51 U.S.C. § 70907 — Maintaining use through at least 2030

Page 181 TITLE 51—NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS § 70907 Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries CHANGE OF NAME Committee on Science and Technology of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Jan. 5, 2011. § 70905. National laboratory designation (a) DEFINITION OF UNITED STATES SEGMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.—In this sec- tion the term ‘‘United States segment of the International Space Station’’ means those ele- ments of the International Space Station manu- factured— (1) by the United States; or (2) for the United States by other nations in exchange for funds or launch services. (b) DESIGNATION.—To further the policy de- scribed in section 70501(a) of this title, the United States segment of the International Space Station is hereby designated a national laboratory. (c) MANAGEMENT.— (1) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Administrator shall seek to increase the utilization of the Inter- national Space Station by other Federal enti- ties and the private sector through partner- ships, cost-sharing agreements, and other ar- rangements that would supplement Adminis- tration funding of the International Space Station. (2) CONTRACTING.—The Administrator may enter into a contract with a nongovernmental entity to operate the International Space Sta- tion national laboratory, subject to all appli- cable Federal laws and regulations. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3437.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 70905(a) ...... 42 U.S.C. 16767(d). Pub. L. 109–155, title V, § 507(a), (b), (d), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2930, 2931. 70905(b) ...... 42 U.S.C. 16767(a). 70905(c) ...... 42 U.S.C. 16767(b). § 70906. International Space Station National Laboratory Advisory Committee (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than one year after October 15, 2008, the Administrator shall establish under chapter 10 of title 5 a committee to be known as the ‘‘International Space Sta- tion National Laboratory Advisory Committee’’ (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘‘Committee’’). (b) MEMBERSHIP.— (1) COMPOSITION.—The Committee shall be composed of individuals representing organiza- tions that have formal agreements with the Administration to utilize the United States portion of the International Space Station, in- cluding allocations within partner elements. (2) CHAIR.—The Administrator shall appoint a chair from among the members of the Com- mittee, who shall serve for a 2-year term. (c) DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall mon- itor, assess, and make recommendations re- garding effective utilization of the Inter- national Space Station as a national labora- tory and platform for research. (2) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Committee shall submit to the Administrator, on an annual basis or more frequently as considered nec- essary by a majority of the members of the Committee, a report containing the assess- ments and recommendations required by para- graph (1). (d) DURATION.—The Committee shall exist for the life of the International Space Station. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3438; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(327), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4342.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 70906 .......... 42 U.S.C. 17752. Pub. L. 110–422, title VI, § 602, Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4795. In subsection (a), the date ‘‘October 15, 2008’’ is sub- stituted for ‘‘the date of enactment of this Act’’ to re- flect the date of enactment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–422, 122 Stat. 4779). Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted ‘‘chapter 10 of title 5’’ for ‘‘the Federal Advisory Committee Act’’. § 70907. Maintaining use through at least 2030 (a) POLICY.—The Administrator shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the International Space Station remains a viable and productive facility capable of potential United States utili- zation through at least September 30, 2030. (b) NASA ACTIONS.—In furtherance of the pol- icy under subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that the International Space Station, as a designated na- tional laboratory— (1) remains viable as an element of overall exploration and partnership strategies and ap- proaches; (2) is considered for use by all NASA mission directorates, as appropriate, for technically appropriate scientific data gathering or tech- nology risk reduction demonstrations; and (3) remains an effective, functional vehicle providing research and test bed capabilities for the United States through at least Sep- tember 30, 2030. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3438; Pub. L. 114–90, title I, § 114(b)(4), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 716; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VII, § 10815(d)(1), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1738.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 70907 .......... 42 U.S.C. 17751(a). Pub. L. 110–422, title VI, § 601(a), Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4793. Page 182 TITLE 51—NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS § 70907 Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2022—Pub. L. 117–167, § 10815(d)(1)(A), substituted ‘‘2030’’ for ‘‘2024’’ in section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10815(d)(1)(B), sub- stituted ‘‘September 30, 2030’’ for ‘‘September 30, 2024’’. Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10815(d)(1)(C), sub- stituted ‘‘September 30, 2030’’ for ‘‘September 30, 2024’’. 2015—Pub. L. 114–90 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to maintaining the International Space Station as a viable and productive facility capable of potential United States utilization through at least 2020. CHAPTER 711—NEAR-EARTH OBJECTS Sec. 71101. Reaffirmation of policy. 71102. Requests for information. 71103. Developing policy and recommending respon- sible Federal agency. 71104. Planetary radar. