778c602"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Space recovery support facilities</header><text>The term <term>space recovery support facilities</term> has the meaning given the term in section 50501.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9febfbd389b3419abcf90a28c85cdc2d"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Space transportation infrastructure</header><text>The term <term>space transportation infrastructure</term> has the meaning given that term in section 50501.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="idac5edf1b87b14209b7850b060f5440d3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text>The table of contents for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/505">chapter 505</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to section 50506 the following:</text>
<quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4A4C32FBA46440739F2F1BCA844EF9EB" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="OLC"><toc changed="deleted" committee-id="SSCM00" reported-display-style="strikethrough"><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">50507. Commercial space launch cooperation.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="idee0847dd7d4a4d648f1a6e6be180b756"><enum>624.</enum><header>Detection and avoidance of counterfeit parts</header>
<subsection id="id08bd93302f644c0fb87d3373aea1c898"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress finds the following:</text> <paragraph id="id8df70a0bf32648389902da05a6951a50"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A 2012 investigation by the <committee-name committee-id="SSAS00">Committee on Armed Services of the Senate</committee-name> of counterfeit electronic parts in the Department of Defense supply chain from 2009 through 2010 uncovered 1,800 cases and over one million counterfeit parts and exposed the threat such counterfeit parts pose to service members and national security.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id86bd4a4450494b2f846ae36f96bbc476"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Since 2010, the Comptroller General of the United States has identified in 3 separate reports the risks and challenges associated with counterfeit parts and counterfeit prevention at both the Department of Defense and NASA, including inconsistent definitions of counterfeit parts, poorly targeted quality control practices, and potential barriers to improvements to these practices.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id38de0d508e17487eaf026d235de3ae7d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that the presence of counterfeit electronic parts in the NASA supply chain poses a danger to United States government astronauts, crew, and other personnel and a risk to the agency overall.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id4edfdafe1f3e4ab3ae5fd11d3333b775"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Regulations</header>
<paragraph id="idf69cee1307df43efbca109097849d367"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall revise the NASA Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to improve the detection and avoidance of counterfeit electronic parts in the supply chain.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id578c60d0e68f4436a423408333bf5a05"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contractor responsibilities</header><text>In revising the regulations under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="idfbddcb437e64481faad2c0dd8d0a63b2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>require each covered contractor—</text> <clause id="id04F579A03C2E407C94FE69334F963072"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to detect and avoid the use or inclusion of any counterfeit parts in electronic parts or products that contain electronic parts; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id1CE4FFB62CC146DB85BEEA987F86F8CD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to take such corrective actions as the Administrator considers necessary to remedy the use or inclusion described in clause (i);</text>
</clause><clause id="idA0707602D8874E03ADFCDEFCBABD88ED"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>including a subcontractor, to notify the applicable NASA contracting officer not later than 30 calendar days after the date the covered contractor becomes aware, or has reason to suspect, that any end item, component, part or material contained in supplies purchased by NASA, or purchased by a covered contractor or subcontractor for delivery to, or on behalf of, NASA, contains a counterfeit electronic part or suspect counterfeit electronic part;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbf665ecf284f4a48a1a5407209ecec2d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>prohibit the cost of counterfeit electronic parts, suspect counterfeit electronic parts, and any corrective action described under subparagraph (A)(ii) from being included as allowable costs under agency contracts, unless—</text>
<clause id="id82cb8b1885a8479e9c6c68d690804bc7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the covered contractor has an operational system to detect and avoid counterfeit electronic parts and suspect counterfeit electronic parts that has been reviewed and approved by NASA or the Department of Defense; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id640646015419415a9c7275d81645f409"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the covered contractor has provided the notice under subparagraph (A)(iii); or</text>
</clause><clause id="id0d91af02a4694c439bbac54abc0e57f0"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the counterfeit electronic parts or suspect counterfeit electronic parts were provided to the covered contractor as Government property in accordance with part 45 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id75556efb3ecf484c874fb0ffd551fd10"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Suppliers of electronic parts</header><text>In revising the regulations under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="id93d293663b9b499dae6c75ee30973fb7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>require NASA and covered contractors, including subcontractors, at all tiers—</text> <clause id="idf9502d1cd8344f3c953d8fe58915f99c"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to obtain electronic parts that are in production or currently available in stock from—</text>
<subclause id="id8E7A34FDFF734001841BD14C641186C6"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the original manufacturers of the parts or their authorized dealers; or</text> </subclause><subclause id="idF19D737B4B5A444FB74895B65EFD131A"><enum>(II)</enum><text>suppliers who obtain such parts exclusively from the original manufacturers of the parts or their authorized dealers; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id8daafdbe8ec84632bea28abe3a3425df"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to obtain electronic parts that are not in production or currently available in stock from suppliers that meet qualification requirements established under subparagraph (C);</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id61976ab0ee9f4e778e85ba6ac78b5d4f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>establish documented requirements consistent with published industry standards or Government contract requirements for—</text>
<clause id="id53500882a4134f92bff99d0d82a7e229"><enum>(i)</enum><text>notification of the agency; and</text> </clause><clause id="id3a60687d445842d8a4bb8c825bb61ac7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>inspection, testing, and authentication of electronic parts that NASA or a covered contractor, including a subcontractor, obtains from any source other than a source described in subparagraph (A);</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id32761ff8273d452ca13f2db2d14b2215"><enum>(C)</enum><text>establish qualification requirements, consistent with the requirements of section 2319 of title 10, United States Code, pursuant to which NASA may identify suppliers that have appropriate policies and procedures in place to detect and avoid counterfeit electronic parts and suspect counterfeit electronic parts; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7b2c6f7e68274b6d9a08d6dbaadca6cb"><enum>(D)</enum><text>authorize a covered contractor, including a subcontractor, to identify and use additional suppliers beyond those identified under subparagraph (C) if—</text>
<clause id="id1ac69136e5c747c1bdf339ebe60025b7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the standards and processes for identifying such suppliers comply with established industry standards;</text>
</clause><clause id="idab7e6e125ebb41578518db1d9015bed6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the covered contractor assumes responsibility for the authenticity of parts provided by such suppliers under paragraph (2); and</text>
</clause><clause id="id4fd8b4de45184b9c9053c5b4b1164c37"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the selection of such suppliers is subject to review and audit by NASA.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf8a1615b4b8f41309f3e0c7943fa03ae"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="idC06267AFBD2D4DB799C5D1E414561BEA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered contractor</header><text>The term <term>covered contractor</term> means a contractor that supplies an electronic part, or a product that contains an electronic part, to NASA.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide482b772931549baae5183cf6b7e8827"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Electronic part</header><text>The term <term>electronic part</term> means a discrete electronic component, including a microcircuit, transistor, capacitor, resistor, or diode, that is intended for use in a safety or mission critical application.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id060fe7c592c2439d816dded24b32d975"><enum>625.</enum><header>Education and outreach</header>
<subsection id="idae1c1aea637b4b52b19102ff4fbd3a00"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="idbb9dd6bd54f3497caf98a9c7036950be"><enum>(1)</enum><text>United States competitiveness in the 21st century requires engaging the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this section as <quote>STEM</quote>) talent in all States;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id31b83383d5384dada87b5d27dfa558f2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Administration is uniquely positioned to educate and inspire students and the broader public on STEM subjects and careers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id231cd88fc017425c9eca4a9d0c384581"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Administration's Education Mission Directorates, along with the other mission directorates, have been effective in delivering educational content because of the strong engagement of Administration scientists and engineers in the Administration's education and outreach activities; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ided0ef6caceff4449934b46220757c28b"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the Administration’s education and outreach programs, including the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and the Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, reflect the Administration’s successful commitment to growing and diversifying the national science and engineering workforce.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb7b82f57a8ba497f842c8a02bf0e0786"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Continuation of education and outreach activities and programs</header>
<paragraph id="id2379ec5984554a20a806cd04e41761a7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall continue engagement with the public and education opportunities for students via all the Administration’s mission directorates to the maximum extent practicable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC51AC5D13CFA45C384A4ECB862FB15E2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the Administration's near-term outreach plans for advancing space law education.</text></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle>
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2016
.
(b)The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. TITLE I—Authorization of appropriations Sec. 101. Fiscal year 2017. TITLE II—Sustaining national space commitments Sec. 201. Sense of Congress on sustaining national space commitments. Sec. 202. Findings. TITLE III—Maximizing utilization of the ISS and low-Earth orbit Sec. 301. Operation of the ISS. Sec. 302. Transportation to ISS. Sec. 303. ISS transition plan. Sec. 304. Indemnification; NASA launch services and reentry services. TITLE IV—Advancing human deep space exploration Subtitle A—Human exploration goals and objectives Sec. 411. Human exploration long-term goals. Sec. 412. Goals and objectives. Sec. 413. Vision for space exploration. Sec. 414. Exploration plan and programs. Sec. 415. Stepping stone approach to exploration. Subtitle B—Assuring core capabilities for exploration Sec. 421. Space Launch System and Orion. Subtitle C—Journey to Mars Sec. 431. Space technology infusion. Sec. 432. Findings on human space exploration. Sec. 433. Strategic framework for human spaceflight and exploration. Sec. 434. Advanced space suit capability. Sec. 435. Asteroid robotic redirect mission. Subtitle D—Scott Kelly Human Spaceflight and Exploration Act Sec. 441. Short title. Sec. 442. Findings; sense of Congress. Sec. 443. Medical monitoring and research relating to human space flight. TITLE V—Advancing space science Sec. 501. Maintaining a balanced space science portfolio. Sec. 502. Planetary science. Sec. 503. James Webb Space Telescope. Sec. 504. Sense of Congress on Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope. Sec. 505. Sense of Congress on Mars 2020 rover. Sec. 506. Europa. TITLE VI—Maximizing efficiency Subtitle A—Agency information technology and cybersecurity Sec. 611. Information technology governance. Sec. 612. Information technology strategic plan. Sec. 613. Cybersecurity. Sec. 614. Oversight implementation progress. Sec. 615. Software oversight. Sec. 616. Security management of foreign national access. Sec. 617. Cybersecurity of web applications. Subtitle B—Collaboration among mission directorates and other matters Sec. 621. Collaboration among mission directorates. Sec. 622. NASA launch capabilities collaboration. Sec. 623. Commercial space launch cooperation. Sec. 624. Detection and avoidance of counterfeit parts. Sec. 625. Education and outreach. Sec. 626. Leveraging commercial satellite servicing capabilities across mission directorates. Sec. 627. Flight opportunities. Sec. 628. Sense of Congress on small class launch missions. 2.In this Act:
(1)The term Administration means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2)The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(3)Appropriate committees of CongressThe term appropriate committees of Congress means— (A)the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and
(B)the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives. (4)The term cis-lunar space means the region of space from the Earth out to and including the region around the surface of the Moon.
(5)The term deep space means the region of space beyond low-Earth orbit, to include cis-lunar space. (6)The term government astronaut has the meaning given the term in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code.
(7)The term ISS means the International Space Station. (8)The term ISS management entity means the organization with which the Administrator has a cooperative agreement under section 504(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18354(a)).
(9)The term NASA means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (10)The term Orion means the multipurpose crew vehicle described under section 303 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18323).
(11)The term Space Launch System has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18302).
