II 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1829 

To require a report on requirements and risks in connection with the use 

of radioisotopic power systems for space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 22, 2015 

Mr. PORTMAN (for himself and Mr. BROWN) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To require a report on requirements and risks in connection 

with the use of radioisotopic power systems for space 

exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. 

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 ‘‘Efficient Space Explo5 ration Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. REPORT ON REQUIREMENTS AND RISKS IN USE OF 

2 RADIOISOTOPIC POWER SYSTEMS FOR SPACE 

3 EXPLORATION BEYOND LOW-EARTH ORBIT. 

4 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con5 gress that— 

6 (1) conducting deep space exploration requires 

7 radioisotope power systems, such as thermoelectric 

8 and Stirling generators and converters; 

9 (2) establishing continuity in the production of 

10 the material needed to power such radioisotope 

11 power systems is paramount to the success of future 

12 deep space missions; and 

13 (3) Federal agencies supporting the National 

14 Aeronautics and Space Administration through the 

15 production of the material described in paragraph 

16 (2) should do so in a cost effective manner so as not 

17 to impose excessive reimbursement requirements on 

18 the Administration. 

19 (b) ANALYSIS OF REQUIREMENTS AND RISKS.—The 

20 Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 

21 and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 

22 Space Administration, in consultation with the heads of 

23 other Federal agencies, shall conduct an analysis of— 

24 (1) the requirements of the National Aero25 nautics and Space Administration for radioisotope 

26 power system material that is needed to carry out 


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1 planned, high priority robotic missions in the solar 

2 system and other surface exploration activities be3 yond low-Earth orbit; and 

4 (2) the risks to missions of the Administration 

5 in meeting those requirements, or any additional re6 quirements, due to a lack of adequate radioisotope 

7 power system material. 

8 (c) CONTENTS OF ANALYSIS.—The analysis con9 ducted under subsection (b) shall— 

10 (1) detail the current projected mission require11 ments and associated timeframes for radioisotope 

12 power systems and radioisotope power system mate13 rial; 

14 (2) explain the assumptions used to determine 

15 the requirements of the National Aeronautics and 

16 Space Administration for the material, including— 

17 (A) the planned use of advanced thermal 

18 conversion technology, such as advanced 

19 thermocouples and Stirling generators and con20 verters; and 

21 (B) the risks and implications of, and con22 tingencies for, any delays or unanticipated tech23 nical challenges affecting or related to the mis24 sion plans of the Administration for the anticiVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:19 Jul 23, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1829.IS S1829

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1 pated use of advanced thermal conversion tech2 nology; 

3 (3) assess the risk to the programs of the Ad4 ministration of any potential delays in achieving the 

5 schedule and milestones for planned domestic pro6 duction of radioisotope power system material; 

7 (4) outline a process for meeting any additional 

8 Administration requirements for the material; 

9 (5) estimate the incremental costs required to 

10 increase the amount of material produced each year, 

11 if such an increase is needed to support additional 

12 Administration requirements for the material; 

13 (6) detail how the Administration and other 

14 Federal agencies will manage, operate, and fund 

15 production facilities and the design and development 

16 of all radioisotope power systems used by the Ad17 ministration and other Federal agencies as nec18 essary; 

19 (7) specify the steps the Administrator will 

20 take, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, 

21 to preserve the infrastructure and workforce nec22 essary for production of radioisotope power systems 

23 and ensure that Administration reimbursements to 

24 the Department of Energy associated with such 

25 preservation are equitable and justified; 


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1 (8) identify the steps the Administrator will 

2 take to preserve taxpayer investment to date in Ad3 vanced Stirling Convertor technology; and 

4 (9) detail how the Administrator has imple5 mented or rejected the recommendations of the Na6 tional Research Council in the 2009 report titled 

7 ‘‘Radioisotope Power Systems: An Imperative for 

8 Maintaining U.S. Leadership in Space Exploration’’. 

9 (d) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 180 days after 

10 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator 

11 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

12 shall transmit the results of the analysis conducted under 

13 subsection (b) to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

14 and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 

15 Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep16 resentatives. 

Æ 


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