51 U.S.C. § 20303 — Contribution to innovation

Page 59 TITLE 51—NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS § 20303 1 See References in Text note below. required technology development activities, the management strategy to be followed, related ISS activities, planned international collaborative ac- tivities, potential commercial contributions, and other activities relevant to the achievement of the goal established in this section. ‘‘(3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the human ex- ploration roadmap, the Administrator shall con- sider— ‘‘(A) using key exploration capabilities, namely the Space Launch System and Orion; ‘‘(B) using existing commercially available tech- nologies and capabilities or those technologies and capabilities being developed by industry for com- mercial purposes; ‘‘(C) establishing an organizational approach to ensure collaboration and coordination among NASA’s Mission Directorates under section 821 [set out as a note under section 20111 of this title], when appropriate, including to collect and return to Earth a sample from the Martian surface; ‘‘(D) building upon the initial uncrewed mission, Artemis I, and first crewed mission, Artemis II, 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; ‘‘(E) developing the robotic and precursor mis- sions 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, de- scent, landing, ascent, Mars surface systems, and in-situ resource utilization; ‘‘(F) demonstrating and testing 1 or more habitat modules in cis-lunar space to prepare for Mars mis- sions; ‘‘(G) using public-private, firm fixed-price part- nerships, where practicable; ‘‘(H) collaborating with international, academic, and industry partners, when appropriate; ‘‘(I) any risks to human health and sensitive on- board technologies, including radiation exposure; ‘‘(J) any risks identified through research out- comes under the NASA Human Research Program’s Behavioral Health Element; and ‘‘(K) 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 431. ‘‘(4) CRITICAL DECISION PLAN ON HUMAN SPACE EXPLO- RATION.—As part of the human exploration roadmap, the Administrator shall include a critical decision plan— ‘‘(A) identifying and defining key decisions guid- ing 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; ‘‘(B) defining decisions needed to maximize effi- ciencies and resources for reaching the near, inter- mediate, and long-term goals and objectives of human space exploration; and ‘‘(C) identifying and defining timelines and mile- stones for a sustainable cadence of missions begin- ning with Artemis III for the Space Launch System and Orion to extend human exploration from cis- lunar space to the surface of Mars. ‘‘(5) REPORTS.— ‘‘(A) INITIAL HUMAN EXPLORATION ROADMAP.—The Administrator shall submit to the appropriate com- mittees of Congress— ‘‘(i) an initial human exploration roadmap, in- cluding a critical decision plan, before December 1, 2017; and ‘‘(ii) an updated human exploration roadmap pe- riodically as the Administrator considers nec- essary but not less than biennially. ‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—Each human exploration road- map under this paragraph shall include a descrip- tion of— ‘‘(i) the achievements and goals accomplished in the process of developing such capabilities and technologies during the 2-year period prior to the submission of the human exploration roadmap; and ‘‘(ii) the expected goals and achievements in the following 2-year period. ‘‘(C) SUBMISSION WITH BUDGET.—Each human ex- ploration roadmap under this section shall be in- cluded in the budget for that fiscal year trans- mitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code.’’ [Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VII, § 10817(b), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1740, which directed amendment of sec- tion 432(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Ad- ministration Authorization Act of 2017, was executed by amending section 432(b) of Pub. L. 115–10, set out above, which is section 432(b) of the National Aero- nautics and Space Administration Transition Author- ization Act of 2017, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.] [For definitions of terms used in sections 431 and 432 of Pub. L. 115–10, set out above, see section 2 of Pub. L. 115–10, set out as a note under section 10101 of this title.] § 20303. Contribution to innovation (a) PARTICIPATION IN INTERAGENCY ACTIVI- TIES.—The Administration shall be a full partic- ipant in any interagency effort to promote inno- vation and economic competitiveness through near-term and long-term basic scientific re- search and development and the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and mathe- matics education, consistent with the Adminis- tration’s mission, including authorized activi- ties. (b) HISTORIC FOUNDATION.—In order to carry out the participation described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall build on the historic role of the Administration in stimulating excel- lence in the advancement of physical science and engineering disciplines and in providing op- portunities and incentives for the pursuit of aca- demic studies in science, technology, engineer- ing, and mathematics. (c) BALANCED SCIENCE PROGRAM AND ROBUST AUTHORIZATION LEVELS.—The balanced science program authorized by section 101(d) of the Na- tional Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16611(d)) 1 shall be an element of the contribution by the Administration to the interagency programs. (d) ANNUAL REPORT.— (1) REQUIREMENT.—The Administrator shall submit to Congress and the President an an- nual report describing the activities conducted pursuant to this section, including a descrip- tion of the goals and the objective metrics upon which funding decisions were made. (2) CONTENT.—Each report submitted pursu- ant to paragraph (1) shall include, with regard to science, technology, engineering, and math- ematics education programs, at a minimum, the following: (A) A description of each program. Page 60 TITLE 51—NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS § 20304 (B) The amount spent on each program. (C) The number of students or teachers served by each program. