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able as a human-tended facility capable of remote or au-
tonomous operation for extended periods. 
(b) DESIGNATION.—The United States portion of the 
first human-tended outpost established on the surface of 
the Moon shall be designated the ‘‘Neil A. Armstrong 
Lunar Outpost’’. 
(c) CONGRESSIONAL INTENT.—It is the intent of 
Congress that NASA shall make use of commercial serv-
ices to the maximum extent practicable in support of its 
lunar outpost activities. 
SEC. 404. EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A robust program of long-term 
exploration-related technology research and development 
will be essential for the success and sustainability of any 
enduring initiative of human and robotic exploration of the 
solar system. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish and maintain a program of long-term exploration- 
related technology research and development that is not 
tied to specific flight projects and that has a funding goal 
of at least 10 percent of the total budget of the Explo-
ration Systems Mission Directorate. 
(c) GOALS.—The long-term technology program shall 
have the goal of having at least 50 percent of the funding 
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allocated to external grants and contracts with univer-
sities, research institutions, and industry. 
SEC. 405. EXPLORATION RISK MITIGATION PLAN. 
(a) PLAN.—The Administrator shall prepare a plan 
that identifies and prioritizes the human and technical 
risks that will need to be addressed in carrying out human 
exploration beyond low Earth orbit and the research and 
development activities required to address those risks. The 
plan shall address the role of the International Space Sta-
tion in exploration risk mitigation and include a detailed 
description of the specific steps being taken to utilize the 
International Space Station for that purpose. 
(b) REPORT.—The Administrator shall transmit to 
the Committee on Science and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate the plan de-
scribed in subsection (a) not later than one year after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 406. EXPLORATION CREW RESCUE. 
In order to maximize the ability to rescue astronauts 
whose space vehicles have become disabled, the Adminis-
trator shall enter into discussions with the appropriate 
representatives of spacefaring nations who have or plan 
to have crew transportation systems capable of orbital 
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flight or flight beyond low Earth orbit for the purpose of 
agreeing on a common docking system standard. 
SEC. 407. PARTICIPATORY EXPLORATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall develop 
a technology plan to enable dissemination of information 
to the public to allow the public to experience missions 
to the Moon, Mars, or other bodies within our solar system 
by leveraging advanced exploration technologies. The plan 
shall identify opportunities to leverage technologies in 
NASA’s Constellation systems that deliver a rich, multi- 
media experience to the public, and that facilitate partici-
pation by the public, the private sector, nongovernmental 
organizations, and international partners. Technologies 
for collecting high-definition video, 3-dimensional images, 
and scientific data, along with the means to rapidly deliver 
this content through extended high bandwidth communica-
tions networks shall be considered as part of this plan. 
It shall include a review of high bandwidth radio and laser 
communications, high-definition video, stereo imagery, 3- 
dimensional scene cameras, and Internet routers in space, 
from orbit, and on the lunar surface. The plan shall also 
consider secondary cargo capability for technology valida-
tion and science mission opportunities. In addition, the 
plan shall identify opportunities to develop and dem-
onstrate these technologies on the International Space 
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Station and robotic missions to the Moon, Mars, and other 
solar system bodies. As part of the technology plan, the 
Administrator shall examine the feasibility of having 
NASA enter into contracts with appropriate public, pri-
vate sector, and international partners to broadcast elec-
tronically, including via the Internet, images and multi-
media records delivered from its missions in space to the 
public and shall identify issues associated with such con-
tracts. In any such contracts, NASA would be required 
to adhere to a transparent bidding process to award con-
tracts, pursuant to United States law. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
the plan to the Committee on Science and Technology of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 408. SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION. 
It is the sense of Congress that NASA’s scientific and 
human exploration activities are synergistic, i.e. science 
enables exploration and human exploration enables 
science. The Congress encourages the Administrator to co-
ordinate, where practical, NASA’s science and exploration 
activities with the goal of maximizing the success of 
human exploration initiatives and furthering our under-
standing of the Universe that we explore. 
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SEC. 409. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE REPORT UP-
DATE. 
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Congressional Budget Office shall update 
its report from 2004 on the budgetary analysis of NASA’s 
Vision for the Nation’s Space Exploration Program, in-
cluding new estimates for Project Constellation, NASA’s 
new generation of spacecraft designed for human 
spaceflight that will replace the Space Shuttle program. 
TITLE V—SPACE SCIENCE 
SEC. 501. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT. 
The Administrator shall establish a cross-Directorate 
long-term technology development program for space and 
Earth science within the Science Mission Directorate for 
the development of new technology. The program shall be 
independent of the flight projects under development. 
NASA shall have a goal of funding the cross-Directorate 
technology development program at a level of 5 percent 
of the total Science Mission Directorate annual budget. 
The program shall be structured to include competitively 
awarded grants and contracts. 
SEC. 502. PROVISION FOR FUTURE SERVICING OF OBSERV-
ATORY-CLASS SCIENTIFIC SPACECRAFT. 
The Administrator shall take all necessary steps to 
ensure that provision is made in the design and construc-
tion of all future observatory-class scientific spacecraft in-
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tended to be deployed in Earth orbit or at a Lagrangian 
point in space for robotic or human servicing and repair. 
SEC. 503. MARS EXPLORATION. 