<enum>I</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header>
<section id="idb1c940f2-0357-40ca-a33b-a22a9b6357ec"><enum>101.</enum><header>Fiscal year 2017</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated to NASA for fiscal year 2017, $19,508,000,000, as follows:</text> <paragraph id="id30ecc75d-f4d9-4e03-b363-c8e3cbf78601"><enum>(1)</enum><text>For Exploration, $4,532,000,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc4d192d1-fb04-48d1-9a25-30dedc9a36f5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>For Space Operations, $4,950,700,000.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id697d0a44-ea1c-46cc-971b-c3fd0a1b0bff"><enum>(3)</enum><text>For Science, $5,395,000,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ida8467f72-3d3a-413a-8c1b-67ddbf5ff2e4"><enum>(4)</enum><text>For Aeronautics, $601,000,000.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id31b78463-a520-483a-82e6-4a85cbb10b5e"><enum>(5)</enum><text>For Space Technology, $686,500,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id44039d0f-79fb-4a38-855e-8bb93b31cc8d"><enum>(6)</enum><text>For Education, $108,000,000.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id12dfabbf-12c0-4b78-b0be-7f7a2b881949"><enum>(7)</enum><text>For Safety, Security, and Mission Services, $2,796,700,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id309bfcd2-ec16-4d68-9b8a-a9e447292bbf"><enum>(8)</enum><text>For Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration, $400,000,000.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id04f9a686-f5fc-4f3e-a821-d988d673ae84"><enum>(9)</enum><text>For Inspector General, $38,100,000.</text>
</paragraph></section><enum>II</enum><header>Sustaining national space commitments</header>
<section id="idf4049ca6-1673-4c44-b399-e5826f158494"><enum>201.</enum><header>Sense of Congress on sustaining national space commitments</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="idb3ad9dbe-9d3d-4940-990a-d5c0c6e1800a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the United States, in collaboration with its international, academic, and industry partners, should sustain and build upon our national space commitments and investments across Administrations with a continuity of purpose to advance recent achievements of space exploration and space science to extend humanity’s reach into deep space, including cis-lunar space, the Moon, the surface and moons of Mars, and beyond;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idf27051c8-ec71-4a6a-852e-9f4d2a694bf0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>NASA leaders can best leverage investments in the United States space program by continuing to develop a balanced portfolio for space exploration and space science, including continued development of the Space Launch System, Orion, Commercial Crew Program, Commercial Resupply Services Program, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the ongoing operations of the ISS;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id69be3f46-0593-49ec-85b4-db5f6189c850"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a national, government-led space program that builds on current science and exploration programs, advances human knowledge and capabilities, and opens the frontier beyond Earth for ourselves, our international partners, commercial enterprise, and science is of critical importance to our national destiny and to a future guided by United States values and freedoms;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idcb3395de-3f4b-4c9b-9f67-f1c7e3ef9a74"><enum>(4)</enum><text>continuity of purpose and effective execution of core NASA programs are essential for efficient use of resources in pursuit of timely and tangible accomplishments;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id915cbb1b-1082-4870-a238-6e9fbc161730"><enum>(5)</enum><text>NASA could improve its efficiency and effectiveness by working with industry to streamline existing programs and requirements, procurement practices, institutional footprint, and bureaucracy while preserving effective program oversight, accountability, and safety;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4f037f8d-cbd0-4452-9eab-0d979dcf7629"><enum>(6)</enum><text>United States government astronauts changed the trajectory of human history toward the promise of the stars, and it is imperative that the United States maintain and enhance its leadership in space exploration and continue to expand freedom and opportunities in space for all Americans that are consistent with the Constitution of the United States; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id712f2571-3804-4ab9-a0ef-3de2c74d3840"><enum>(7)</enum><text>NASA is and should remain a multimission agency with a balanced and robust set of core missions in science, space technology, aeronautics, human space flight and exploration, and education.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="ide76049fc-c917-4573-abc1-2653c69bd3f0"><enum>202.</enum><header>Findings</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress makes the following findings:</text> <paragraph id="id0ab3d8b8-9a8d-4ee5-b16a-26528079886d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Challenges of the past, such as the cancellation of major programs, have disrupted completion of major space systems thereby—</text>
<subparagraph id="idceff6949-dfed-4d0b-925b-fecb10c38cc9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>impeding planning and pursuit of national objectives in human space exploration;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id84cc273a-53a3-4636-9686-6b508b446e30"><enum>(B)</enum><text>placing the Nation’s investment in space exploration at risk; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id06656e38-64d4-476a-8973-4bbc6ebeaaae"><enum>(C)</enum><text>degrading the aerospace industrial base.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7e121a28-388b-4ec3-93fa-5e5d7fb21aea"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18301">42 U.S.C. 18301 et seq.</external-xref>) reflects a broad, bipartisan agreement on the path forward for NASA's core missions in science, space technology, aeronautics, human space flight and exploration, and education, which serves as the foundation for the policy updates by this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6a8bd0b2-d903-4071-971b-f15d1710b7cb"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Sustaining the investment and maximizing utilization of the ISS and ISS National Laboratory with our international and industry partners is—</text>
<subparagraph id="id68aa05e6-50e0-4b89-91a6-3bb574bb8d17"><enum>(A)</enum><text>consistent with the goals and objectives of the United States space program; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id03085d2e-7edc-46e5-acf9-fa877503f8c5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>imperative to continuing United States global leadership in human space exploration, science, research, technology development, and education opportunities that contribute to development of the next generation of American scientists, engineers, and leaders, and to creating the opportunity for economic development of low-Earth orbit.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcfd9be13-e130-44ae-979b-dabec35dda1e"><enum>(4)</enum><text>NASA has made measurable progress in development and testing of the Space Launch System and Orion exploration systems with the near-term objectives of the initial integrated test flight and launch in 2018, a human mission in 2021, and continued missions with an annual cadence in cis-lunar space and eventually to the surface of Mars.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id78dcd031-204f-428b-8f2c-2282f57e32ac"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Commercial Crew Program is on schedule to reestablish the capability to launch United States government astronauts from United States soil into low-Earth orbit by the end of 2018.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0466b015-ec87-4083-ad63-f962c30ceb7c"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, in its 2015 Annual Report, urged continuity of purpose noting concerns over the potential for cost overruns and schedule slips that could accompany significant changes to core NASA programs.</text>
</paragraph></section><enum>III</enum><header>Maximizing utilization of the ISS and low-Earth orbit</header>
<section changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" id="id0fe9e5eb-57e0-4828-b5f2-a99e09f0ba8f" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>301.</enum><header>Operation of the ISS</header>
<subsection id="id1611d64f-10c6-4a6b-9124-6288a1f0510d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id5f58e8eb-0bd5-487f-8961-6c0b3807b007"><enum>(1)</enum><text>after 15 years of continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit, the ISS continues to overcome challenges and operate safely;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc3be9d8c-d5a2-48cf-a323-3da5ffabdb64"><enum>(2)</enum><text>expansion of partnerships, scientific research, commercial applications, and exploration testbed capabilities of the ISS is essential to ensuring the greatest return on investments made by the United States and its international space partners in the development, assembly, and operations of that unique facility;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idfc8b736a-4fa5-4d0c-8933-7215ba72515d"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a stable and successful Commercial Resupply Services Program and Commercial Crew Program are critical to ensuring timely provisioning of the ISS and to reestablishing the capability to launch United States government astronauts from United States soil into low-Earth orbit;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5165b71f-fd11-4bed-96ae-ec8b739ff601"><enum>(4)</enum><text>sustaining United States leadership and progress in human space exploration is enabled in part by continuing utilization of the ISS—</text>
<subparagraph id="id6de0d5e7-1593-4c50-aa04-5a54d79c6f90"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to facilitate the commercialization and economic development of low-Earth orbit;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5029f748-9957-4935-8139-71f53f9c3c5e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to serve as a testbed for technologies, and to conduct scientific research and development; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7997dc85-375f-4981-b076-37e0ae34f86c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>as an orbital facility enabling research upon—</text> <clause id="id37bb461a-20f0-4468-8eb6-33ca6484ce00"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the health, well-being, and performance of humans in space; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id47c588fe-4d76-4279-ab56-3e3aa7e8b5b7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the development of in-space systems enabling human space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit;</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5744b959-cd3c-42f4-8d66-49515f78386c"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the Administrator should continue to support the development of the Commercial Crew Program as planned to end reliance upon Russian transport of United States government astronauts to the ISS which has not been possible since the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ida7351c09-3abd-4c65-830e-fe830b2016ab"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the ISS should continue to provide a platform for fundamental, microgravity, discovery-based space life and physical sciences research that is critical for enabling space exploration, protecting humans in space, increasing pathways for commercial space development that depend on advances in basic research, and contribute to advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7828fa91-b542-40bc-a424-f3e8993530e7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Continuation of the ISS</header><text>Congress reaffirms the policy set forth in section 501 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18351">42 U.S.C. 18351</external-xref>) that it shall be the policy of the United States, in consultation with its international partners in the ISS program, to support full and complete utilization of the ISS through at least 2024.</text>
</subsection></section><section changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" id="id509aecfb-9c28-4d62-97e3-aa4d62a37c5d" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>302.</enum><header>Transportation to ISS</header>
<subsection id="ide0084229-b33e-4993-be22-ec0ab5bcef31"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress on Commercial Crew Program and Commercial Resupply Services Program</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id3c070cb2-ad03-46cb-b767-b9ab6891f8a7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>NASA should build upon the success of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services and Commercial Resupply Services programs that have allowed private sector companies to partner with NASA to deliver cargo and scientific experiments to the ISS since 2012;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7605646e-d145-4878-9fab-ca025bde07d4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>once certified to meet NASA’s safety and reliability requirements and fully operational to meet ISS crew transfer needs, the Commercial Crew Program transportation systems should serve as the primary means of transporting United States government astronauts and international partner astronauts from United States soil to and from the ISS;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8cda4128-5943-463d-a486-87a0dc0155bd"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Commercial Crew Program transportation systems should have the capability of serving as ISS emergency crew rescue vehicles;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id152e53b5-8cd6-4da4-9815-142c7bbffcf8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the 21st Century Launch Complex Program has enabled significant modernization and infrastructure improvements at launch sites across the United States to support NASA's Commercial Resupply Services Program and other civil and commercial space flight missions; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idf75c6ce1-ead4-4879-a9e2-f578119001b7"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the 21st Century Launch Complex Program should be continued in a manner that leverages State and private investments to achieve the goals of the program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide75ad2ff-36ea-493a-a66c-708fe921e4f4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>United States policy</header><text>It is the policy of the United States that, to foster the competitive development, operation, improvement and commercial availability of space transportation services, services for Federal Government access to and return from the ISS, whenever practicable, shall be procured via fair and open competition for well-defined, milestone-based, Federal Acquisition Regulation-based contracts under section 201(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18311">42 U.S.C. 18311(a)</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id4ee35c69-0d79-4790-be43-06804818fff9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Commercial cargo program</header><text>Section 401 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18341">42 U.S.C. 18341</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>Commercial Orbital Transportation Services</quote> and inserting <quote>Commercial Resupply Services</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idf2f0e3f8-887b-4390-bb5a-74a79ce5e9e5"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Crew safety</header><text>The Administrator shall protect the safety of United States crews by ensuring commercial crew systems meet all applicable human rating requirements in accordance with section 403(b)(1) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18342">42 U.S.C. 18342(b)(1)</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection></section><section changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" id="ida3e9d4f6-9625-421f-a2bf-a8bef3243a5d" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>303.</enum><header>ISS transition plan</header>
<subsection id="id81be35ef-55e1-4d03-aae4-29140188fb3b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress finds that NASA has been both the primary supplier and consumer of human space flight capabilities and services of the ISS and in low-Earth orbit.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idd71522d9-2410-46cf-90c1-7a6f879e57e1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that an orderly transition is needed for United States human space flight activities in low-Earth orbit from the current regime, that relies heavily on NASA sponsorship, to a regime where NASA is one of many customers of a low-Earth orbit commercial human space flight enterprise.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id339eb2cc-5e46-490a-bc2d-8e99da90d384"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Section 50111 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd99df040-8a17-416f-ac47-56fa406d7945" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC"> <subsection id="idc16cfb77-7f4f-4310-ab15-5300fe99b934"><enum>(c)</enum><header>ISS transition plan</header> <paragraph id="id60c76504-f7a4-4a6b-bf6e-bfd27c41e714"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator, in coordination with the ISS management entity, ISS partners, the scientific user community, and the commercial space sector, shall develop a plan to transition in a step-wise approach from the current regime that relies heavily on NASA sponsorship to a regime where NASA is one of many customers of a low-Earth orbit commercial human space flight enterprise.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd3026357-9020-4d15-8acd-c7b4dad5ea56"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Not later than December 1, 2017, and triennially thereafter until 2023, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes—</text>
<subparagraph id="id470fa286-e1e8-4706-ac4e-f9c9eb2dbd3a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an identification of low-Earth orbit capabilities necessary to meet the Administration’s deep space human space flight exploration objectives and mission requirements beyond the period of operation and utilization of the ISS described in section 503 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18353">42 U.S.C. 18353</external-xref>), if any;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id38bc366b-0e23-4d18-8561-fd3144c6ebb7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>steps NASA is taking and will take, including demonstrations that could be conducted on the ISS, to stimulate and facilitate commercial demand and supply of products and services in low-Earth orbit;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc92c029b-00e3-41a1-a30f-8e08d17c93bd"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an assessment of current and projected commercial activities in low-Earth orbit, including on the ISS, and their potential for meeting the capabilities identified in subparagraph (A);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddb027d15-4cd2-4f22-b815-240d1fad7435"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an identification of barriers preventing the commercialization of low-Earth orbit, including issues relating to policy, regulations, commercial intellectual property, data, and confidentiality, that could inhibit the use of the ISS as a commercial incubator;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9e02100c-7bb5-486d-9a4c-7f2d7ddb7f20"><enum>(E)</enum><text>an evaluation of the feasible and preferred service life of the ISS beyond the period described in section 503 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18353">42 U.S.C. 18353</external-xref>), through at least 2028, as a unique scientific, commercial, and exploration-related facility, including—</text>
<clause id="id03756e0e-6bb0-4721-82df-e4e0c3e6bcc0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a general discussion of international partner capabilities and prospects for extending the partnership, to include the potential for participation by additional countries, for the purposes of the human development and exploration of deep space;</text>
