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51 U.S.C. § 20302 — Vision for space exploration
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)).
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Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:record_usc_b88f183d2df31b6a325f36fb
Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-51/section-20302-vision-for-space-exploration--afae0e9049.md
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Passage SHA-256: df3478cbdcda7aa42c964fbef3cedf5a179b4c21bc62d546173a46af45b70846
Source location: Title 51, Chapter 203, § 20302; chapter-203-responsibilities-and-vision.md
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**(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)).
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Establishment and Appointment of Administrator.—** There is established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Administration shall be headed by an Administrator, who shall be appointed from civilian life by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Under the supervision and direction of the President, the Administrator shall be responsible for the exercise of all powers and the discharge of all duties of the Administration and shall have authority and control over all personnel and activities thereof.
**(b) Deputy Administrator.—** There shall be in the Administration a Deputy Administrator, who shall be appointed from civilian life by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Deputy Administrator shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Administrator may prescribe. The Deputy Administrator shall act for, and exercise the powers of, the Administrator during the Administrator’s absence or disability.
**(c) Restriction on Other Business or Employment.—** The Administrator and the Deputy Administrator shall not engage in any other business, vocation, or employment while serving as such.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 20111
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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) Monitoring risk**
(1) **Update on system implementation** — Not later than 120 days after October 11, 2010, and on a biennial basis thereafter, the chief information officer of NASA, in coordination with other national security agencies, shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress—
(A) an update on efforts to implement a system to provide dynamic, comprehensive, real-time information regarding risk of unauthorized remote, proximity, and insider use or access, for all information infrastructure under the responsibility of the chief information officer, and mission-related networks, including contractor networks;
(B) an assessment of whether the system has demonstrably and quantifiably reduced network risk compared to alternative methods of measuring security; and
(C) an assessment of the progress that each center and facility has made toward implementing the system.
(2) **Existing assessments** — The assessments required of the Inspector General under section 3545 11 See References in Text note below. of title 44 shall evaluate the effectiveness of the system described in this subsection.
**(b) Information security awareness and education**
(1) **In general** — In consultation with the Department of Education, other national security agencies, and other agency directorates, the chief information officer shall institute an information security awareness and education program for all operators and users of NASA information infrastructure, with the goal of reducing unauthorized remote, proximity, and insider use or access.
(2) **Program requirements**
(A) The program shall include, at a minimum, ongoing classified and unclassified threat-based briefings, and automated exercises and examinations that simulate common attack techniques.
(B
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 18302
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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
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 18323
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
The Administrator shall—
(1) construct an architecture and implementation plan for the Administration’s human exploration program that is not critically dependent on the achievement of milestones by fixed dates;
(2) implement an exploration research and technology development program to enable human and robotic operations consistent with [section 20302(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title51-section20302/b&num=0&edition=prelim);
(3) conduct an in-situ resource utilization technology program to develop the capability to use space resources to increase independence from Earth, and sustain exploration beyond low-Earth orbit; and
(4) pursue aggressively automated rendezvous and docking capabilities that can support the International Space Station and other mission requirements.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 70502
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Definitions** In this section:
(1) **Advanced nuclear reactor** — The term “advanced nuclear reactor” has the meaning given the term in [section 16271(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section16271/b&num=0&edition=prelim).
(2) **Eligible entity** — The term “eligible entity” means each of—
(A) a State;
(B) an Indian Tribe (as defined in [section 5304 of title 25](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title25-section5304&num=0&edition=prelim));
(C) a Tribal organization (as defined in [section 5304 of title 25](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title25-section5304&num=0&edition=prelim));
(D) a unit of local government;
(E) an electric utility (as defined in [section 796 of title 16](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title16-section796&num=0&edition=prelim));
(F) a National Laboratory (as defined in [section 15801 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section15801&num=0&edition=prelim));
(G) an institution of higher education (as defined in [section 1001(a) of title 20](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title20-section1001/a&num=0&edition=prelim)); and
(H) a private entity specializing in—
(i) advanced nuclear technology development;
(ii) nuclear supply chains; or
(iii) with respect to nuclear technologies and nonelectric applications of nuclear technologies, construction, project financing, contract structuring and risk allocation, or regulatory and licensing processes.
(3) **Program** — The term “program” means the program established under subsection (b)(1).
(4) **Secretary** — The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 18901
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Programs.—** The Administrator shall ensure that the Administration carries out a balanced set of programs that shall include, at a minimum, programs in—
(1) human space flight, in accordance with [section 20302 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title51-section20302&num=0&edition=prelim);
(2) aeronautics research and development; and
(3) scientific research, which shall include, at a minimum—
(A) robotic missions to study the Moon and other planets and their moons, and to deepen understanding of astronomy, astrophysics, and other areas of science that can be productively studied from space;
(B) Earth science research and research on the Sun-Earth connection through the development and operation of research satellites and other means;
(C) support of university research in space science, Earth science, and microgravity science; and
(D) research on microgravity, including research that is not directly related to human exploration.
**(b) Consultation and Coordination.—** In carrying out the programs of the Administration, the Administrator shall—
(1) consult and coordinate to the extent appropriate with other relevant Federal agencies, including through the National Science and Technology Council;
(2) work closely with the private sector, including by—
(A) encouraging the work of entrepreneurs who are seeking to develop new means to launch satellites, crew, or cargo;
(B) contracting with the private sector for crew and cargo services, including to the International Space Station, to the extent practicable;
(C) using commercially available products (including software) and services to the extent practicable to support all Administration activities; and
(D) encouraging commercial use and development
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 20301
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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
In order to sustain healthy Centers that are capable of carrying out the Administration’s missions, the Administrator shall ensure that adequate maintenance and upgrading of those Center facilities is performed on a regular basis.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 31502
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Policy.—** Congress declares that a priority goal of constructing the International Space Station is the economic development of Earth orbital space. Congress further declares that free and competitive markets create the most efficient conditions for promoting economic development, and should therefore govern the economic development of Earth orbital space. Congress further declares that the use of free market principles in operating, servicing, allocating the use of, and adding capabilities to the Space Station, and the resulting fullest possible engagement of commercial providers and participation of commercial users, will reduce Space Station operational costs for all partners and the Federal Government’s share of the United States burden to fund operations.
**(b) Use of United States Commercially Provided Services.—**
(1) **In general.—** — In order to stimulate commercial use of space, help maximize the utility and productivity of the International Space Station, and enable a commercial means of providing crew transfer and crew rescue services for the International Space Station, the Administration shall—
(A) make use of United States commercially provided International Space Station crew transfer and crew rescue services to the maximum extent practicable, if those commercial services have demonstrated the capability to meet Administration-specified ascent, entry, and International Space Station proximity operations safety requirements;
(B) limit, to the maximum extent practicable, the use of the Crew Exploration Vehicle to missions carrying astronauts beyond low Earth orbit once commercial crew transfer and crew rescue services that meet safety requirements become operational;
(C) facilitate, to the maximum extent practicable, the transfer of Admi
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 50111
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