42 U.S.C. § 18361 — Sense of Congress on the Space Shuttle

Page 9157 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 18362 upmass and downmass capabilities to utilize the ISS research capacity, as available. The Administrator may allocate additional capac- ity to the ISS national laboratory should such capacity be in excess of NASA research re- quirements. (2) Additional research capabilities If any NASA research plan is determined to require research capacity onboard the ISS be- yond the percentage allocated under para- graph (1), such research plan shall be prepared in the form of a requested research oppor- tunity to be submitted to the process estab- lished under this section for the consideration of proposed research within the capacity allo- cated to the ISS national laboratory. A pro- posal for such a research plan may include the establishment of partnerships with non-NASA institutions eligible to propose research to be conducted within the ISS national laboratory capacity. Until at least September 30, 2030, the official or employee designated under sub- section (b) may grant an exception to this re- quirement in the case of a proposed experi- ment considered essential for purposes of pre- paring for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit, as determined by joint agreement between the organization with which the Administrator en- ters into a cooperative agreement under sub- section (a) and the official or employee des- ignated under subsection (b). (3) Research priorities and enhanced capacity The organization with which the Adminis- trator enters into the cooperative agreement shall consider recommendations of the Na- tional Academies Decadal Survey on Biologi- cal and Physical Sciences in Space in estab- lishing research priorities and in developing proposed enhancements of research capacity and opportunities for the ISS national labora- tory. (4) Responsibility for research payload NASA shall retain its roles and responsibil- ities in providing research payload physical, analytical, and operations integration during pre-flight, post-flight, transportation, and or- bital phases essential to ensure safe and effec- tive flight readiness and vehicle integration of research activities approved and prioritized by the organization with which the Adminis- trator enters into the cooperative agreement and the official or employee designated under subsection (b). (Pub. L. 111–267, title V, § 504, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2825; Pub. L. 114–90, title I, § 114(b)(3), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 716; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VII, § 10815(c), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1738.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION In subsec. (c)(3), ‘‘section 70906 of title 51’’ substituted for ‘‘section 602 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 17752)’’ on authority of Pub. L. 111–314, § 5(e), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3443, which Act enacted Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs. AMENDMENTS 2022—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10815(c)(1), sub- stituted ‘‘The ISS’’ for ‘‘As soon as practicable after October 11, 2010, but not later than October 1, 2011, ISS’’ and ‘‘September 30, 2030’’ for ‘‘September 30, 2024’’. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10815(c)(2), substituted ‘‘September 30, 2030’’ for ‘‘September 30, 2024’’. 2015—Subsec. (d)(1), (2). Pub. L. 114–90 substituted ‘‘at least September 30, 2024’’ for ‘‘September 30, 2020’’. SUBCHAPTER V—SPACE SHUTTLE RETIREMENT AND TRANSITION § 18361. Sense of Congress on the Space Shuttle program (a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) The Space Shuttle program represents a national asset consisting of critical skills and capabilities, including the ability to lift large payloads into space and return them to Earth. (2) The Space Shuttle has carried more than 355 people from 16 nations into space. (3) The Space Shuttle has projected the best of American values around the world, and Space Shuttle crews have sparked the imagi- nation and dreams of the world’s youth and young at heart. (b) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) it is essential that the retirement of the Space Shuttle and the transition to new human space flight capabilities be done in a manner that builds upon the legacy of this na- tional asset; and (2) it is imperative for the United States to retain the skills and the industrial capability to provide a follow-on Space Launch System that is primarily designed for missions beyond near-Earth space, while offering some poten- tial for supplanting shuttle delivery capabili- ties to low-Earth orbit, particularly in support of ISS requirements, if necessary. (Pub. L. 111–267, title VI, § 601, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2828.) § 18362. Retirement of Space Shuttle orbiters and transition of Space Shuttle program (a) In general The Administrator shall retire the Space Shuttle orbiters pursuant to a schedule estab- lished by the Administrator and in a manner consistent with provisions of this chapter re- garding potential requirements for contingency utilization of Space Shuttle orbiters for ISS re- quirements. (b) Utilization of workforce and assets in follow- on Space Launch System (1) Utilization of vehicle assets In carrying out subsection (a), the Adminis- trator shall, to the maximum extent prac- ticable, utilize workforce, assets, and infra- structure of the Space Shuttle program in ef- forts relating to the initiation of a follow-on Space Launch System developed pursuant to section 18322 of this title. (2) Other assets With respect to the workforce, assets, and infrastructure not utilized as described in paragraph (1), the Administrator shall work closely with other departments and agencies