</clause><clause id="id9244ba39-038c-4e11-817a-d82e67aa5f2c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a review of essential systems, equipment upgrades, or potential maintenance that would be necessary to extend ISS operations and utilization;</text>
</clause><clause id="ide666ed70-80e6-4f64-9865-2c58a91e273f"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>an evaluation of the cost and schedule requirements associated with the development and delivery of essential systems, equipment upgrades, or potential maintenance identified under clause (ii);</text>
</clause><clause id="idd882c336-4a0a-4a55-b81e-de67d5493559"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>an identification of possible international, academic, or industry partner contributions, cost-share, and program transitions to provide the upgrades identified under clause (ii);</text>
</clause><clause id="id73b425db-5eda-402e-8bb9-4e715dd409ad"><enum>(v)</enum><text>impacts on the goals and objectives of the ISS National Laboratory and the management entity responsible for operation of the ISS National Laboratory;</text>
</clause><clause id="id448f520b-89ba-426b-850f-0ca40b07953e"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>impacts on services provided by the Commercial Resupply Services Program and Commercial Crew Program to the ISS;</text>
</clause><clause id="idf055dc35-5d3f-4c2c-96b4-14f2a842dcd7"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>impacts on the use of the ISS as a testbed to transition functions of the ISS to the commercial space sector and enhance economic development of low-Earth orbit, including the evolution of self-sustaining commercial activities;</text>
</clause><clause id="id521448c4-1e9d-4904-8bf5-2f9d518fed96"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>an assessment on the technical limiting factors of the ISS lifetime, including a list of critical components and their expected lifetime and availability;</text>
</clause><clause id="id831af81f-dbb5-48da-945b-744332c3339a"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>an evaluation of the potential for expanding the use of ISS facilities to accommodate the needs of researchers and other users, including changes to policies, regulations, and laws that would stimulate greater private and public involvement on the ISS; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idebbca979-f51c-499c-af52-04679c7ee24a"><enum>(x)</enum><text>such other information as may be necessary to fully describe the justification for and feasibility of extending the service life of the ISS, including the potential scientific or technological benefits to the Federal Government, public, or to academic or commercial entities;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id74a78437-0e4a-487b-b7b0-8827e9ca9d4a"><enum>(F)</enum><text>an evaluation of the functions, roles, and responsibilities for management and operation of the ISS and a determination of—</text>
<clause id="idee79fe96-07ff-4118-8eda-28c2ea46e74d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>those functions, roles, and responsibilities the Federal Government should retain during the lifecycle of the ISS;</text>
</clause><clause id="id458a972c-e45f-42f5-b97f-d590721cc7bd"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>those functions, roles, and responsibilities that could be transferred to the commercial space sector;</text>
</clause><clause id="id00e5a36c-4674-47e1-9241-d8282ec51416"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the metrics that would indicate the commercial space sector's readiness and ability to assume the functions, roles, and responsibilities described in clause (ii); and</text>
</clause><clause id="id66a901fe-a7e1-436b-adbc-aaf2be0827a3"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>any necessary changes to any agreements or other documents and the law to enable the activities described in subparagraphs (B) and (C); and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide0803532-c5e8-4989-b072-75f1cec69d39"><enum>(G)</enum><text>a description of the progress on meeting human exploration research objectives on ISS and prospects for accomplishing future exploration and other research objectives on future commercially supplied low-Earth orbit platforms or migration of those objectives to cis-lunar space.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb64c9e73-aef1-47d9-974e-ea140a515546"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Demonstrations</header><text>Demonstrations identified under paragraph (2) may—</text> <subparagraph id="id9f79d8f8-4703-4fd5-9ea7-4d0465cba10c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>test the capabilities described in paragraph (2)(A); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc9432802-45e8-4871-8170-7af073d2b1b1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>demonstrate or test capabilities, including commercial modules or deep space habitats, Environmental Control and Life Support Systems, orbital satellite assembly, exploration space suits, a node that enables a wide variety of activity, including multiple commercial modules and airlocks, additional docking or berthing ports for commercial crew and cargo, opportunities for the commercial space sector to cost share for transportation and other services on the ISS, and other commercial activities.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section changed="added" id="idE475D784FC354049BF7A17DAFDE6C0DA" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>304.</enum><header>Indemnification; NASA launch services and reentry services</header>
<subsection id="id8EC7890E94F94E829E203062BFB99DA0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter III of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/201">chapter 201</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc0c7387a-848b-438a-a507-11e5573209bb" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC">
<section id="id50727f4e-e323-462a-9f1e-fc6b6efbd28e"><enum>20148.</enum><header>Indemnification;
NASA launch services and reentry services</header>
<subsection id="ide4eba544-65cb-4a09-bcd7-c79ac398398c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Under such regulations in conformity with this section as the Administrator shall prescribe taking into account the availability, cost, and terms of liability insurance, any contract between the Administration and a provider may provide that the United States will indemnify the provider against successful claims (including reasonable expenses of litigation or settlement) by third parties for death, bodily injury, or loss of or damage to property resulting from launch services and reentry services carried out under the contract that the contract defines as unusually hazardous or nuclear in nature, but only to the extent the total amount of successful claims related to the activities under the contract—</text>
<paragraph id="ide1fe10a3-57fd-4364-9eda-72e296916800"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is more than the amount of insurance or demonstration of financial responsibility described in subsection (c)(3); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id25814b12-e4eb-49b7-822d-23faa5415e3b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>is not more than the amount specified in section 50915(a)(1)(B).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id168ff850-43c7-4c85-8b50-0f9ea435171b"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Terms of indemnification</header><text>A contract made under subsection (a) that provides indemnification shall provide for—</text>
<paragraph id="id64511387-c228-4d1d-b08e-c225c32c7b03"><enum>(1)</enum><text>notice to the United States of any claim or suit against the provider for death, bodily injury, or loss of or damage to property; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb1d1af82-f413-42c6-8966-b62d7751a0e1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>control of or assistance in the defense by the United States, at its election, of that claim or suit and approval of any settlement.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="ide66d7668-e527-46de-9f31-3803808bd5eb"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Liability insurance of
the provider</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="idBB97939C617E402A9F2F35FCF4A5A464"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The provider under subsection (a) shall obtain liability insurance or demonstrate financial responsibility in amounts to compensate for the maximum probable loss from claims by—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idA2FE3ED584BE46609B03261CC15EE2B7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a third party for death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from a launch service or reentry service carried out under the contract; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id689E539E0870429888BB68F0190B2158"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the United States Government for damage or loss to Government property resulting from a launch service or reentry service carried out under the contract.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idEF6F148FCFA148ABB73C10E2EEDB5938"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Maximum probable losses</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idB341921E86B246EAA2544BBA30C86180"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall determine the maximum probable losses under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) not later than 90 days after the date that the provider requests such a determination and submits all information the Administrator requires.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idB2420ED15C074E0AA739EF9861F374D8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Revisions</header><text>The Administrator may revise a determination under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph if the Administrator determines the revision is warranted based on new information.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id625181268F4B48EE9F065D2835593EE5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Amount of insurance</header><text>For the total claims related to one launch or reentry, a provider shall not be required to obtain insurance or demonstrate financial responsibility of more than—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idA390562149014B1A90FBB6EC47F17F30"><enum>(A)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idBACD4622DC564851AE2E2B285C8354AD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>$500,000,000 under paragraph (1)(A); or</text> </clause><clause changed="added" commented="no" id="idE5884EA3F13E41A0A876873FA390050B" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>$100,000,000 under paragraph (1)(B); or</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idF07C2EB5AD6B4737A6AA3F7AEAFFA8B2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the maximum liability insurance available on the world market at reasonable cost.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id348bdf1ac0f5444e9af4f6d8292c9baa"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Coverage</header><text>An insurance policy or demonstration of financial responsibility under this subsection shall protect the following, to the extent of their potential liability for involvement in launch services or reentry services:</text>
<subparagraph id="ida14903be48f94c248e40e011256a7fc6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The Government.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id22A34B82D2EF4FFD9845FD5D4B550F73"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Personnel of the Government.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id656562038785487E97D9EDEC06A5DE00"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Related entities of the Government.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4c47d9cad42544e78383ba8c04d3193d"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Related entities of the provider.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id078fc0fb5ce0457e8cec723d4c58f311"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Government astronauts.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id54fde043-e3b7-4c67-a339-e7be54425388"><enum>(d)</enum><header>No indemnification without cross-waiver</header><text>Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Administrator may not indemnify a provider under this section unless there is a cross-waiver between the Administration and the provider as described in subsection (e).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id4887d5d6-a6d4-4bbc-bef7-c6843e7ff292"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Cross-Waivers</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id27C423E2B07A4A95A5B6C1F0450443F2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator, on behalf of the United States and its departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, shall reciprocally waive claims with a provider under which each party to the waiver agrees to be responsible, and agrees to ensure that its related entities are responsible, for damage or loss to its property, or for losses resulting from any injury or death sustained by its employees or agents, as a result of activities arising out of the performance of the contract.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id63C249EFEBFA40E0A27DD07293181410"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The waiver made by the Government under paragraph (1) shall apply only to the extent that the claims are more than the amount of insurance or demonstration of financial responsibility required under subsection (c)(1)(B).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1DD4DF9D01784FFF9D9883801DF62D0D"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Willful misconduct</header><text>Indemnification under subsection (a) may exclude claims resulting from the willful misconduct of the provider or its related entities.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id7ea545c0-14f9-4ad6-ab5c-371b7035c290"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Certification of just
and reasonable amount</header><text>No payment may be made under subsection (a) unless the Administrator or the Administrator's designee certifies that the amount is just and reasonable.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id26359b82-9458-4909-b6c0-797f5c18590c"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Payments</header>
<paragraph id="idAA1EEE77C69A41AABA95A9583B0B5C02"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Upon the approval by the Administrator, payments under subsection (a) may be made from funds appropriated for such payments.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6F8C8CD55D9B41DDA85A4A6FF4B7A597"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The Administrator shall not approve payments under paragraph (1), except to the extent provided in an appropriation law or to the extent additional legislative authority is enacted providing for such payments.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id8C22287627AC43B5BDFCD3C563A5BBD5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Additional appropriations</header><text>If the Administrator requests additional appropriations to make payments under this subsection, then the request for those appropriations shall be made in accordance with the procedures established under section 50915.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id112ef9e8-67b5-44f3-bbbb-22ae586c1ace"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Rules of construction</header>
<paragraph id="idC58A6903E79A4597ADC201FA14E45073"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The authority to indemnify under this section shall not create any rights in third persons that would not otherwise exist by law.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9E31947C50A8483AB6870C936004F2B9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other authority</header><text>Nothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting the Administrator from indemnifying a provider or any other NASA contractor under other law, including under <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/85/804">Public Law 85–804</external-xref> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/1431">50 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF615C243C4B443BD914A991A188D9483"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Anti-Deficiency Act</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of this section—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id00B4E887784E4EBA96A1A3C7D16A4218"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">all obligations under this section are subject to the availability of funds; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9C06312A54A540818F4CE1583E039082"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">nothing in this section may be construed to require obligation or payment of funds in violation of sections 1341, 1342, 1349 through 1351, and 1511 through 1519 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the <quote>Anti-Deficiency Act</quote>).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0119C5D877DC46F4823F54AD36C82D14"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Relationship to other
laws</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator may not provide indemnification under this section for an activity that requires a license or permit under chapter 509.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idff6e6caf-368a-4f84-be80-ba4b4e516fc7"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="id8DF2DB525139458BB1B9450C2248C0D4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Government astronaut</header><text>The term <term>government astronaut</term> has the meaning given the term in section 50902.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id3d2456a4-e24b-457f-ac50-a05ac56f0931"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Launch services</header><text>The term <term>launch services</term> has the meaning given the term in section 50902.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide4db55b1-5121-45d4-a762-b960bc25bfdd"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Provider</header><text>The term <term>provider</term> means a person that provides domestic launch services or domestic reentry services to the Government.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id25FBA5EB9015440B822083EF0B767B96"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Reentry services</header><text>The term <term>reentry services</term> has the meaning given the term in section 50902.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id08237CA1171347438EFAE37177809D45"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSCM00" reported-display-style="italic">(5)</added-phrase></enum><header>Related entity</header><text>The term <term>related entity</term> means a contractor or subcontractor.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idABD3C56D5E1E4BE88734773E6691151D"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Third party</header><text>The term <term>third party</term> means a person except—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" id="id42EFA5C89F6A4CFD97449FEE2F10E03B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the United States Government;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idDC7293A01F12425C9A3AA6C851FB4AA6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>related entities of the Government involved in launch services or reentry services;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id97BB9593594B41E6AF4A0D793528BD5D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a provider;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id26F02D49BA7C401F8539C5C31BCB58FD"><enum>(D)</enum><text>related entities of the provider involved in launch services or reentry services; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idA33D231437DD465FAA13C77A65336DB7"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a government astronaut.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idac006892-0192-4762-a0c6-ce0e8f0c1ac0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents for subchapter III of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/201">chapter 201</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/51/20147">section 20147</external-xref> the following:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idda607542-af88-4eb9-8942-60317e004333" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<toc changed="added" reported-display-style="italic">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">20148. Indemnification; NASA