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3356.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 20303(a) ...... 42 U.S.C. 16611a(a). Pub. L. 110–69, title II, § 2001(a), (b), (c), (e), Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 582. 20303(b) ...... 42 U.S.C. 16611a(b). 20303(c) ...... 42 U.S.C. 16611a(c). 20303(d) ...... 42 U.S.C. 16611a(e). Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Section 101(d) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16611(d)), referred to in subsec. (c), is section 101(d) of Pub. L. 109–155, title I, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2897, which was omitted from the Code following the enact- ment of this title by Pub. L. 111–314. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION’S CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS ENHANCEMENT Pub. L. 111–358, title II, § 204, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3994, provided that: ‘‘(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Con- gress that the International Space Station represents a valuable and unique national asset which can be uti- lized to increase educational opportunities and sci- entific and technological innovation which will en- hance the Nation’s economic security and competitive- ness in the global technology fields of endeavor. If the period for active utilization of the International Space Station is extended to at least the year 2020, the poten- tial for such opportunities and innovation would be in- creased. Efforts should be made to fully realize that po- tential. ‘‘(b) EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT OF NASA’S INTER- AGENCY CONTRIBUTION.—Pursuant to the authority pro- vided in title II of the America COMPETES Act (Public Law 110–69 [see Tables for classification]), the Adminis- trator [of NASA] shall evaluate and, where possible, ex- pand efforts to maximize NASA’s [National Aero- nautics and Space Administration’s] contribution to interagency efforts to enhance science, technology, en- gineering, and mathematics education capabilities, and to enhance the Nation’s technological excellence and global competitiveness. The Administrator shall iden- tify these enhancements in the annual reports required by section 2001(e) of that Act ([former] 42 U.S.C. 16611a(e)) [now 51 U.S.C. 20303(d)]. ‘‘(c) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS.—Within 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 4, 2011], the Ad- ministrator shall provide to the House of Representa- tives Committee on Science and Technology [now Com- mittee on Science, Space, and Technology] and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans- portation a report on the assessment made pursuant to subsection (a). The report shall include— ‘‘(1) a description of current and potential activities associated with utilization of the International Space Station which are supportive of the goals of edu- cational excellence and innovation and competitive enhancement established or reaffirmed by this Act [see Short Title of 2011 Amendment note set out under section 1861 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare], including a summary of the goals sup- ported, the number of individuals or organizations participating in or benefiting from such activities, and a summary of how such activities might be ex- panded or improved upon; ‘‘(2) a description of government and private part- nerships which are, or may be, established to effec- tively utilize the capabilities represented by the International Space Station to enhance United States competitiveness, innovation and science, tech- nology, engineering, and mathematics education; and ‘‘(3) a summary of proposed actions or activities to be undertaken to ensure the maximum utilization of the International Space Station to contribute to ful- fillment of the goals and objectives of this Act, and the identification of any additional authority, assets, or funding that would be required to support such ac- tivities.’’ § 20304. Basic research enhancement (a) DEFINITION OF BASIC RESEARCH.—In this section, the term ‘‘basic research’’ has the meaning given the term in Office of Manage- ment and Budget Circular No. A–11. (b) COORDINATION.—The Administrator, the Di- rector of the National Science Foundation, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Commerce shall, to the ex- tent practicable, coordinate basic research ac- tivities related to physical sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3357.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 20304 .......... 42 U.S.C. 16658. Pub. L. 110–69, title II, § 2003, Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 583. § 20305. National Academies decadal surveys (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall enter into agreements on a periodic basis with the National Academies for independent assess- ments, also known as decadal surveys, to take stock of the status and opportunities for Earth and space science discipline fields and Aero- nautics research and to recommend priorities for research and programmatic areas over the next decade. (b) INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATES.—The agree- ments described in subsection (a) shall include independent estimates of the life cycle costs and technical readiness of missions assessed in the decadal surveys whenever possible. (c) REEXAMINATION.—The Administrator shall request that each National Academies decadal survey committee identify any conditions or events, such as significant cost growth or sci- entific or technological advances, that would warrant the Administration asking the National Academies to reexamine the priorities that the decadal survey had established. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3357.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 20305 .......... 42 U.S.C. 17823. Pub. L. 110–422, title XI, § 1104, Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4809. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries IMPLEMENTATION OF DECADAL SURVEY’S RECOMMENDED DECISION RULES Pub. L. 112–55, div. B, title III, Nov. 18, 2011, 125 Stat. 622, provided in part: ‘‘That NASA shall implement the recommendations of the most recent National Research