[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1223-S1224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORNYN:
  S. 2617. A bill to provide for the development of a United States 
strategy for greater human space exploration, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2617

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Mapping a New and Innovative 
     Focus on Our Exploration Strategy for Human Spaceflight Act 
     of 2016'' or the ``MANIFEST for Human Spaceflight Act of 
     2016''.

     SEC. 2. REAFFIRMATION OF POLICY AND FINDINGS.

       (a) Reaffirmation of Policy.--Congress reaffirms that the 
     long-term goal of the human space flight and exploration 
     efforts of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
     shall be to expand permanent human presence beyond low-Earth 
     orbit and to do so, where practical, in a manner involving 
     international partners, as stated in section 202(a) of the 
     National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization 
     Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18312(a)).
       (b) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) In accordance with section 204 of the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
     2010 (Public Law 111-267; 124 Stat. 2813), the National 
     Academy of Sciences, 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 ``Pathways to Exploration: Rationales and Approaches 
     for a U.S. Program of Human Space Exploration''.
       (2) The Committee on Human Spaceflight included leaders 
     from the aerospace, scientific, security, and policy 
     communities. With input from the public, the Committee on 
     Human Spaceflight concluded that many practical and 
     aspirational rationales together constitute a compelling case 
     for

[[Page S1224]]

     human space exploration. These rationales include economic 
     benefits, national security, national prestige, inspiring 
     students and other citizens, scientific discovery, human 
     survival, and a sense of shared destiny.
       (3) The Committee on Human Spaceflight affirmed that Mars 
     is the appropriate long-term goal for the human space flight 
     program.
       (4) The Committee on Human Spaceflight recommended that the 
     National Aeronautics and Space Administration 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.

     SEC. 3. HUMAN EXPLORATION STRATEGY.

       (a) Human Exploration of Mars.--Section 202(b) of the 
     National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization 
     Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18312(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) to achieve human exploration of Mars, including the 
     establishment of a capability to extend human presence to the 
     surface of Mars.''.
       (b) Exploration Strategy.--
       (1) In general.--In accordance with this subsection, the 
     Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration shall submit an interim report and final 
     report setting forth a strategy to achieve the objective in 
     paragraph (5) of section 202(b) of the National Aeronautics 
     and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010, as 
     amended by subsection (a) of this section, through a series 
     of successive, sustainable, free-standing, but complementary 
     missions making robust utilization of cis-lunar space and 
     employing the Space Launch System, Orion crew capsule, and 
     other capabilities provided under titles III, IV, V, and IX 
     of that Act (42 U.S.C. 18301 et seq.).
       (2) Strategy requirements.--In developing the strategy 
     under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall include--
       (A) the utility of an expanded human presence in cis-lunar 
     space toward enabling missions to various lunar orbits, the 
     lunar surface, asteroids, Mars, the moons of Mars, and other 
     destinations of interest for future human exploration and 
     development;
       (B) the utility of an expanded human presence in cis-lunar 
     space for economic, scientific, and technological advances;
       (C) the opportunities for collaboration with--
       (i) international partners;
       (ii) private industry; and
       (iii) other Federal agencies, including missions relevant 
     to national security or scientific needs;
       (D) the opportunities specifically afforded by the 
     International Space Station (ISS) to support high priority 
     scientific research and technological developments useful in 
     expanding and sustaining a human presence in cis-lunar space 
     and beyond;
       (E) a range of exploration mission architectures and 
     approaches for the missions identified under paragraph (1), 
     including capabilities for the Orion crew capsule and the 
     Space Launch System;
       (F) a comparison of architectures and approaches based on--
       (i) assessed value of factors including cost effectiveness, 
     schedule resiliency, safety, sustainability, and 
     opportunities for international collaboration;
       (ii) the extent to which certain architectures and 
     approaches may enable new markets and opportunities for 
     United States private industry, provide compelling 
     opportunities for scientific discovery and technological 
     excellence, sustain United States competitiveness and 
     leadership, and address critical national security 
     considerations and requirements; and
       (iii) the flexibility of such architectures and approaches 
     to adjust to evolving technologies, partners, priorities, and 
     budget projections and constraints;
       (G) measures for setting standards for ensuring crew health 
     and safety, including limits regarding radiation exposure and 
     countermeasures necessary to meet those limits, means and 
     methods for addressing urgent medical conditions or injuries, 
     and other such safety, health, and medical issues that can be 
     anticipated in the conduct of the missions identified under 
     paragraph (1);
       (H) a description of crew training needs and capabilities 
     (including space suits and life support systems) necessary to 
     support the conduct of missions identified under paragraph 
     (1);
       (I) a detailed plan for prioritizing and phasing near-term 
     intermediate destinations and missions identified under 
     paragraph (1);
       (J) an assessment of the recommendations of the report 
     prepared in compliance with section 204 of the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
     2010 (Public Law 111-267; 124 Stat. 2813), including a 
     detailed explanation of how the Administrator has ensured 
     such recommendations have been, to the extent practicable, 
     incorporated into the strategy under paragraph (1); and
       (K) technical information as needed to identify interest 
     from potential stakeholder or partner communities.
       (3) Independent review.--
       (A) In general.--The Administrator shall enter into an 
     arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to review 
     and comment on each interim report pursuant to paragraph (1). 
     Under the arrangement, the National Academy of Sciences shall 
     review each interim report on the strategy described in 
     paragraph (1) and identify the following:
       (i) Matters in such interim report agreed upon by the 
     National Academy of Sciences.
       (ii) Matters in such interim report raising concerns for 
     the National Academy of Sciences.
       (iii) Such further recommendations with respect to matters 
     covered by such interim report as the National Academy of 
     Sciences considers appropriate.
       (B) Timing of review and comment.--The Administrator shall 
     ensure that the review and comment on an interim report 
     provided for pursuant to subparagraph (A) is conducted in a 
     timely manner to comply with the requirements of this 
     subsection and, to the maximum extent practicable, to 
     facilitate the incorporation of the comments of the National 
     Academy of Sciences pursuant to subparagraph (A) into the 
     applicable final report required by this subsection.
       (4) Deadlines.--
       (A) Interim reports.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, and not less than every five 
     years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the 
     National Academy of Sciences an interim report on the 
     strategy required by paragraph (1) in order to facilitate the 
     independent review and comment on the strategy as provided 
     for by paragraph (3).
       (B) Final reports.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, and not less than every five 
     years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress 
     a final report on the strategy required by paragraph (1), 
     which shall include and incorporate the response of the 
     National Academy of Sciences to the most recent interim 
     report pursuant to paragraph (3).
                                 ______