42 U.S.C. § 18322 — Space Launch System as follow-on

Page 9149 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 18322 (Pub. L. 111–267, title II, § 203, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2812; Pub. L. 112–273, § 2, Jan. 14, 2013, 126 Stat. 2454; Pub. L. 115–10, title IV, § 416(a), Mar. 21, 2017, 131 Stat. 34.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Any other subchapter of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (d), was in the original ‘‘any other title of this Act’’, meaning any other title of Pub.L. 111–267, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2805. In addition to title II which is clas- sified generally to this subchapter, Pub. L. 111–267 con- tains titles III to XII which are classified generally to subchapters II to XI, respectively, of this chapter and titles I and XIII, 126 Stat. 2809, 2846, which are not clas- sified to the Code. AMENDMENTS 2017—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–10, § 416(a)(1), (3), redes- ignated subsec. (c) as (b) and struck out former subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, text of subsec. (b) read as fol- lows: ‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT OF FOLLOW-ON SPACE TRANSPOR- TATION SYSTEMS.—The Administrator shall proceed with the development of follow-on space transportation systems in a manner that ensures that the national ca- pability to restart and fly Space Shuttle missions can be initiated if required by the Congress, in an Act en- acted after October 11, 2010, or by a Presidential deter- mination transmitted to the Congress, before the last Space Shuttle mission authorized by this chapter is completed. ‘‘(2) REQUIRED ACTIONS.—In carrying out the require- ment in paragraph (1), the Administrator shall author- ize refurbishment of the manufactured external tank of the Space Shuttle, designated as ET–94, and take all ac- tions necessary to enable its readiness for use in the Space Launch System development as a critical skills and capability retention effort or for test purposes, while preserving the ability to use this tank if needed for an ISS contingency if deemed necessary under para- graph (1).’’ Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 115–10, § 416(a)(2), (3), sub- stituted ‘‘subsection (b)’’ for ‘‘subsection (c)’’ in subsec. (d) and redesignated subsec. (d) as (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (b). 2013—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 112–273 added subsecs. (c) and (d). SUBCHAPTER II—EXPANSION OF HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT BEYOND THE INTER- NATIONAL SPACE STATION AND LOW- EARTH ORBIT § 18321. Human space flight beyond low-Earth orbit (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 aster- oids and Mars. (2) The regions of cis-lunar space are acces- sible to other national and commercial launch capabilities, and such access raises a host of national security concerns and economic im- plications that international human space en- deavors can help to address. (3) The ability to support human missions in regions beyond low-Earth orbit and on the sur- face 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 na- tional, commercial, or international. (5) A long term objective for human explo- ration of space should be the eventual inter- national exploration of Mars. (6) Future international missions beyond low-Earth orbit should be designed to incor- porate capability development and avail- ability, affordability, and international con- tributions. (7) Human space flight and future explo- ration beyond low-Earth orbit should be based around a pay-as-you-go approach. Require- ments in new launch and crew systems author- ized 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 expe- rience 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 appro- priate committees of Congress a report on the following assets and capabilities: (A) Any effort by NASA to expand and en- sure effective international collaboration on the ISS. (B) The efforts of NASA, including its ap- proach and progress, in defining near-term, cis-lunar space human missions. (2) NASA contributions In preparing the report required by para- graph (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 specifi- cally identify in the report. (Pub. L. 111–267, title III, § 301, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2813.) § 18322. Space Launch System as follow-on launch vehicle to the Space Shuttle (a) United States policy It is the policy of the United States that NASA develop a Space Launch System as a fol- low-on to the Space Shuttle that can access cis- lunar space and the regions of space beyond low- Earth orbit in order to enable the United States to participate in global efforts to access and de- velop this increasingly strategic region. (b) Initiation of development (1) In general The Administrator shall, as soon as prac- ticable after October 11, 2010, initiate develop- 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 evolutionary growth to carry heavier payloads. Developmental work and testing of the core elements and the upper stage should proceed in parallel subject to ap- propriations. Priority should be placed on the core elements with the goal for operational ca- pability for the core elements not later than December 31, 2016. (3) TRANSITION NEEDS.—The Administrator shall ensure critical skills and capabilities are retained, modified, and developed, as appro- priate, in areas related to solid and liquid en- gines, large diameter fuel tanks, rocket pro- pulsion, and other ground test capabilities for an effective transition to the follow-on Space Launch System. (4) The capacity for efficient and timely evo- lution, including the incorporation of new technologies, competition of sub-elements, and commercial operations. (Pub. L. 111–267, title III, § 302, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2814.) § 18323. Multi-purpose crew vehicle (a) Initiation of development (1) In general The Administrator shall continue the devel- opment of a multi-purpose crew vehicle to be available as soon as practicable, and no later than for use with the Space Launch System. The vehicle shall continue to advance develop- ment of the human safety features, designs, and systems in the Orion project. (2) Goal for operational capability It shall be the goal to achieve full oper- ational capability for the transportation vehi- cle developed pursuant to this subsection by not later than December 31, 2016. For purposes of meeting such goal, the Administrator may undertake a test of the transportation vehicle at the ISS before that date. (b) Minimum capability requirements The multi-purpose crew vehicle developed pur- suant to subsection (a) shall be designed to have, at a minimum, the following: (1) The capability to serve as the primary crew vehicle for missions beyond low-Earth orbit. (2) The capability to conduct regular in- space operations, such as rendezvous, docking, and extra-vehicular activities, in conjunction with payloads delivered by the Space Launch System developed pursuant to section 18322 of this title, or other vehicles, in preparation for missions beyond low-Earth orbit or servicing of assets described in section 18383 of this title, or other assets in cis-lunar space. (3) The capability to provide an alternative means of delivery of crew and cargo to the ISS, in the event other vehicles, whether com- mercial vehicles or partner-supplied vehicles, are unable to perform that function. (4) The capacity for efficient and timely evo- lution, including the incorporation of new technologies, competition of sub-elements, and commercial operations. (Pub. L. 111–267, title III, § 303, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2815.) § 18324. Utilization of existing workforce and as- sets in development of Space Launch System and multi-purpose crew vehicle (a) In general In developing the Space Launch System pursu- ant to section 18322 of this title and the multi- purpose crew vehicle pursuant to section 18323 of this title, the Administrator shall, to the extent practicable utilize— (1) existing contracts, investments, work- force, 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 as- sociated life-support requirements with po- tential development of standard NASA-cer- tified 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