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42 U.S.C. § 18323 — Human space flight beyond low-Earth orbit
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Findings** Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The extension of the human presence from low-Earth orbit to other regions of space beyond low-Earth orbit will enable missions to the surface of the Moon and missions to deep space destinations such as near-Earth asteroids and Mars.
(2) The regions of cis-lunar space are accessible to other national and commercial launch capabilities, and such access raises a host of national security concerns and economic implications that international human space endeavors can help to address.
(3) The ability to support human missions in regions beyond low-Earth orbit and on the surface of the Moon can also drive developments in emerging areas of space infrastructure and technology.
(4) Developments in space infrastructure and technology can stimulate and enable increased space applications, such as in-space servicing, propellant resupply and transfer, and in situ resource utilization, and open opportunities for additional users of space, whether national, commercial, or international.
(5) A long term objective for human exploration of space should be the eventual international exploration of Mars.
(6) Future international missions beyond low-Earth orbit should be designed to incorporate capability development and availability, affordability, and international contributions.
(7) Human space flight and future exploration beyond low-Earth orbit should be based around a pay-as-you-go approach. Requirements in new launch and crew systems authorized in this chapter should be scaled to the minimum necessary to meet the core national mission capability needed to conduct cis-lunar missions. These initial missions, along with the development of new technologies and in-space capabilities can form the foundation for missions to
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Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-42/section-18323-human-space-flight-beyond-low-earth-orbit--4e6b5dc0a9.md
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Source location: Title 42, Chapter 159, § 18323; chapter-159-space-exploration-technology-and-science.md
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**(a) Findings** Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The extension of the human presence from low-Earth orbit to other regions of space beyond low-Earth orbit will enable missions to the surface of the Moon and missions to deep space destinations such as near-Earth asteroids and Mars.
(2) The regions of cis-lunar space are accessible to other national and commercial launch capabilities, and such access raises a host of national security concerns and economic implications that international human space endeavors can help to address.
(3) The ability to support human missions in regions beyond low-Earth orbit and on the surface of the Moon can also drive developments in emerging areas of space infrastructure and technology.
(4) Developments in space infrastructure and technology can stimulate and enable increased space applications, such as in-space servicing, propellant resupply and transfer, and in situ resource utilization, and open opportunities for additional users of space, whether national, commercial, or international.
(5) A long term objective for human exploration of space should be the eventual international exploration of Mars.
(6) Future international missions beyond low-Earth orbit should be designed to incorporate capability development and availability, affordability, and international contributions.
(7) Human space flight and future exploration beyond low-Earth orbit should be based around a pay-as-you-go approach. Requirements in new launch and crew systems authorized in this chapter should be scaled to the minimum necessary to meet the core national mission capability needed to conduct cis-lunar missions. These initial missions, along with the development of new technologies and in-space capabilities can form the foundation for missions to other destinations. These initial missions also should provide operational experience prior to the further human expansion into space.
**(b) Report on international collaboration**
(1) **Report required** — Not later than 120 days after October 11, 2010, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the following assets and capabilities:
(A) Any effort by NASA to expand and ensure effective international collaboration on the ISS.
(B) The efforts of NASA, including its approach and progress, in defining near-term, cis-lunar space human missions.
(2) **NASA contributions** — In preparing the report required by paragraph (1), the Administrator shall assume that NASA will contribute to the efforts described in that paragraph the following:
(A) A Space Launch System.
(B) A multi-purpose crew vehicle.
(C) Such other technology elements the Administrator may consider appropriate, and which the Administrator shall specifically identify in the report.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) In general** In developing the Space Launch System pursuant to [section 18322 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section18322&num=0&edition=prelim) and the multi-purpose crew vehicle pursuant to [section 18323 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section18323&num=0&edition=prelim), the Administrator shall, to the extent practicable utilize—
(1) existing contracts, investments, workforce, industrial base, and capabilities from the Space Shuttle and Orion and Ares 1 projects, including—
(A) space-suit development activities for application to, and coordinated development of, a multi-purpose crew vehicle suit and associated life-support requirements with potential development of standard NASA-certified suit and life support systems for use in alternative commercially-developed crew transportation systems; and
(B) Space Shuttle-derived components and Ares 1 components that use existing United States propulsion systems, including liquid fuel engines, external tank or tank-related capability, and solid rocket motor engines; and
(2) associated testing facilities, either in being or under construction as of October 11, 2010.
**(b) Discharge of requirements** In meeting the requirements of subsection (a), the Administrator—
(1) shall, to the extent practicable, utilize ground-based manufacturing capability, ground testing activities, launch and operations infrastructure, and workforce expertise;
(2) shall, to the extent practicable, minimize the modification and development of ground infrastructure and maximize the utilization of existing software, vehicle, and mission operations processes;
(3) shall complete construction and activation of the A–3 test stand with a c
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 18326
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) In general** The Administrator shall take all actions necessary to ensure the safe and effective operation, maintenance, and maximum utilization of the United States segment of the ISS through at least September 30, 2030.