launch
services and reentry services.</toc-entry>
</toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Advancing human deep space exploration</header>
<subtitle id="idad45be9e-5f44-4dca-a9fd-703bbe050e07"><enum>A</enum><header>Human exploration goals and objectives</header>
<section id="id1629798e-1996-4964-9b61-4cbe31d6b4a7"><enum>411.</enum><header>Human exploration long-term goals</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 202(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18312">42 U.S.C. 18312(a)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfca76bb3-bb00-456c-ad80-853698bba72d" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idcb5c2cef-5d70-41d3-90c3-dc81321f47d2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Long-term goals</header><text>The long-term goals of the human space flight and exploration efforts of NASA shall be—</text> <paragraph id="idc44dff54-a42e-4dbd-9d39-c27861d89f44"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to expand permanent human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and to do so, where practical, in a manner involving international, academic, and industry partners; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id75a107cd-25a9-441b-960f-50309ddfa97a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the peaceful settlement of a location in space or on another celestial body and a thriving space economy in the 21st century.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="idf5fbb426-b341-4dff-9735-13686178ae6f"><enum>412.</enum><header>Goals and objectives</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 202(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18312">42 U.S.C. 18312(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idafa17a17-28e7-4c75-9995-c4fd1a8baf38"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idf0375aed-a355-454b-8991-42e53b5c35b8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id13c40011-3912-48ff-89cc-d59133bf4df4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id23cead22-b037-40ce-b1e1-17892af529e3" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="idce57a674-468b-4d1d-b482-7b7f216c60c2"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to achieve human exploration of Mars, including the establishment of a capability to extend human presence, including potential human habitation, on the surface of Mars.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="id2e70525c-5ea1-4a14-91bf-52393b507c69"><enum>413.</enum><header>Vision for space exploration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 20302 of title 51, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph id="id4067eb23-ab95-4973-95df-7ef89feb7b2c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a), by inserting <quote>in cis-lunar space or</quote> after <quote>sustained human presence</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="iddd5a07be-200a-4fa3-9235-f9da7d52e8e8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd9cdef84-6367-4419-9439-a47722960e1d" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC"> <subsection id="id80d4aff1-f209-43df-8d14-77d25106da7b"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Future exploration of Mars</header><text>The Administrator shall manage human space flight programs, including the Space Launch System and Orion, to enable humans to explore Mars and other destinations by defining a series of sustainable steps and conducting mission planning, research, and technology development on a timetable that is technically and fiscally possible, consistent with section 70504.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="idbc0426e0-2df7-44c7-bbc2-7af3282c5089"><enum>414.</enum><header>Exploration plan and programs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 70502(2) of title 51, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id16bb6173-d764-4c67-a2d8-d642d0384f21" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="iddd20eaf5-60fb-4d07-8dad-51b9b7889ea1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>implement an exploration research and technology development program to enable human and robotic operations consistent with section 20302(b) of this title;</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="id60d9e57f-5b2a-4b3c-9371-694e7593bae0"><enum>415.</enum><header>Stepping stone approach to exploration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 70504 of title 51, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id98070f9e-cbac-43c6-8d4a-739427c89a8f" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC"> <section id="idf9a18efd-4e23-4eaa-9a7c-51490b0f8a8b"><enum>70504.</enum><header>Stepping stone approach to exploration</header> <subsection id="idf1031743-6ab8-4c2f-8493-3acea052f3e6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In order to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the long-term exploration and utilization activities of the United States, the Administrator shall take all necessary steps, including engaging international, academic, and industry partners, to ensure that activities in the Administration's human exploration program balance how those activities might also help meet the requirements of future exploration and utilization activities leading to human habitation on the surface of Mars.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id52df9ca7-6ca4-4165-a81b-8a35487237e7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Completion</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Within budgetary considerations, once an exploration-related project enters its development phase, the Administrator shall seek, to the maximum extent practicable, to complete that project without undue delays.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section></subtitle><subtitle id="id463fa6bf-c0b6-4194-9f02-4d5ef4b0023c" style="OLC"><enum>B</enum><header>Assuring core capabilities for exploration</header>
<section id="id5e96bdc6-c69d-48c8-9753-e18573c6544a"><enum>421.</enum><header>Space Launch System and Orion</header>
<subsection id="iddc6499df-c8d0-4a4e-8765-75de2fa66e2d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress makes the following findings:</text> <paragraph id="idafd890e6-df1f-4db6-91f6-a410248c12a5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>NASA has made steady progress in developing and testing the Space Launch System and Orion exploration systems with the successful Exploration Flight Test of Orion in December of 2014, the final qualification test firing of the 5-segment Space Launch System boosters in June 2016, and a full thrust, full duration test firing of the RS–25 Space Launch System core stage engine in August 2016.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5804e525-45e8-4bea-9f5f-a5c199f5b9b0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Through the 21st Century Launch Complex program and Exploration Ground Systems programs, NASA has made significant progress in transforming exploration ground systems infrastructure to meet NASA’s mission requirements for the Space Launch System and Orion and to modernize NASA’s launch complexes to the benefit of the civil, defense, and commercial space sectors.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id663e66bd-5c62-4749-924d-dee491c61085"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress on Space Launch System, Orion, and Exploration Ground Systems</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id80c0fc18-4c4d-4458-bf39-dc5e47290214"><enum>(1)</enum><text>as the United States works to send humans on a series of missions on or near Mars in the 2030s, the United States national space program should continue to make progress on its commitment by fully developing the Space Launch System, Orion, and related Exploration Ground Systems;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1aed5b67-6e5c-45c3-91cc-e16cdbc00c79"><enum>(2)</enum><text>using the Space Launch System and Orion for a wide range of contemplated missions will facilitate the national defense, science, and exploration objectives of the United States; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd41a9981-c551-4e9b-bc0a-8fd973c0e40a"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the United States should have continuity of purpose for Space Launch System and Orion in deep space exploration missions, using them beginning with the uncrewed mission, EM–1, planned for 2018, followed by the crewed mission, EM–2, in cis-lunar space planned for 2021, and for subsequent missions beginning with EM–3 extending into cis-lunar space and eventually to Mars.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4d58fda7-77cd-452b-8b95-0f9454c1d1fe"><enum>(c)</enum><header>In general</header>
<paragraph id="id6eff7308-d4ea-4724-b91d-073bda298b2a"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Exploration missions</header><text>The Administrator shall continue development of—</text> <subparagraph id="ida0a7f49f-e168-4c62-89d4-5600ae0448ce"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an uncrewed exploration mission to demonstrate the capability of both the Space Launch System and Orion as an integrated system by 2018;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddbc60a6e-0fb1-4f38-9d90-f2e8dfc28c0d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a crewed exploration mission to demonstrate the Space Launch System, including the Core Stage and Exploration Upper Stages, and the crewed Orion mission by 2021;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd9647517-619e-4e4a-a410-f2dbb6c81165"><enum>(C)</enum><text>subsequent missions beginning with EM–3 using the Space Launch System and Orion to extend into cis-lunar space and eventually to Mars; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7e0c2a2c-6aa0-4b30-b52a-710a0c5af916"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a deep space habitat as the next element in a deep space exploration architecture along with the Space Launch System and Orion.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id09a12aef-e300-4f8d-9d81-9bbd168385cd"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other uses</header><text>The Administrator shall assess the utility of the Space Launch System for use by the science community and for other Federal Government launch needs, including consideration of overall cost and schedule savings from reduced transit times and increased science returns enabled by the unique capabilities of the Space Launch System.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idaef262aa-11c3-4bfe-9de5-ddf90775b6fd"><enum>C</enum><header>Journey to Mars</header>
<section id="id50af66c5-67c7-4e33-9cb1-f5710994372e"><enum>431.</enum><header>Space technology infusion</header>
<subsection id="id2b78cc73-65ab-4ae7-a2d8-3e3a14792f6a"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that advancing propulsion technology would improve the efficiency of trips to Mars and could shorten travel time to Mars, reduce astronaut health risks, and reduce radiation exposure, consumables, and mass of materials required for the journey.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id9a2cb588-dea2-4f2e-b251-4bb50cffc89d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Policy</header><text>It is the policy of the United States that the Administrator shall develop technologies to support the Administration’s core missions, as described in section 2(3) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18301">42 U.S.C. 18301(3)</external-xref>), and support sustained investments in early stage innovation, fundamental research, and technologies to expand the boundaries of the national aerospace enterprise.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id6f24e575-047f-40d5-af56-565d1571a64a"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Propulsion technologies</header><text>A goal of propulsion technologies developed under subsection (b) shall be to significantly reduce human travel time to Mars.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id31a23236-92a3-40d2-a44e-5ca2522af36b"><enum>432.</enum><header>Findings on human space exploration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress makes the following findings:</text> <paragraph id="id433cec1d-f7cc-487c-8ec3-cdd1cc20c831"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In accordance with section 204 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (124 Stat. 2813), the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, through its Committee on Human Spaceflight, conducted a review of the goals, core capabilities, and direction of human space flight, and published the findings and recommendations in a 2014 report entitled, <quote>Pathways to Exploration: Rationales and Approaches for a U.S. Program of Human Space Exploration</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idce8929f2-7c85-4d64-9b18-383c47b0ef7d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Committee on Human Spaceflight included leaders from the aerospace, scientific, security, and policy communities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id00c76aad-bd94-4d79-8829-75a6ac37657b"><enum>(3)</enum><text>With input from the public, the Committee on Human Spaceflight concluded that many practical and aspirational rationales for human space flight together constitute a compelling case for continued national investment and pursuit of human space exploration toward the horizon goal of Mars.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0f53f128-1669-45b6-91d4-841471f50918"><enum>(4)</enum><text>According to the Committee on Human Spaceflight, the rationales include economic benefits, national security, national prestige, inspiring students and other citizens, scientific discovery, human survival, and a sense of shared destiny.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3130354d-68f1-4603-a955-640d7be17aa2"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Committee on Human Spaceflight affirmed that Mars is the appropriate long-term goal for the human space flight program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3e0a8043-aafd-4b23-b679-89d9e36fc4a4"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Committee on Human Spaceflight recommended that NASA define a series of sustainable steps and conduct mission planning and technology development as needed to achieve the long-term goal of placing humans on the surface of Mars.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9795859f-2f39-4fa3-95f7-db83a9d13a46"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Expanding human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and advancing toward human missions to Mars requires early planning and timely decisions to be made in the near-term on the necessary courses of action for commitments to achieve short-term and long-term goals and objectives.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id926e5c2a-557b-45ba-a29d-c18f92791587"><enum>(8)</enum><text>In addition to the 2014 report described in paragraph (1), there are several independently developed reports or concepts that describe potential Mars architectures or concepts and identify Mars as the long-term goal for human space exploration, including NASA's <quote>The Global Exploration Roadmap</quote> of 2013, <quote>NASA's Journey to Mars–Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration</quote> of 2015, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's <quote>Minimal Architecture for Human Journeys to Mars</quote> of 2015, and Explore Mars' <quote>The Humans to Mars Report 2016</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="idf01ee532-c128-4da2-a434-dc4ea50ea1f3"><enum>433.</enum><header>Strategic framework for human spaceflight and exploration</header>
<subsection id="idb867cd37-215d-4f0a-bb7e-db4c1f816f2d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id713ea7fb-6243-4b10-ab5a-36bb1a345956"><enum>(1)</enum><text>expanding human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and advancing toward human missions to Mars in the 2030s requires early planning and timely decisions to be made in the near-term on the necessary courses of action for commitments to achieve short-term and long-term goals and objectives;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id102ca978-3fc7-455d-b032-fa37d3a6e903"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for strong and sustained United States leadership, a need exists to advance a strategic framework, addressing exploration objectives in collaboration with international, academic, and industry partners;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0ee271c1-e8b9-4fd8-9057-2df0d30961b4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an approach that incrementally advances toward a long-term goal is one in which nearer-term developments and implementation would influence future development and implementation; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9c2d428f-60a1-42af-882b-f61c9cbaf83b"><enum>(4)</enum><text>a strategic framework should begin with low-Earth orbit, then address progress beyond low-Earth orbit to cis-lunar space in greater detail, and then address future missions ultimately aimed at human arrival and activities on or near Mars.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcb1f9be9-5098-4e9f-ba90-142452609b97"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Strategic framework</header>
<paragraph id="id7e5660ad-4ba9-4172-8713-36ddb3c69a7b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall develop a strategic framework, including a critical decision plan, to expand human presence beyond low-Earth orbit, including to cis-lunar space, the moons of Mars, the surface of Mars, and beyond.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id901a58a9-aabb-4932-bbbc-e2d80f99f587"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Scope</header><text>The strategic framework shall include—</text> <subparagraph id="id44298dba-8b26-4881-a198-a280032d164f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an integrated set of exploration, science, and other goals and objectives of a United States human space exploration program with the long-term goal of human missions near to or on the surface of Mars in the 2030s;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id62926cd0-2cf1-45ac-b1fd-39093ea06179"><enum>(B)</enum><text>opportunities for international, academic, and industry partnerships for exploration-related systems, services, research, and technology if those opportunities provide cost-savings, accelerate program schedules, or otherwise benefit the exploration objectives developed under subparagraph (A);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9cbdbf30-b4f3-4ca4-b9c3-984c2d673e4e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>precursor missions in cis-lunar space and other missions or activities necessary to meet the exploration objectives developed under subparagraph (A), including anticipated timelines and missions for the Space Launch System and Orion;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id540e4ffd-c1fa-4618-b9ec-ab6aaa19699d"><enum>(D)</enum><text>capabilities and technologies, including the Space Launch System, Orion, a deep space habitat, and other capabilities, that enable the exploration objectives developed under subparagraph (A);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd885b004-bd10-46b4-bc15-ba48bc2cc0d1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a description of how cis-lunar elements, objectives, and activities advance the human exploration of Mars;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id14c1603e-cc41-41a8-ac0a-327e76877322"><enum>(F)</enum><text>an assessment of potential human health and other risks, including radiation exposure; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0d530221-6ed2-438f-b183-6ee1e1f3e5f5"><enum>(G)</enum><text>mitigation plans, whenever possible, to address the risks identified in subparagraph (F).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7a0418f2-4fb6-43ee-82d6-c7bb75a180fa"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>In developing the strategic framework, the Administrator shall consider—</text>
