I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 870 
To direct the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to plan to 
return to the Moon and develop a sustained human presence on the Moon. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 3, 2017 
Mr. POSEY (for himself, Ms. JACKSON LEE, and Mr. BABIN) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology 
A BILL 
To direct the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
to plan to return to the Moon and develop a sustained 
human presence on the Moon. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reasserting American 
Leadership in Space Act’’ or the ‘‘REAL Space Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The 109th Congress passed the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization 
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Act of 2005 overwhelmingly, establishing as the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration’s pri-
ority human space flight goal: ‘‘To develop a sus-
tained human presence on the Moon . . . to promote 
exploration, commerce, science, and United States 
preeminence in space as a stepping stone for the fu-
ture exploration of Mars and other destinations.’’. 
(2) The 110th Congress overwhelmingly re-
affirmed the vision of returning to the Moon as an 
integral part of exploring further into our solar sys-
tem through the passage of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Authorization Act 
of 2008, expressing support for ‘‘the broad goals of 
the space exploration policy of the United States, in-
cluding the eventual return to and exploration of the 
Moon and other destinations in the solar system and 
the important national imperative of independent ac-
cess to space’’. 
(3) The 111th Congress, in the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Authorization Act 
of 2010, called for the development of a super heavy 
lift capability of greater than 130 metric tons con-
sisting of the Space Launch System (SLS) and 
Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) to pur-
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sue exploration, yet fell short on explicitly stating a 
clear destination. 
(4) The 112th, 113th, and 114th Congresses 
have reaffirmed this commitment to the development 
of a super heavy lift capability and exploration 
spacecraft in authorization and appropriations bills. 
(5) A sustained human presence on the Moon 
will allow astronauts and researchers the oppor-
tunity to leverage new technologies in addressing the 
challenges of sustaining life on another celestial 
body, lessons which are necessary and applicable as 
we explore further into our solar system, to Mars 
and beyond. 
(6) A sustained human presence on the Moon 
would once again inspire and engage public interest 
in our space program, motivating young people to 
excel in the vital subjects of math and science, sub-
jects in which American students lag behind our 
international competitors. 
(7) A sustained human presence on the Moon 
would challenge American industry to continue to 
develop technologies that not only enhance our ex-
ploration programs but can be applied across all dis-
ciplines of science. 
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(8) The commercial applications of space tech-
nologies have had tens of billions of dollars in eco-
nomic impact, including products from semiconduc-
tors and aircraft controls to scratch-resistant lenses 
and water purification systems. 
(9) There is growing commercial interest among 
United States companies in developing systems, like 
landers, habitats and surveying technology, as part 
of a National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion-led return to the Moon. 
(10) The healthcare technologies derived from 
our space program, such as the portable x-ray ma-
chine, the MRI, advanced life-saving diagnostics, 
and the implantable heart aid, have saved and im-
proved countless lives. 
(11) Space is the world’s ultimate high ground, 
and returning to the Moon and reinvigorating our 
human space flight program is a matter of national 
security. 
(12) Technologies developed and sustained by 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion’s human space flight program, such as liquid 
and solid rocket propulsion, environmental and life 
support systems, and communications, navigation, 
and control systems are important to our military. 
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(13) China and Russia, understanding the eco-
nomic and strategic importance of human space 
flight, have declared their intentions of colonizing 
the Moon and are advancing their lunar exploration 
plans. 
(14) It is strategically important that the 
United States possess and maintain the capabilities 
of unfettered operation in the cislunar space domain, 
and not cede this domain to other nations. 
SEC. 3. MISSION. 
In accordance with the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005, which 
established as the National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration’s priority goal: ‘‘To develop a sustained human 
presence on the Moon . . . to promote exploration, com-
merce, science, and United States preeminence in space 
as a stepping stone for the future exploration of Mars and 
other destinations’’, and in accordance with the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act 
of 2008, which endorsed ‘‘the broad goals of the space ex-
ploration policy of the United States, including the even-
tual return to and exploration of the Moon and other des-
tinations in the solar system and the important national 
imperative of independent access to space’’, the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration shall plan to return 
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