NASA has a legitimate need for space services, and can purchase these in a commercial manner. This will create the market demand for new space industries, expand private investment, and help NASA focus its talented people on its primary missions of exploration and critical-path technology development. The bill promotes ISS privatization, and specifically directs NASA to come up with a plan to outsource logistics and resupply services by next March. Much like air and sea power in the not so distant past, increasing dependence on peaceful access to the air and sea led to a code of acceptable behavior for its common use. It also led to attempts by aggressive nations to deny access to the air and sea to others.
Space is an emerging area of vital national interest.
Space is critical to both military and economic instruments of power. Well, they say it's better to light a candle than curse the darkness. So, Mr. Rothenberg, I'm putting you and your colleagues on notice. We're going to turn on the lights. There has been a fundamental shift within DoD in both the launch and use of space systems.