<subparagraph id="id7ed3d72c-82de-4352-be33-01214ca5a6b5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>using key exploration capabilities, namely the Space Launch System and Orion;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc194ab0c-4e17-4549-8ac7-b345fe393cf6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>using existing commercially available technologies and capabilities or those technologies and capabilities being developed by industry for commercial purposes;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id01f8c383-74e0-4007-83da-20a70c1f5f4b"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an organizational approach to ensure collaboration and coordination among NASA's Mission Directorates under section 621, when appropriate, including to collect and return to Earth a sample from the Martian surface;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id12390c3c-fcad-4aec-ab2e-33bbe469a45c"><enum>(D)</enum><text>building upon the initial uncrewed mission, EM–1, and first crewed mission, EM–2, of the Space Launch System and Orion to establish a sustainable cadence of missions extending human exploration missions into cis-lunar space, including anticipated timelines and milestones;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id334d6d54-a888-481b-aa07-0638a050078e"><enum>(E)</enum><text>developing the precursor missions and activities that will demonstrate, test, and develop key technologies and capabilities essential for achieving human missions to Mars, including long-duration human operations beyond low-Earth orbit, space suits, solar electric propulsion, deep space habitats, environmental control life support systems, Mars lander and ascent vehicle, entry, descent, landing, ascent, Mars surface systems, and in-situ resource utilization;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id608f53f6-081f-4229-abff-cc2e08ea6a36"><enum>(F)</enum><text>demonstrating and testing 1 or more habitat modules in cis-lunar space to prepare for Mars missions;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id19cc364b-3944-4986-b87e-f95fab84507e"><enum>(G)</enum><text>using public-private, firm fixed-price partnerships, where practicable;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id488c01ba-48ab-4fc0-9910-cd90d7ccaa72"><enum>(H)</enum><text>collaborating with international, academic, and industry partners, when appropriate;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id22396bf5-a689-4b90-a674-ae37a89fdfe1"><enum>(I)</enum><text>risks to human health and sensitive onboard technologies, including radiation exposure;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id63c1e38b-d300-4f52-b49c-deeee68f5771"><enum>(J)</enum><text>evaluating the risks identified through research outcomes under the NASA Human Research Program's Behavioral Health Element; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9afa2759-7490-4d01-b175-73587283f24f"><enum>(K)</enum><text>the recommendations and ideas of several independently developed reports or concepts that describe potential Mars architectures or concepts and identify Mars as the long-term goal for human space exploration, including the reports described under section 432(8).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idecf81682-1bbf-4e50-b929-1881b0087ae1"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Critical decision plan on human space exploration</header><text>As part of the strategic framework, the Administrator shall include a critical decision plan—</text> <subparagraph id="ide6a0a874-b9a1-46dc-9465-d0f194fb0e6c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identifying and defining key decisions guiding human space exploration priorities and plans that need to be made before June 30, 2020, including decisions that may guide human space exploration capability development, precursor missions, long-term missions, and activities;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5b730356-da25-47cf-a348-aa1c6ebe575e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>defining decisions needed to maximize efficiencies and resources for reaching the near, intermediate, and long-term goals and objectives of human space exploration; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC1DED6DBCADC4C06BC99C7714209DB0D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>identifying and defining timelines and milestones for a sustainable cadence of missions beginning with EM–3 for the Space Launch System and Orion to extend human exploration from cis-lunar space to the surface of Mars.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idfc632d60-e741-49e5-b488-943261489a6f"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>The Administrator shall submit an initial strategic framework, including a critical decision plan, to the appropriate committees of Congress before December 1, 2017, and an updated strategic framework biennially thereafter.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id3e62f613-ae91-490d-927d-ecbc94290cdd"><enum>434.</enum><header>Advanced space suit capability</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a detailed plan for achieving an advanced space suit capability that aligns with the crew needs for exploration enabled by the Space Launch System and Orion, including an evaluation of the merit of delivering the planned suit system for use on the ISS.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf461691e-04fe-4866-8868-3b4a9121c491"><enum>435.</enum><header>Asteroid robotic redirect mission</header>
<subsection id="id93f19613-308d-46e2-a20f-a706c9b58117"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress makes the following findings:</text> <paragraph id="id15a34edd-f78f-47e5-9760-338f050af0f0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>NASA initially estimated that the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission would launch in December 2020 and cost no more than $1,250,000,000, excluding launch and operations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5a352598-c0cf-4059-a7d1-4e368d98e4d1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>On July 15, 2016, NASA conducted its Key Decision Point–B review of the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission or approval for Phase B in mission formulation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id60c28d17-5d20-4462-8dcb-64f058de1ba0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>During the Key Decision Point–B review, NASA estimated that costs have grown to $1,400,000,000 excluding launch and operations for a launch in December 2021 and the agency must evaluate whether to accept the increase or reduce the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission’s scope to stay within the cost cap set by the Administrator.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id040a5b6a-15d9-42ed-8b9d-f359aa1c6f35"><enum>(4)</enum><text>In April 2015, the NASA Advisory Council—</text> <subparagraph id="idf71374b4-eaa5-4ec1-85bc-89f44b40c1ba"><enum>(A)</enum><text>issued a finding that—</text>
<clause id="id718909eb-f9a9-4a7f-838a-5307bb859ff1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>high-performance solar electric propulsion will likely be an important part of an architecture to send humans to Mars; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idd56f4d25-2a98-4ae1-a4ee-41413c1c79f1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>maneuvering a large test mass is not necessary to provide a valid in-space test of a new solar electric propulsion stage;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4f812545-2143-4243-9192-02256c9ab18a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>determined that a solar electric propulsion mission will contribute more directly to the goal of sending humans to Mars if the mission is focused entirely on development and validation of the solar electric propulsion stage; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida75c85f3-c72e-4603-9895-01cd7b8ba511"><enum>(C)</enum><text>determined that other possible motivations for acquiring and maneuvering a boulder, such as asteroid science and planetary defense, do not have value commensurate with their probable cost.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id41892601-521e-4940-a72a-07a5e8faa3c1"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission is competing for resources with other critical exploration development programs, including the Space Launch System, Orion, commercial crew, and a habitation module.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id629362a5-f458-4d15-aa96-c6ae6263d7b0"><enum>(6)</enum><text>In 2014, the NASA Advisory Council recommended that NASA conduct an independent cost and technical assessment of the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id304f4dfc-5008-4816-ac06-84f09846f80c"><enum>(7)</enum><text>NASA completed the assessment under paragraph (6) and reviewed it as part of the agency’s Key Decision Point–B review.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2a095be7-acd1-45ab-92fe-29f8a78eda18"><enum>(8)</enum><text>In 2015, the NASA Advisory Council recommended that NASA preserve the following key objectives if the program needed to be descoped:</text>
<subparagraph id="idee155a4f-867f-42d9-b406-74b661f3e54b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Development of high power solar electric propulsion.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idda0f3fbb-915a-4cde-b9e2-d7522e7f8ebc"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Ability to maneuver in a low gravity environment in deep space.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6f25a761-7e45-44eb-bb5a-a2eaea800edf"><enum>(9)</enum><text>In January 2015 and July 2015, the NASA Advisory Council expressed its concern to NASA about the potential for growing costs for the program and highlighted that choices would need to be made about the program’s content.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbbec03fa-3e1d-49e4-a5cf-71d93cb075b4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="idfca62e3f-161c-43ba-9051-97c4f6a86461"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the technological and scientific goals of the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission may not be commensurate with the cost; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd8f911f9-c975-4242-81a2-fc3a8cc97040"><enum>(2)</enum><text>alternative missions may provide a more cost effective and scientifically beneficial means to demonstrate the technologies needed for a human mission to Mars that would otherwise be demonstrated by the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id93bec4f8-cf9f-4248-82cb-1615eda0ea11"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Evaluation and report</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall—</text> <paragraph id="id38cf87bf-0569-4869-ab86-3078295e51ba"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conduct an evaluation of—</text>
<subparagraph id="id24c26890-83a4-4502-a2ef-494d078f123d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>alternative approaches to the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission for demonstrating the technologies and capabilities needed for a human mission to Mars that would otherwise be demonstrated by the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd538df51-8986-4dd8-a386-e4ba53f3b4be"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the scientific and technical benefits of the alternatives approaches identified in subparagraph (A) compared to the Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission to future human exploration;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1fea0fd6-996e-4477-96bf-6608fadd70d5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the commercial benefits of the alternative approaches identified in subparagraph (A), including the impact on the development of domestic solar electric propulsion technology to bolster United States competitiveness in the global marketplace; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id40924be8-5141-44ed-b5f3-2cce8d505e45"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a comparison of the estimated costs of the alternative approaches identified in subparagraph (A); and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbe5c3bac-3961-4ada-a88b-813a92a0f001"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the evaluation under paragraph (1), including any recommendations.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="ide39e4fd8-beb3-4f7c-95ef-ae9ce5c9bc68" style="OLC"><enum>D</enum><header>Scott Kelly Human Spaceflight and Exploration Act</header>
<section id="ide80e35da-cdd9-47dd-9c06-c8e72a9c3c21"><enum>441.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This subtitle may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Scott Kelly Human Spaceflight and Exploration Act</short-title></quote>.</text> </section><section id="id86e145e2-8ee8-4227-88da-340b2d83ebc7"><enum>442.</enum><header>Findings; sense of Congress</header> <subsection id="id7b5951ef-5a15-431e-9117-278f85f0933b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress makes the following findings:</text>
<paragraph id="ide14565a5-bf61-4e85-922a-55219e122365"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Human space exploration can pose significant challenges and is full of substantial risk, which has ultimately claimed the lives of 24 National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts serving in the line of duty.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb906d7bb-6b06-4a8e-b52d-3eb2ece222fc"><enum>(2)</enum><text>As United States government astronauts participate in long-duration and exploration spaceflight missions they may experience increased health risks, such as vision impairment, bone demineralization, and behavioral health and performance risks, and may be exposed to galactic cosmic radiation. Exposure to high levels of radiation and microgravity can result in acute and long-term health consequences that can increase the risk of cancer and tissue degeneration and have potential effects on the musculoskeletal system, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, immune function, and vision.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide8315554-8cce-4254-abbf-976fedd0461d"><enum>(3)</enum><text>To advance the goal of long-duration and exploration spaceflight missions, United States government astronaut Scott Kelly participated in a 1-year twins study in space while his identical twin brother, former United States government astronaut Mark Kelly, acted as a human control specimen on Earth, providing an understanding of the physical, behavioral, microbiological, and molecular reaction of the human body to an extended period of time in space.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id19bf39c0-77ca-431d-9286-df3f7548895f"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Since the Administration currently provides medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment for United States government astronauts during their active employment, given the unknown long-term health consequences of long-duration space exploration, the Administration has requested statutory authority from Congress to provide medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment to former United States government astronauts for psychological and medical conditions associated with human space flight.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8a9733b9-82b7-40d1-8ce1-0dabbba92a0f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id5ed39158-b6af-42b1-8833-307b304a534c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the United States should continue to seek the unknown and lead the world in space exploration and scientific discovery as the Administration prepares for long-duration and exploration spaceflight in deep space and an eventual mission to Mars;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4ca7f311-46e5-48a2-a913-07b175309cbb"><enum>(2)</enum><text>data relating to the health of astronauts will become increasingly valuable to improving our understanding of many diseases humans face on Earth;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idbaa3ba3c-785a-4828-834d-409115bd3d22"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Administration should provide the type of monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment described in subsection (a) only for conditions the Administration considers unique to the training or exposure to the spaceflight environment of United States government astronauts and should not require any former United States Government astronauts to participate in the Administration’s monitoring;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id76f9a261-a4ed-4129-9611-59b17ad0f827"><enum>(4)</enum><text>such monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment should not replace a former United States government astronaut's private health insurance;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide379aa8f-2ec9-4f86-b2c2-fa818b48c8e1"><enum>(5)</enum><text>expanded data acquired from such monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment should be used to tailor treatment, inform the requirements for new spaceflight medical hardware, and develop controls in order to prevent disease occurrence in the astronaut corps;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id57964208-a321-44d1-8188-c2d058ad8bd0"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the Administration's existing radiation exposure standards, which have been used for missions pertaining to the Space Shuttle and the ISS, would limit missions to durations of 150 to 250 days and would pose significant challenges to long-duration or exploration spaceflight or a multiyear mission to Mars; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id39fb9981-398d-4f97-8763-c72e54eb6216"><enum>(7)</enum><text>the 340-day space mission of Scott Kelly aboard the ISS—</text> <subparagraph id="id2c6ebeca-7140-4ca0-8313-8f43ecd763d9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>was pivotal for the goal of the United States for humans to explore deep space and Mars as the mission generated new insight into how the human body adjusts to weightlessness, isolation, radiation, and the stress of long-duration space flight; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id425d61a4-6381-426b-9f9b-28774b3150c7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>will help support the physical and mental well-being of astronauts during longer space exploration missions in the future.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idaf8fd45c-9ced-4189-9050-7c836acba07c"><enum>443.</enum><header>Medical monitoring and research relating to human space flight</header>
<subsection id="id95bb93d0-0cbb-4295-ab54-89300d8bbc3c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter III of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/201">chapter 201</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code, as amended by section 304 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7a9c685d-ac35-4d0c-9941-3bc868fcb9ab" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC">
<section id="idc497a6ee-f73a-43f0-bc00-3ab4f142cb7c"><enum>20149.</enum><header>Medical monitoring and research relating to human space flight</header>