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries PLANETARY DEFENSE COORDINATION OFFICE Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VII, § 10825, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1744, provided that: ‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find- ings: ‘‘(1) Near-Earth objects remain a threat to the United States. ‘‘(2) Section 321(d)(1) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–155; 119 Stat. 2922; 51 U.S.C. 71101 note prec.) [set out below], established a requirement that the Administrator [of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration] plan, develop, and implement a Near-Earth Object Survey program to detect, track, catalogue, and characterize the physical characteris- tics of near-Earth objects equal to, or greater than, 140 meters in diameter in order to assess the threat of such near-Earth objects to the Earth, with the goal of 90 percent completion of the catalogue of such near-Earth objects by December 30, 2020. ‘‘(3) The goal described in paragraph (2) has not be met. ‘‘(4) The report of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine entitled ‘Find- ing Hazardous Asteroids Using Infrared and Visible Wavelength Telescopes’, issued in 2019, states that— ‘‘(A) NASA [National Aeronautics and Space Ad- ministration] should develop and launch a dedi- cated space-based infrared survey telescope to meet the requirements of section 321(d)(1) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authoriza- tion Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–155; 119 Stat. 2922; 51 U.S.C. 71101 note prec.); and ‘‘(B) the early detection of potentially hazardous near-Earth objects enabled by a space-based infra- red survey telescope is important to enable deflec- tion of a dangerous asteroid. ‘‘(b) MAINTENANCE OF PLANETARY DEFENSE COORDINA- TION OFFICE.—The Administrator shall maintain an of- fice within the Planetary Science Division of the Science Mission Directorate, to be known as the ‘Plan- etary Defense Coordination Office’— ‘‘(1) to plan, develop, and implement a program to survey threats posed by near-Earth objects equal to or greater than 140 meters in diameter, as required by section 321(d)(1) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Pub- lic Law 109–155; 119 Stat. 2922; 51 U.S.C. 71101 note prec.); ‘‘(2) identify, track, and characterize potentially hazardous near-Earth objects, issue warnings of the effects of potential impacts of such objects, and in- vestigate strategies and technologies for mitigating the potential impacts of such objects; and ‘‘(3) assist in coordinating government planning for response to a potential impact of a near-Earth object. ‘‘(c) DEDICATED SURVEY MISSION.— ‘‘(1) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— ‘‘(A) the Near-Earth Object Surveyor mission, as designed, is anticipated to make significant progress toward carrying out congressional policy and direction, as set forth in section 321(d)(1) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–155; 119 Stat. 2922; 51 U.S.C. 71101 note prec.), to detect 90 percent of near-Earth objects equal to, or greater than, 140 meters in diameter; and ‘‘(B) the Administrator should prioritize the pub- lic safety role of the Near-Earth Object Surveyor mission and should not delay the development and launch of the mission due to cost growth on other planetary science missions. ‘‘(2) CONTINUATION OF MISSION.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall con- tinue the development of a dedicated space-based infrared survey telescope mission, known as the ‘Near-Earth Object Surveyor’, on a schedule to achieve a launch-readiness date not later than March 30, 2026, or the earliest practicable date, for the purpose of accomplishing the objectives set forth in section 321(d)(1) of the National Aero- nautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–155; 119 Stat. 2922; 51 U.S.C. 71101 note prec.). ‘‘(B) CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS.—The design of the mission described in subparagraph (A) shall take into account the recommendations of the 2019 report of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine entitled ‘Finding Haz- ardous Asteroids Using Infrared and Visible Wave- length Telescopes’, the planetary science decadal survey, and the 2018 United States National Near- Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan. ‘‘(d) Annual Report.—[Amended section 321(f) of Pub. L. 109–155, set out below.] ‘‘(e) NEAR-EARTH OBJECT DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘near-Earth object’ has the meaning given the term in section 321(c) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–155; 119 Stat. 2922; 51 U.S.C. 71101 note prec.).’’ GEORGE E. BROWN, JR. NEAR-EARTH OBJECT SURVEY Pub. L. 109–155, title III, § 321, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2922, as amended by Pub. L. 115–10, title V, § 511, Mar. 21, 2017, 131 Stat. 51; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VII, § 10825(d), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1745, provided that: ‘‘(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the ‘George E. Brown, Jr. Near-Earth Object Survey Act’. ‘‘(b) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the following findings: ‘‘(1) Near-Earth objects pose a serious and credible threat to humankind, as many scientists believe that a major asteroid or comet was responsible for the mass extinction of the majority of the Earth’s spe- cies, including the dinosaurs, nearly 65,000,000 years ago. ‘‘(2) Similar objects have struck the Earth or passed through the Earth’s atmosphere several times in the Earth’s history and pose a similar threat in the future. ‘‘(3) Several such near-Earth objects have only been discovered within days of the objects’ closest ap- proach to Earth, and recent discoveries of such large objects indicate that many large near-Earth objects remain undiscovered. ‘‘(4) The efforts taken to date by NASA [National Aeronautics and Space Administration] for detecting and characterizing the hazards of near-Earth objects are not sufficient to fully determine the threat posed by such objects to cause widespread destruction and loss of life. ‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section the term ‘near-Earth object’ means an asteroid or comet