I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3182 

To advance United States leadership in planetary science and space 

exploration though education and outreach. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 23, 2015 

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas (for herself and Mr. SMITH of Texas) 

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 

Science, Space, and Technology 

A BILL 

To advance United States leadership in planetary science 

and space exploration though education and outreach. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Planetary Leadership 

5 Utilizing Teaching and Observations Act’’ or the 

6 ‘‘PLUTO Act’’. 

7 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

8 In this Act: 

9 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis10 trator’’ means the Administrator of NASA. 


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1 (2) NASA.—The term ‘‘NASA’’ means the Na2 tional Aeronautics and Space Administration. 

3 SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 

4 Congress finds the following: 

5 (1) The New Frontiers Program represents a 

6 pivotal step in the advancement of solar system ex7 ploration. 

8 (2) The missions in the program tackle specific 

9 solar system exploration goals identified as top pri10 orities by consensus of the planetary community. 

11 (3) The New Frontiers strategy is to explore 

12 the solar system with frequent, medium-class space13 craft missions that conduct high-quality, focused sci14 entific investigations designed to enhance our under15 standing of the solar system. 

16 (4) The program objective is to launch high17 science-return planetary investigations on an average 

18 of one every 36 months. 

19 (5) Added to the NASA budget for the first 

20 time in 2003, New Frontiers builds on the innova21 tive approaches used in NASA’s Discovery and Ex22 plorer Programs, but provides a mechanism for iden23 tifying and selecting missions that cannot be accom24 plished within the cost and time constraints of Dis25 covery. 


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1 (6) The New Horizons mission was the first 

2 mission launched under the New Frontiers program. 

3 (7) The fastest spacecraft ever launched, the 

4 New Horizons mission successfully completed the 

5 first reconnaissance of the Pluto system. 

6 (8) The exploration of outer space and the de7 velopment of space sciences are in the national inter8 ests of the United States. 

9 (9) In order to maintain preeminence in space 

10 science and exploration, it is imperative that the 

11 next generation of explorers is inspired to study 

12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 

13 (STEM). 

14 (10) NASA’s science missions make unique con15 tributions to education by sharing the story, the 

16 science, and the adventure of NASA’s scientific ex17 plorations through public outreach. 

18 (11) One to two percent of the cost for each 

19 New Frontiers mission is allocated to education and 

20 public outreach activities that feature the science of 

21 the mission and its discoveries to enhance learning 

22 at all levels. 

23 (12) Planetary sciences, including the New Ho24 rizons mission, inspire students to study science, en25 gineering, technology, and mathematics (STEM). 


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1 SEC. 4. DIRECTION. 

2 The Administrator shall use observations, measure3 ments, data, and discoveries derived from the New Hori4 zons mission to— 

5 (1) enhance public awareness and appreciation 

6 for space exploration and engage the public in the 

7 process of scientific discovery; 

8 (2) communicate the importance of planetary 

9 science to students and teachers; 

10 (3) advance domestic science, technology, engi11 neering, and mathematics (STEM) education; 

12 (4) promote mutually beneficial international 

13 scientific partnerships; and 

14 (5) facilitate future progress in planetary 

15 science. 

Æ 


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