<subsection id="ide2a11676-f699-4ae7-a5f3-958f10807527"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator may provide for the medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of a United States government astronaut, or a former United States government astronaut or payload specialist, for conditions that the Administrator considers associated with human space flight, including scientific and medical tests for psychological and medical conditions.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ida5e4c68f-2915-470c-89ad-fc3f496a79fb"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exclusions</header><text>The Administrator may not—</text> <paragraph id="idc850cafb-461b-4e67-abec-e4cbea092897"><enum>(1)</enum><text>provide for medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment of a United States government astronaut, or a former United States government astronaut or payload specialist, under subsection (a) for any psychological or medical condition that is not associated with human space flight; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id35d7bb0c-9e2a-4c77-a38d-a28bbfbc2189"><enum>(2)</enum><text>require a former United States government astronaut or payload specialist to participate in the monitoring authorized under subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8a230c6c-3237-4619-acb2-09b43aba3d0a"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Privacy</header><text>Consistent with applicable provisions of law relating to privacy, the Administrator shall protect the privacy of all medical records generated under subsection (a) and accessible to the Administration.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id681e8802-57be-4be1-a331-c5eefafe591f"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The Administrator shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="id7dac45cd-cfca-4da2-8d09-5186c2a473af"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text>The table of contents for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/201">chapter 201</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code, as amended by section 304 of this Act, is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 20148 the following:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida0c13808-3e72-4a19-97db-f2a89cbc0c0f" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC"><toc changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" reported-display-style="italic"><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">20149. Medical monitoring and research relating to human space flight.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section></subtitle><enum>V</enum><header>Advancing space science</header>
<section id="idc2df6220-977d-41ef-ba69-a9a228379c2e"><enum>501.</enum><header>Maintaining a balanced space science portfolio</header>
<subsection id="iddb573a7c-e042-46ab-a33b-01cdd1b4a79c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Science portfolio</header><text>Section 803 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/267">Public Law 111–267</external-xref>; 124 Stat. 2832) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id805190eb-1a71-4456-8751-38d9b2297263" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<section id="idcf250eb0-1ee9-47e5-bd93-94dc417d99e0"><enum>803.</enum><header>Overall science portfolio</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress restates its sense that—</text> <paragraph id="ida3508615-5156-4b19-b008-2dde6e2b2ed4"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a balanced and adequately funded set of activities, consisting of research and analysis grant programs, technology development, suborbital research activities, and small, medium, and large space missions, contributes to a robust and productive science program and serves as a catalyst for innovation and discovery; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id22bc75a2-d926-41c6-879d-fc722aceead2"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Administrator should set science priorities by following the guidance provided by the scientific community through the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's decadal surveys.</text></paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id25fc6066-5994-47af-9315-a85f51a27f94"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>The item relating to section 803 in the table of contents in section 1(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/267">Public Law 111–267</external-xref>; 124 Stat. 2806) is amended by striking <quote>Overall science portfolio-sense of the Congress</quote> and inserting <quote>Overall science portfolio</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id0241bcbf-3063-4ae0-8d06-26f64483a035"><enum>502.</enum><header>Planetary science</header>
<subsection id="id6f5db933-452e-4e40-9ddf-fbf300c1a2cf"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress finds that—</text> <paragraph id="idc4f3978f-5e85-4d48-99fa-8cb75c44ff42"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Administration support for planetary science is critical to enabling greater understanding of the solar system and the origin of the Earth;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc4e28f66-f9cc-483f-8df8-908a64a15cbd"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the United States leads the world in planetary science and can augment its success in that area with appropriate international, academic, and industry partnerships;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4a03ad5b-4f1c-4b07-a820-5d9b446be480"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a mix of small, medium, and large planetary science missions is required to sustain a steady cadence of planetary exploration; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8f2c4ef5-0c21-4945-bd54-8776ccc9f303"><enum>(4)</enum><text>robotic planetary exploration is a key component of preparing for future human exploration.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6e426754-0e68-4f03-bc33-07e5ad36dd95"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Mission priorities</header> <paragraph id="idfe127072-4a7e-4f77-a0bd-f87dd7be9a63"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In accordance with the priorities established in the most recent decadal survey for planetary science, the Administrator shall ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, the completion of a balanced set of Discovery, New Frontiers, and flagship missions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide145216e-f9d3-493c-97ca-0f830652d6f9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Mission priority adjustments</header><text>Consistent with the set of missions described in paragraph (1), and while maintaining the continuity of scientific data and steady development of capabilities and technologies, the Administrator may seek, if necessary, adjustments to mission priorities, schedule, and scope in light of changing budget projections.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id753a31c5-25d1-4607-ac1d-89445c2a2120"><enum>503.</enum><header>James Webb Space Telescope</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="idc59c1118-5772-4c89-9afe-a1ccbe15a4e1"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the James Webb Space Telescope should significantly advance our understanding of star and planet formation, improve our knowledge of the early universe, and support United States leadership in astrophysics; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idbb685134-a38d-4cf5-9397-9372431e74d8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>consistent with annual Government Accountability Office reviews of the James Webb Space Telescope program, the Administrator should continue robust surveillance of the performance of the James Webb Space Telescope project and continue to improve the reliability of cost estimates and contractor performance data and other major spaceflight projects in order to enhance NASA’s ability to successfully deliver the James Webb Space Telescope on-time and within budget.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="idc00f4802-958f-406a-843b-5b923477f16a"><enum>504.</enum><header>Sense of Congress on Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id4db5eca1-ca62-4228-ae2a-cddefe763b98"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (commonly known as <quote>WFIRST</quote>) mission has the potential to enable scientific discoveries that will transform our understanding of the universe; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idfcddaae0-12d7-438a-93b8-4b14d724a358"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Administrator, to the extent practicable, should make progress on the technologies and capabilities needed to position the Administration to meet the objectives, as outlined in the 2010 National Academies’ Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey, in a way that maximizes the scientific productivity of meeting those objectives for the resources invested.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="ide894a3e8-1a43-4b7a-b968-9c6d23baa061"><enum>505.</enum><header>Sense of Congress on Mars 2020 rover</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id9dd9fbd0-e767-40e0-a2c9-908f0cd429de"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Mars 2020 mission, to develop a Mars rover and to enable the return of samples to Earth, should remain a priority for NASA; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3ab25288-76fd-4dfd-adba-c514e3150183"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Mars 2020 mission—</text> <subparagraph id="idc41ee03b-302d-4dc8-8aba-2880ea4a3d18"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">should significantly increase our understanding of Mars;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb2327483-c873-4f74-8960-122b84a92652"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">should help determine whether life previously existed on that planet; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id005d6ca1-2cf2-4c1e-846a-6bfd3c6472c5"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">should provide opportunities to gather knowledge and demonstrate technologies that address the challenges of future human expeditions to Mars.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="id1a85f499-36ce-49b6-bbd2-8601d54cc030"><enum>506.</enum><header>Europa</header>
<subsection id="idcf958c53-a8e8-4b3d-975a-dfbbe562da95"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congress makes the following findings:</text> <paragraph id="id17d558e9-3585-4c67-90ff-30036644925e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Studies of Europa, Jupiter's moon, indicate that Europa may provide a habitable environment, as it contains key ingredients known to support life on Earth, including liquid water, heat, chemistry, and time.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idf5b2a37d-0ce0-4907-a1bb-5c656d9e2150"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In 2012, using the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA scientists observed water vapor around the south polar region of Europa, which provides potential evidence of water plumes in that region.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc52eb1d4-515e-4367-828f-c23a1f19d21e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>For decades, the Europa mission has consistently ranked as a high priority mission for the scientific community.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1e16c0d9-ef83-4ef8-b408-9f7deca637ab"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Europa mission was ranked as the top priority mission in the previous Planetary Science Decadal Survey and ranked as the second-highest priority in the current Planetary Science Decadal Survey.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd643ece1-bc20-4a06-ae77-8506dad45f40"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="idd394dd32-65b6-4af2-a219-1f9af52986a2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Europa mission could provide another avenue in which to capitalize on our Nation’s current investment in the Space Launch System that would significantly reduce the transit time for such a deep space mission; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb21448ce-1104-4e24-b7c8-ad77f5c0330e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a scientific, robotic exploration mission to Europa, as prioritized in both Planetary Science Decadal Surveys, should be supported.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>VI</enum><header>Maximizing efficiency</header>
<subtitle id="id08f7b8da-5cf2-437a-9d0e-a679669d3b45" style="OLC"><enum>A</enum><header>Agency information technology and cybersecurity</header>
<section id="id8ef4fda1-e1bf-4f80-9e65-3f759baaff32"><enum>611.</enum><header>Information technology governance</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator, in consultation with the chief information officer of NASA, shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id9b3c489f-d1cf-4898-a925-c4fab8a1ec81"><enum>(1)</enum><text>ensure the NASA Chief Information Officer has a significant role in the management, governance, and oversight processes related to information technology operations and investments and information security programs for the protection of NASA systems;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id13da3b39-5ffe-47fb-8aa3-009448ce7868"><enum>(2)</enum><text>establish the NASA Chief Information Officer as a direct report to the Administrator;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id737d60bf-b729-491a-a84e-b0b16583332f"><enum>(3)</enum><text>ensure the NASA Chief Information Officer has the appropriate resources and insight to oversee NASA information technology and information security operations and investments;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb29bd98d-d3d1-4522-8ee9-89a62f1366eb"><enum>(4)</enum><text>provide an information technology program management framework to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of information technology investments, including relying on metrics for identifying and reducing potential duplication, waste, and cost;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2ea53163-aa17-42b9-ba8e-bc8e1f0d5d1f"><enum>(5)</enum><text>establish a monetary threshold for all agency information technology investments and related contracts, including non-highly and highly specialized and specialized information technology, regardless of the procurement instrument, over which the NASA Chief Information Officer shall have final approval;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2f684788-39a4-462c-8513-63a33b17fdca"><enum>(6)</enum><text>improve the operational linkage between the NASA Chief Information Officer and each NASA mission directorate, center, and mission support office to ensure both agency and mission needs are considered in agency-wide information technology and information security management and oversight;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id20642bff-ad56-4bb9-80d3-8402451cc584"><enum>(7)</enum><text>review the portfolio of information technology investments and spending, including information technology-related investments included as part of activities within NASA mission directorates that may not be considered information technology, to ensure investments are recognized and reported appropriately based on guidance from the Office of Management and Budget;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idfab036c6-9603-4731-88e5-929e4e753a81"><enum>(8)</enum><text>consider appropriate revisions to the charters of information technology boards and councils that inform information technology investment and operation decisions; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idecf359e5-8701-487e-a7c8-91596ec30a8b"><enum>(9)</enum><text>consider whether the NASA Chief Information Officer should have a seat on any boards or councils described in paragraph (8).</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="id459d4e67-f3c2-46c2-b3b2-5fd20616c592"><enum>612.</enum><header>Information technology strategic plan</header>
<subsection id="ide96a52c7-95f6-48a6-b309-5cc3f4f4d275"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subsection (b), the NASA Chief Information Officer, in consultation with the chief information officer of each Administration center, shall develop an information technology strategic plan to guide NASA information technology management and strategic objectives.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ide6ec41c7-dcad-461b-b781-995a158adfbe"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>In developing the strategic plan, the NASA Chief Information Officer shall ensure that the strategic plan is consistent with—</text>
<paragraph id="id831f190c-32b4-4fd7-97c5-4d37a423754b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the deadline under section 306(a) of title 5, United States Code; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idaf31e2fd-a4cc-4761-8ddf-4d432434ed1c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the requirements under section 3506 of title 44, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6447bc76-7f92-41c1-a8e7-87c26dd33cae"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The strategic plan shall include—</text> <paragraph id="ide9f397a2-bc13-48ad-b180-4da3bd23d18a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>near and long-term goals and objectives for leveraging information technology;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5fe867f2-a164-4638-b245-f3ee6e6dbb8e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a plan for how the NASA Chief Information Officer will submit to Congress of a list of information technology projects, including completion dates and risk level in accordance with guidance from the Office of Management and Budget;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id206c0e1e-794d-458b-b132-ca68b40d87f1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an implementation overview for an agency-wide centralized approach to information technology investments and operations, including reducing barriers to cross-center collaboration;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3c450b8c-5034-4bdc-8634-46e66b6dd6dc"><enum>(4)</enum><text>coordination by the NASA Chief Information Officer with centers and mission directorates to ensure that information technology policies are effectively and efficiently implemented across the agency;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id16ade0d2-365a-4431-81b6-c30a34acd915"><enum>(5)</enum><text>a plan to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of information technology investments, including a description of how unnecessarily duplicative, wasteful, legacy, or outdated information technology across NASA will be identified and eliminated, and a schedule for the identification and elimination of such information technology;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idefcdab11-64f1-41eb-9383-900bf3aec167"><enum>(6)</enum><text>a plan for improving the information security of agency information and agency information systems, including improving security control assessments and role-based security training of employees; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide55aeb40-3986-40d8-acf2-78b507ddf9a5"><enum>(7)</enum><text>submission by the NASA Chief Information Officer to Congress of information regarding high risk projects and cybersecurity risks.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idde442887-d248-4b9a-8401-c2686a907ce1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Congressional oversight</header><text>The NASA Chief Information Officer shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the strategic plan under subsection (a) and any updates thereto.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id7330f1ea-dd5f-47f7-8c03-cba35c2e1c03"><enum>613.</enum><header>Cybersecurity</header>
<subsection id="id6b70e591-6b36-4ed2-9030-074f45cb053f"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Finding</header><text>The security of NASA information and information systems is vital to the success of the mission of the agency.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idf43d99a3-dc5b-47b2-92bb-7f012097df50"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Information security plan</header><text>Section 1207 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18445">42 U.S.C. 18445</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id0b5b564b-6113-41e9-9ce8-8d1cda605103"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (a) through (c) as subsections (b) through (d), respectively;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id124e1cae-c0f7-475b-aa26-d1aabb06e672"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting before subsection (b), as redesignated, the following:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id24a28f2f-c7e1-4a9e-ad63-23f98ab4de6f" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id93909e40-b1b1-448c-8f62-49c28f63aa4d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Agency-Wide information security plan</header>
<paragraph id="idb93021b5-3e2f-450e-a5c3-bed4fc12416d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the <short-title>National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2016</short-title>, the Administrator shall implement the information security plan developed under paragraph (2) and take such further actions as the Administrator considers necessary to improve the information security system in accordance with this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id455f0f00-1dae-46b9-977f-629267722253"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Information security plan</header><text>Subject to paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), the chief information officer of NASA, shall develop an agency-wide information security plan to enhance information security for NASA information and information infrastructure.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9de4c1d9-95ad-4f49-8898-6202be3bbe43"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>In developing the plan under paragraph (2), the chief information officer shall ensure that the plan—</text>