**(b) Vehicle and component review**
(1) **In general** — The Administrator shall, as soon as is practicable after October 11, 2010, carry out a comprehensive assessment of the essential modules, operational systems and components, structural elements, and permanent scientific equipment on board or planned for delivery and installation aboard the ISS, including both United States and international partner elements, for purposes of identifying the spare or replacement modules, systems and components, elements, and equipment that are required to ensure complete, effective, and safe functioning and full scientific utilization of the ISS through September 30, 2020.11 See References in Text note below.
(2) **Data** — In carrying out the assessment, the Administrator shall assemble any existing data, and provide for the development of any data or analysis not currently available, that is necessary for purposes of the assessment.
**(c) Reports**
(1) **Report on assessment**
(A) *Report required* — Not later than 90 days after October 11, 2010, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the assessment required by subsection (b).
(B) *Elements* — The report required by this paragraph shall include, at minimum, the following:
(i) A description of the spare or replacement modules, systems and components, elements, and equipment identified pursuant to the assessment that are currently produced, in inventory, or on order, a description of the state of their readiness, and a schedule for their delivery
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 18361
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
In this title:
(1) **Administration.—** — The term “Administration” means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(2) **Administrator.—** — The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 10101
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) In General.—** The Administrator shall establish a program to develop a sustained human presence in cis-lunar space or on the Moon, including a robust precursor program, to promote exploration, science, commerce, and United States preeminence in space, and as a stepping-stone to future exploration of Mars and other destinations. The Administrator is further authorized to develop and conduct appropriate international collaborations in pursuit of these goals.
**(b) Future Exploration of Mars.—** 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.
**(c) Definitions.—** In this section:
(1) **Orion.—** — 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](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section18323&num=0&edition=prelim)).
(2) **Space launch system.—** — The term “Space Launch System” means has the meaning 11 So in original. given the term in section 3 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ([42 U.S.C. 18302](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section18302&num=0&edition=prelim)).
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 20302
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) In General.—** In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Administration for fiscal year 2025, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $9,995,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2032, to use as follows:
(1) $700,000,000, to be obligated not later than fiscal year 2026, for the procurement, using a competitively bid, firm fixed-price contract with a United States commercial provider (as defined in section 50101(7)), of a high-performance Mars telecommunications orbiter—
(A) that—
(i) is capable of providing robust, continuous communications for—
(I) a Mars sample return mission, as described in section 432(3)(C) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017 ([51 U.S.C. 20302](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title51-section20302&num=0&edition=prelim) note; Public Law 115–10); and
(II) future Mars surface, orbital, and human exploration missions;
(ii) supports autonomous operations, onboard processing, and extended mission duration capabilities; and
(iii) is selected from among the commercial proposals that—
(I) received funding from the Administration in fiscal year 2024 or 2025 for commercial design studies for Mars Sample Return; and
(II) proposed a separate, independently launched Mars telecommunication orbiter supporting an end-to-end Mars sample return mission; and
(B) which shall be delivered to the Administration not later than December 31, 2028.
(2) $2,600,000,000 to meet the requirements of section 20302(a) using the program of record known, as of the date of the enactment of this section, as “Gateway”, and as described in section 10811(b)(2)(B)(iv) of the National Aeronau
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 20306
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 9150
TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
§ 18323
ment of a Space Launch System meeting the
minimum capabilities requirements specified
in subsection (c).
(2) Modification of current contracts
In order to limit NASA’s termination liabil-
ity costs and support critical capabilities, the
Administrator shall, to the extent practicable,
extend or modify existing vehicle development
and associated contracts necessary to meet
the requirements in paragraph (1), including
contracts for ground testing of solid rocket
motors, if necessary, to ensure their avail-
ability for development of the Space Launch
System.
(c) Minimum capability requirements
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Space Launch System
developed pursuant to subsection (b) shall be
designed to have, at a minimum, the fol-
lowing:
(A) The initial capability of the core ele-
ments, without an upper stage, of lifting
payloads weighing between 70 tons and 100
tons into low-Earth orbit in preparation for
transit for missions beyond low-Earth orbit.
(B) The capability to carry an integrated
upper Earth departure stage bringing the
total lift capability of the Space Launch
System to 130 tons or more.
(C) The capability to lift the multipurpose
crew vehicle.
(D) The capability to serve as a backup
system for supplying and supporting ISS
cargo requirements or crew delivery require-
ments not otherwise met by available com-
mercial or partner-supplied vehicles.
(2) FLEXIBILITY.—The Space Launch System
shall be designed from inception as a fully-in-
tegrated vehicle capable of carrying a total
payload of 130 tons or more into low-Earth
orbit in preparation for transit for missions
beyond low-Earth orbit. The Space Launch
System shall, to the extent practicable, incor-
porate capabilities for evolutio
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 42 U.S.C. § 18323
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