<subparagraph id="id92eb999f-5ec6-4539-94bd-e623567d6c70"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is consistent with policies, standards, guidelines, and directives on information security under subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbf6c9501-d7e4-45ed-9cf0-1b9e0cf2500f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is consistent with the standards and guidelines under section 11331 of title 40, United States Code; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id06d6c25f-eb56-48f2-a7f6-4599a5efef45"><enum>(C)</enum><text>meets applicable National Institute of Standards and Technology information security standards and guidelines.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idfbbca3a3-034e-45eb-b4eb-51aea5ef45c1"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Approval</header><text>The chief information officer shall submit the plan to the Administrator for approval prior to its implementation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1ef24849-18aa-42d4-8999-24da0d7dfebe"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The plan shall include—</text> <subparagraph id="id703bbbae-5ef7-4ac5-bbad-0a06899e5023"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an overview of the requirements of the information security system;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id91e55f12-650a-4d59-b2a7-cbdc6807da8f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an agency-wide risk management framework for information security;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id346d97e3-3841-417e-9397-3971267a5d7f"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of the information security system management controls and common controls that are necessary to ensure compliance with information security-related requirements;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf2d65073-6157-4378-9197-23143034acc8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an identification and assignment of roles, responsibilities, and management commitment for information security at the agency;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id069815c3-1c84-4533-9f57-ae26b3202b18"><enum>(E)</enum><text>coordination among organizational entities, including between each center, facility, mission directorate, and mission support office, and among agency entities responsible for different aspects of information security;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5214710e-2692-43c1-a10b-faa4754127a4"><enum>(F)</enum><text>heightened consideration of the need to protect the information security of mission-critical systems and activities and high-impact and moderate-impact information systems; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id77687f54-9b6c-4fc4-93ad-4e35cc652834"><enum>(G)</enum><text>a schedule of frequent reviews and updates, as necessary, of the plan.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd49aa5dc-4c5d-48cf-9bf8-bea679de8afd"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (b), as redesignated—</text> <subparagraph id="idb80dd2f9-2503-4c3c-8162-6be4f745ea0f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text>
<clause id="id9d8af793-3505-40d9-a4e8-bfdda657ba10"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text> </clause><clause id="idb70784a7-1e4c-4e64-9f5e-2cd27c8a30f2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ida9713e16-26cb-40f6-aad2-4f4fc44e496e"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id222f8024-032d-4041-b6f9-c1951a661283" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="id19ce1355-f719-40b1-82d6-1b4aca162a3b"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an update on the agency’s efforts to apply additional information security protections to secure high-impact and moderate-impact information systems and mission-critical systems and activities, including those systems that control spacecraft and maintain critical data sources.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id033c5ee0-fa5e-4187-87b6-13c37aefe056"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>section 3545</quote> and inserting <quote>section 3555</quote>.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id6af2e6f6-9769-465a-a425-bcce528dac93"><enum>614.</enum><header>Oversight implementation progress</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter until the information security plan under section 1207 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18445">42 U.S.C. 18445</external-xref>), as amended, is developed and implemented agency-wide, the Administrator shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress an update on the progress made toward implementation of or response to—</text>
<paragraph id="id994e5af6-ec82-4028-b1ca-533e3c778b9e"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the information security plan under that section; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="ide35e40b8-b2ef-4048-aafb-faec39b101a8"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the information security-related recommendations made by the NASA Inspector General and the Comptroller General in the 5 years preceding the date of enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="id3f7c187f-f6f1-4174-9ca9-a65ff2e251eb"><enum>615.</enum><header>Software oversight</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall—</text> <paragraph id="id8ace4632-481e-4f0c-88b5-5723ad447936"><enum>(1)</enum><text>develop a strategic plan to transition NASA from legacy software by adopting a service-based acquisition model in line with industry best practices;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idf9b21677-4bfd-475c-af6c-dd5a5716df5f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>develop and implement an agency-wide software license management policy to improve centralization, lifecycle management, and procurement education, including education on contract negotiations, relevant laws and regulations, and agency-wide contract terms and conditions; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0a4e4c1c-0b46-49ac-a85b-2fd6ab3c48de"><enum>(3)</enum><text>direct an agency-wide inventory of NASA's total software licenses and spending, including costs, benefits, usage, and trending data.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="idbbb206d8-d45c-41c6-903f-15b7809d05ab"><enum>616.</enum><header>Security management of foreign national access</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress when the agency has implemented the information technology security recommendations from the National Academy of Public Administration on foreign national access management, based on reports from January 2014 and March 2016.</text>
</section><section id="id1fba877e-b7c2-49dd-a1f9-ef327db939b5"><enum>617.</enum><header>Cybersecurity of web applications</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the NASA Chief Information Officer shall—</text>
<paragraph id="ida00185f5-4075-4730-b567-7dcd23d3186c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>develop a plan, including such actions and milestones as are necessary, to fully remediate security vulnerabilities of NASA web applications within a timely fashion after discovery; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb133d4e5-f484-48ed-988c-ee387ef3b925"><enum>(2)</enum><text>implement the recommendation from the NASA Inspector General in the audit report dated July 10, 2014, (IG–14–023) to remove from the Internet or secure with a web application firewall all NASA web applications in development or testing mode.</text>
</paragraph></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id76d5b094-a86e-4685-87e9-dd651530f550" style="OLC"><enum>B</enum><header>Collaboration among mission directorates and other matters</header>
<section changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" id="id5b62ac5f-13c8-44d1-a0e3-fa8d4b2b1356" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>621.</enum><header>Collaboration among mission directorates</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall encourage an interdisciplinary approach among all NASA mission directorates and divisions, whenever appropriate, for projects or missions—</text>
<paragraph id="id8eed19d9-699f-468f-8d44-b9afb15f0eee"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to improve coordination, and encourage collaboration and early planning on scope;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id517642c9-df70-40c7-bd2d-13b6cdff7c33"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to determine areas of overlap or alignment;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ida73b10a4-0ba6-4632-9a7b-5f21840f07e8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to find ways to leverage across divisional perspectives to maximize outcomes; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id27905640-f391-44bb-8c19-2395b4c745c0"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to be more efficient with resources and funds.</text>
</paragraph></section><section changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" id="id39968dcf-2ad7-4589-8d93-d06b2117a088" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>622.</enum><header>NASA launch capabilities collaboration</header>
<subsection id="id285ea5cb-cba9-49e9-9a8f-cc5c62dde21c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress makes the following findings:</text> <paragraph id="idff8444d5-0845-4d54-bfd9-35e4d15dba12"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Launch Services Program is responsible for the acquisition, management, and technical oversight of commercial launch services for NASA’s science and robotic missions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd990aa41-c77f-4f88-a1e9-2687408fa788"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Commercial Crew Program is responsible for the acquisition, management, and technical oversight of commercial crew transportation systems.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idf4b37a20-e414-4e39-b947-bb3f2c67fc48"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Launch Services Program and Commercial Crew Program have worked together to gain exceptional technical insight into the contracted launch service providers that are common to both programs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3630784e-a90a-46d5-b64e-551234976224"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Launch Services Program has a long history of oversight of 12 different launch vehicles and over 80 launches.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc8424f27-653a-4f9d-85b7-0551f183421b"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Co-location of the Launch Services Program and Commercial Crew Program has enabled the Commercial Crew Program to efficiently obtain the launch vehicle technical expertise of and provide engineering and analytical support to the Commercial Crew Program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id142b3c24-895b-44c7-afa5-481ecf085d0e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id4cbeba87-391b-4df1-b88e-4ca87e1887b7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Launch Services Program and Commercial Crew Program each benefit from communication and coordination of launch manifests, technical information, and common launch vehicle insight between the programs; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8d2e8d71-bca3-401b-9cc7-253ec0fc6651"><enum>(2)</enum><text>such communication and coordination is enabled by the co-location of the programs.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2d932f47-7583-4233-baa9-051384f9b800"><enum>(c)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall pursue a strategy for acquisition of crewed transportation services and non-crewed launch services that continues to enhance communication, collaboration, and coordination between the Launch Services Program and the Commercial Crew Program.</text>
</subsection></section><section changed="added" id="id4E23394E536C4081913FCEF344739052" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>623.</enum><header>Commercial space launch cooperation</header>
<subsection id="idF35735EB80D641E09805E4F551196AC7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Finding</header><text>Congress recognized the benefit of commercial space launch cooperation between the Federal Government and the private sector when it granted the Secretary of Defense authority to foster cooperation between the Department of Defense and certain covered entities relating to space transportation infrastructure under section 2276 of title 10, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id484597E1A5B549398ACADCCC4F76E75B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id6B95D4556B4F49979539E1C6CE374B6F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Administrator should take into account the unique needs and obligations that multi-user, public State spaceports may have with the State government as well as current and prospective contractual arrangements with commercial and government customers when developing and carrying out agreements under section 50507 of title 51, United States Code, with State spaceports operating on NASA facilities; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id96C393CA8DE144FB827D058931F51DDD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the authority granted under section 50507 of title 51, United States Code, is not intended to supersede or conflict with the congressional intent and purposes codified in chapter 509 of that title, the responsibilities of the Secretary of Transportation under section 50913 of that title, or with the intent of section 50504 of that title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6473C57E3C3E4994A2512A9AE7FF783B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>In general</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/505">Chapter 505</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block changed="added" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id08000A766811442C81DC9738F72EA800" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC"> <section id="id8A31DA4F8C9D4DF1891345F9A2AE19C4"><enum>50507.</enum><header>Commercial launch cooperation</header> <subsection id="id9BF2A999294E4F3EA3EEB7A101FAD6A4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority for agreements relating to space transportation infrastructure</header><text>The Administrator—</text>
<paragraph id="idF09D37E7959748A193FC0E296ECE325C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>may enter into an agreement with a covered entity to provide the covered entity with support and services related to the space transportation infrastructure of the Administration—</text>
<subparagraph id="id4303EF6DBFC848979E8CBA707C558102"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to maximize the use of the space transportation infrastructure of the Administration by the private sector in the United States;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA0C01F9B389D4201961944CA7C5843A0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the space transportation infrastructure of the Administration;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB09F74A2FBFF4B35B0DB454A5E960C89"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to reduce the cost of services provided by the Administration related to space transportation infrastructure at launch support facilities and space recovery support facilities; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3F278B11D2BD4354B368BD8D924866F1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to encourage commercial space activities by enabling investment by covered entities in the space transportation infrastructure of the Administration; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9837871FF6974E578F5FEB735CA8A219"><enum>(2)</enum><text>at the request of the covered entity, may include that support and services in the contracted space launch and reentry range support requirements of the Administration if—</text>
<subparagraph id="idC5C7D6446F1847DEA89E2AB065254E0B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Administrator determines that including that support and services in the requirements—</text> <clause id="id6D617845B25440A69DBAE4F0F865C0D6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is in the best interest of the Federal Government;</text>
</clause><clause id="id4138B47855754FFAB452BB7A4B9BA29F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>does not interfere with the requirements of the Administration;</text> </clause><clause id="id740C52DD957E417A9ECF3AA9B50225D3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>does not compete with the commercial space activities of other covered entities; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id974F08FC7B7D482A89AB9F9FA54F1284"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>does not result in the Administration retaining ownership of assets which are no longer needed to meet a programmatic mission of the Administration; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF6111223FD934839AE032F107805FC04"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any commercial requirement included in the agreement has full non-Federal funding before the execution of the agreement.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id992CF3E93F334BD3AD89D0E3857288FD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contributions</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="idB6FB8EFE057E4C9FB9E857BC4508F37F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator may enter into an agreement with a covered entity on a cooperative and voluntary basis to accept funds, services, and equipment to carry out the purposes in subsection (a)(1).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id037E2CA7A56F41D48F1EFA678B214B2F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of contributions</header><text>Any funds, services, or equipment accepted by the Administrator under this subsection—</text> <subparagraph id="id3B2634D025E64768951567DE0EB1B118"><enum>(A)</enum><text>may be used only for the objectives specified in this section in accordance with terms of use set forth in the agreement entered into under this subsection; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0CEF8F9B132B44B785F68E9BD72F4DEC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall be managed by the Administrator in accordance with procedures prescribed under subsection (d).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idEC7BB18467694F129E05E552F0129334"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Requirements with respect to agreements</header><text>An agreement entered into with a covered entity under this subsection shall—</text> <subparagraph id="id6E7484F95887465684C51F4270A0A4E8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>address the terms of use, ownership, and disposition of the funds, services, or equipment contributed under the agreement;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id552219692EE447A780321A1BA2B5AC89"><enum>(B)</enum><text>include a provision that the covered entity will not recover the costs of its contribution through any other agreement with the United States; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE4F58EDD281244838D502D0BBC4B2FFF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>include a provision that the contribution of a covered entity will not preclude access to or use by another covered entity.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id95A0D4179F04488C9B0DD396B55681F8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>Not later than January 31 of each year, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the process used to establish agreements under subsections (a) and (b), including noticing announcements of opportunities and criteria for selecting a covered entity, and the funds, services, and equipment accepted and used by the Administrator under this section during the preceding fiscal year.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id4D3CD4A6C5E5401C8C3361693AF0D73C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Procedures</header><text>The Administrator shall prescribe procedures to carry out this section consistent with sections 50504 and 50913.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id3592C1DFB4B4465FA197F96574025D16"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text> <paragraph id="idB92CE4F71F2948D6928D40BA319A9CF5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered entity</header><text>In this section, the term <term>covered entity</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="id9ECF882932444A06B281F9822F0DE267"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a non-Federal entity that—</text> <clause id="id85CC3E2E93554353B84AD04753F99991"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction within the United States; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id12B9C94DA16049D49FDF15F9160086AD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is engaged in commercial space activities; or</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4153DE3E703B4A00A76D9B7A354C57C0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, a non-Federal entity described in subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idD5683D61409745AF9884388C040751ED"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Launch support facilities</header><text>The term <term>launch support facilities</term> has the meaning given the term in section 50501.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id34C3DB092C84441BAC8C87672C9991EB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Space recovery support facilities</header><text>The term <term>space recovery support facilities</term> has the meaning given the term in section 50501.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id98B2F3E4B7BB4E07853D9BB7EBF59A08"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Space transportation infrastructure</header><text>The term <term>space transportation infrastructure</term> has the meaning given that term in section 50501.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="id715A5AEC4FE04B9697161422736E23FF"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text>The table of contents for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/505">chapter 505</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to section 50506 the following:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id492A89D7379C42E5ACF8B46D76CBB8D6" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC"><toc changed="added" reported-display-style="italic"><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">50507. Commercial space launch cooperation.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" id="idc9d883b1-df78-4987-984b-7f27e534f76d" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>624.</enum><header>Detection and avoidance of counterfeit parts</header>
<subsection id="id2c887803-7e42-46e6-b4fb-54996256c367"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress finds the following:</text> <paragraph id="id09a38fbe-ce7b-4179-8011-df222d64bbdd"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A 2012 investigation by the <committee-name committee-id="SSAS00">Committee on Armed Services of the Senate</committee-name> of counterfeit electronic parts in the Department of Defense supply chain from 2009 through 2010 uncovered 1,800 cases and over 1,000,000 counterfeit parts and exposed the threat such counterfeit parts pose to service members and national security.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ida94389ac-c4d9-4b0a-82f3-e5f0b5220446"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Since 2010, the Comptroller General of the United States has identified in 3 separate reports the risks and challenges associated with counterfeit parts and counterfeit prevention at both the Department of Defense and NASA, including inconsistent definitions of counterfeit parts, poorly targeted quality control practices, and potential barriers to improvements to these practices.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4343a172-efee-4f90-9a64-4ffbce28aa0b"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that the presence of counterfeit electronic parts in the NASA supply chain poses a danger to United States government astronauts, crew, and other personnel and a risk to the agency overall.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id81e7b1d8-4051-4157-b318-378f6337de35"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Regulations</header>
<paragraph id="idefe59e5f-d0da-4238-aa6f-e27e93c965e9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall revise the NASA Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to improve the detection and avoidance of counterfeit electronic parts in the supply chain.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1126fbc2-cddb-4dbe-b5c7-2736ef5f6b73"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contractor responsibilities</header><text>In revising the regulations under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="ida3c9eab4-b9c9-473b-a8d5-e06595e36f8b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>require each covered contractor—</text> <clause id="idd334d907-a584-4b84-a1b6-bbc6977bc131"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to detect and avoid the use or inclusion of any counterfeit parts in electronic parts or products that contain electronic parts;</text>
</clause><clause id="ide6d99d95-7f20-4960-b2ab-c02fdaad07a2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to take such corrective actions as the Administrator considers necessary to remedy the use or inclusion described in clause (i); and</text>
</clause><clause id="id35136f11-ce51-4c22-901b-6321b5f98018"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>including a subcontractor, to notify the applicable NASA contracting officer not later than 30 calendar days after the date the covered contractor becomes aware, or has reason to suspect, that any end item, component, part or material contained in supplies purchased by NASA, or purchased by a covered contractor or subcontractor for delivery to, or on behalf of, NASA, contains a counterfeit electronic part or suspect counterfeit electronic part; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4506eb7f-d8fc-4817-b7aa-14f9daec9c55"><enum>(B)</enum><text>prohibit the cost of counterfeit electronic parts, suspect counterfeit electronic parts, and any corrective action described under subparagraph (A)(ii) from being included as allowable costs under agency contracts, unless—</text>
<clause id="idC71FC9A822ED4750B99C05688C8DBC1F"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSCM00" reported-display-style="italic">(i)</added-phrase></enum><subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idF25BB01E2B65430AB5B4C44AC29EED8F"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSCM00" reported-display-style="italic">(I)</added-phrase></enum><text>the covered contractor has an operational system to detect and avoid counterfeit electronic parts and suspect counterfeit electronic parts that has been reviewed and approved by NASA or the Department of Defense; and</text>
</subclause><subclause changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" id="id72ee769a-c26a-4b1f-bae0-43c5d181a234" reported-display-style="italic"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSCM00" reported-display-style="italic">(II)</added-phrase></enum><text>the covered contractor has provided the notice under subparagraph (A)(iii); or</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id39c3245f-0bd7-4043-b703-2803f858bd28"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSCM00" reported-display-style="italic">(ii)</added-phrase></enum><text>the counterfeit electronic parts or suspect counterfeit electronic parts were provided to the covered contractor as Government property in accordance with part 45 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id01a3a7ba-4606-48b1-a791-81d9268fb06e"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Suppliers of electronic parts</header><text>In revising the regulations under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="idb26822ac-e3b9-401a-a345-ae2d6547ff1c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>require NASA and covered contractors, including subcontractors, at all tiers—</text> <clause id="idf38c3bd2-f3f2-4517-907b-2741063cc402"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to obtain electronic parts that are in production or currently available in stock from—</text>
<subclause id="id5d5b3baa-71e5-4737-9519-1b8cda699985"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the original manufacturers of the parts or their authorized dealers; or</text> </subclause><subclause id="id4014ea86-ec1f-441f-a140-555a0915b693"><enum>(II)</enum><text>suppliers who obtain such parts exclusively from the original manufacturers of the parts or their authorized dealers; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id6b3fd3a3-78a4-4916-b3a3-babfe3875f41"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to obtain electronic parts that are not in production or currently available in stock from suppliers that meet qualification requirements established under subparagraph (C);</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc4cfdd12-d41f-4ce7-962b-aa598bf8218a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>establish documented requirements consistent with published industry standards or Government contract requirements for—</text>
<clause id="idffe1b0d0-849a-46b7-9d38-dc6f5545afa7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>notification of the agency; and</text> </clause><clause id="id486ad810-46f1-4dba-aa84-41fdb9bb2b09"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>inspection, testing, and authentication of electronic parts that NASA or a covered contractor, including a subcontractor, obtains from any source other than a source described in subparagraph (A);</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida08ea10c-b4ea-49d9-9215-3d3204217fa1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>establish qualification requirements, consistent with the requirements of section 2319 of title 10, United States Code, pursuant to which NASA may identify suppliers that have appropriate policies and procedures in place to detect and avoid counterfeit electronic parts and suspect counterfeit electronic parts; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4d1f8a14-9d19-454c-acfd-5e8112a40b67"><enum>(D)</enum><text>authorize a covered contractor, including a subcontractor, to identify and use additional suppliers beyond those identified under subparagraph (C) if—</text>
<clause id="idf1544ac8-01cf-41c7-bd7a-9b04ec418474"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the standards and processes for identifying such suppliers comply with established industry standards;</text>
</clause><clause id="ida1708cf5-de86-4c80-a3ce-922c71178257"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the covered contractor assumes responsibility for the authenticity of parts provided by such suppliers under paragraph (2); and</text>
</clause><clause id="idcdc209bd-0afc-4eaf-8691-46234f6bc8bd"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the selection of such suppliers is subject to review and audit by NASA.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id44b5c042-79d6-404e-978e-ba609d4b2242"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="id0641914f-180e-4340-9201-37c585d7775b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered contractor</header><text>The term <term>covered contractor</term> means a contractor that supplies an electronic part, or a product that contains an electronic part, to NASA.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id18b7e1e3-ce2f-42b1-a119-437dfe0940ac"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Electronic part</header><text>The term <term>electronic part</term> means a discrete electronic component, including a microcircuit, transistor, capacitor, resistor, or diode, that is intended for use in a safety or mission critical application.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section changed="added" committee-id="SSCM00" id="id8163688a-1a9f-4570-8ef9-e63d27b9a994" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>625.</enum><header>Education and outreach</header>
<subsection id="id514766d9-cb17-43ba-81c1-1abc7fe1c13c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="idb4e8e9a6-8b8e-468e-ba9c-c05fa49e9ec2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>United States competitiveness in the 21st century requires engaging the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this section as <quote>STEM</quote>) talent in all States;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id92e787d4-869a-4b96-869a-8bfa196cb17f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Administration is uniquely positioned to educate and inspire students and the broader public on STEM subjects and careers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id775f97e3-a77b-4fb7-8d97-8f454f0eafaa"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Administration's Education and Communication Offices, Mission Directorates, and Centers have been effective in delivering educational content because of the strong engagement of Administration scientists and engineers in the Administration's education and outreach activities; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id04b276e0-2b6e-4798-8274-20256449ca69"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the Administration’s education and outreach programs, including the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and the Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, reflect the Administration’s successful commitment to growing and diversifying the national science and engineering workforce.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5149ffb7-6bc4-4b1e-aa97-b686477b793c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Continuation of education and outreach activities and programs</header>
<paragraph id="id0fab7ab7-50f3-4437-a7b3-9b330e36bb9a"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall continue engagement with the public and education opportunities for students via all the Administration’s mission directorates to the maximum extent practicable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id572e2aac-acf0-4901-9f58-a620ac21b641"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the Administration's near-term outreach plans for advancing space law education.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section changed="added" id="id6518b9284c3c4d08821af8cb0f15c764" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>626.</enum><header>Leveraging commercial satellite servicing capabilities across mission directorates</header>
<subsection id="id967ebc8b0f7348e6b255886e0739dcac"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress makes the following findings:</text> <paragraph id="id109fbedb162b43f482408e617b1a0565"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Refueling and relocating aging satellites to extend their operational lifetimes is a capacity that NASA will substantially benefit from and is important for lowering the costs of ongoing scientific, national security, and commercial satellite operations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id38fb0d535d8640949d2b1059121644fa"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The technologies involved in satellite servicing, such as dexterous robotic arms, propellant transfer systems, and solar electric propulsion, are all critical capabilities to support a human exploration mission to Mars.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idce6e415e7b6e4afc881c02651ffa6310"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id4255C808FB224A33AF93C26E555C3B98"><enum>(1)</enum><text>satellite servicing is a vital capability that will bolster the capacity and affordability of NASA’s ongoing scientific and human exploration operations while simultaneously enhancing the ability of domestic companies to compete in the global marketplace; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id76F0C2F5FE774C8ABBEA1BD3638703CC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>future NASA satellites and spacecraft across mission directorates should be constructed in a manner that allows for servicing in order to maximize operational longevity and affordability.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4ad69444c6124c4ebf48d4fe83c3f54d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Leveraging of capabilities</header><text>The Administrator shall identify orbital assets in both the Science Mission Directorate and the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate that could benefit from satellite servicing-related technologies, and shall work across all NASA mission directorates to evaluate opportunities for the private sector to perform such services or advance technical capabilities by leveraging the technologies and techniques developed by NASA programs and other industry programs.</text>
</subsection></section><section changed="added" id="id439C18ECF3854946A2F4742812B898DD" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>627.</enum><header>Flight opportunities</header>
<subsection id="idca6cd11c2df146bda20c06b4579c8ada"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Development of payloads</header>
<paragraph id="idE8AD4E3B29FA4507A0F749D9E5B396E4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In order to conduct necessary research, the Administrator shall continue and, as the Administrator considers appropriate, expand the development of technology payloads for—</text>
<subparagraph id="id074E2F57A03C4FEBAA8D661C949838EF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>scientific research; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF6CCF3105BE7412D93475AD286FBBDB1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>investigating new or improved capabilities.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4AA1FFC87A5844A9BAAC717B4ED12A54"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Funds</header><text>For the purpose of carrying out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall make funds available for—</text>
<subparagraph id="id97CCDF27EDDB4885A652A8BC20E4C48E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>flight testing;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1B04F63ACD804C86950282BFE668068B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>payload development; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id383C0798B6F244CEA3EF688126D09611"><enum>(C)</enum><text>hardware related to subparagraphs (A) and (B).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id52f749f61ab84df7b7231aa5348045eb"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reaffirmation of policy</header><text>Congress reaffirms that the Administrator should provide flight opportunities for payloads to microgravity environments and suborbital altitudes as authorized by section 907 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18405">42 U.S.C. 18405</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection></section><section changed="added" id="id6652a8eaae6c4a4480faca0fac9685c4" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>628.</enum><header>Sense of Congress on small class launch missions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that—</text> <paragraph id="id7070AD2509D94A928DA23C782306DAA5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Venture Class Launch Services contracts awarded under the Launch Services Program will expand opportunities for future dedicated launches of CubeSats and other small satellites and small orbital science missions; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide012194d81ed4a75a3a5e6206eebc38e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>principal investigator-led small orbital science missions, including CubeSat class, Small Explorer (SMEX) class, and Venture class, offer valuable opportunities to advance science at low cost, train the next generation of scientists and engineers, and enable participants to acquire skills in systems engineering and systems integration that are critical to maintaining the Nation’s leadership in space and to enhancing United States innovation and competitiveness abroad.</text></paragraph></section></subtitle>December 5, 2016Reported with an amendment