Congress reaffirms its support for a systematic, inte-
grated program of exploration of the Martian surface to 
examine the planet whose surface is most like Earth’s, to 
search for evidence of past or present life, and to examine 
Mars for future habitability and as a long-term goal for 
future human exploration. To the extent affordable and 
practical, the program should pursue the goal of launches 
at every Mars launch opportunity, leading to an eventual 
robotic sample return. 
SEC. 504. IMPORTANCE OF A BALANCED SCIENCE PRO-
GRAM. 
It is the sense of Congress that a balanced and ade-
quately funded set of activities, consisting of NASA’s re-
search and analysis grants programs, technology develop-
ment, small, medium-sized, and large space science mis-
sions, and suborbital research activities, contributes to a 
robust and productive science program and serves as a 
catalyst for innovation. It is further the sense of Congress 
that suborbital flight activities, including the use of sound-
ing rockets, aircraft, and high-altitude balloons, and sub-
orbital reusable launch vehicles, offer valuable opportuni-
ties to advance science, train the next generation of sci-
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entists and engineers, and provide opportunities for par-
ticipants in the programs to acquire skills in systems engi-
neering and systems integration that are critical to main-
taining the Nation’s leadership in space programs. The 
Congress believes that it is in the national interest to ex-
pand the size of NASA’s suborbital research program. 
SEC. 505. RESTORATION OF RADIOISOTOPE THERMO-
ELECTRIC GENERATOR MATERIAL PRODUC-
TION. 
(a) PLAN.—The Director of OSTP shall develop a 
plan for restarting and sustaining the domestic production 
of radioisotope thermoelectric generator material for deep 
space and other space science missions. 
(b) REPORT.—The plan developed under subsection 
(a) shall be transmitted to Congress not later than 270 
days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 506. ASSESSMENT OF IMPEDIMENTS TO INTERAGENCY 
COOPERATION 
ON 
SPACE 
AND 
EARTH 
SCIENCE MISSIONS. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Administrator shall enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academies to as-
sess impediments to the successful conduct of interagency 
cooperation on space and Earth science missions, to pro-
vide lessons learned and best practices, and to recommend 
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steps to help facilitate successful interagency collabora-
tions on space and Earth science missions. 
(b) REPORT.—The report of the assessment carried 
out under subsection (a) shall be transmitted to the Com-
mittee on Science and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate not later than 15 
months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 507. ASSESSMENT OF COST GROWTH. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement for an independent external assessment to 
identify the primary causes of cost growth in the large, 
medium-sized, and small space and Earth science space-
craft mission classes, and make recommendations as to 
what changes, if any, should be made to contain costs and 
ensure frequent mission opportunities in NASA’s science 
spacecraft mission programs. 
(b) REPORT.—The report of the assessment con-
ducted under subsection (a) shall be submitted to Con-
gress not later than 15 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 508. OUTER PLANETS EXPLORATION. 
It is the sense of Congress that the outer solar system 
planets and their satellites can offer important knowledge 
about the formation and evolution of the solar system, the 
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nature and diversity of these solar system bodies, and the 
potential for conditions conducive to life beyond Earth. 
NASA should move forward with plans for an Outer Plan-
ets flagship mission to the Europa-Jupiter system or the 
Titan-Saturn system as soon as practicable within a bal-
anced Planetary Science program. 
TITLE VI—SPACE OPERATIONS 
Subtitle A—International Space 
Station 
SEC. 601. UTILIZATION. 
The Administrator shall take all necessary steps to 
ensure that the International Space Station remains a via-
ble and productive facility capable of potential United 
States utilization through at least 2020 and shall take no 
steps that would preclude its continued operation and uti-
lization by the United States after 2016. 
SEC. 602. RESEARCH MANAGEMENT PLAN. 
(a) RESEARCH MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The Adminis-
trator shall develop a research management plan for the 
International Space Station. The plan shall include a proc-
ess for selecting and prioritizing research activities (in-
cluding fundamental, applied, commercial, and other re-
search) for flight on the International Space Station. This 
plan shall be used to prioritize resources such as crew 
time, racks and equipment, and United States access to 
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international research facilities and equipment. The plan 
shall also identify the organization to be responsible for 
managing United States research on the International 
Space Station, including a description of the relationship 
of the management institution with NASA (e.g., internal 
NASA office, contract, cooperative agreement, or grant), 
the estimated length of time for the arrangement, and the 
budget required to support the management institution. 
The plan shall be developed in consultation with other 
Federal agencies, academia, industry, and other relevant 
stakeholders. The plan shall be transmitted to Congress 
not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
(b) ACCESS TO NATIONAL LABORATORY.—The Ad-
ministrator shall— 
(1) establish a process by which to support 
International Space Station National Laboratory 
users in identifying their requirements for transpor-
tation of research supplies to and from the Inter-
national Space Station, and for communicating those 
requirements to NASA and International Space Sta-
tion transportation services providers; and 
(2) develop an estimate of the transportation 
requirements needed to support users of the Inter-
national Space Station National Laboratory and de-
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velop a plan for satisfying those requirements by 
dedicating a portion of volume on NASA supply mis-
sions to the International Space Station and mis-
sions returning from the International Space Station 
to Earth. 
(c) ASSESSMENT.—The Administrator shall— 
(1) identify existing research equipment and 
racks and support equipment that are manifested for 
flight; 
(2) provide a detailed description of the status 
of research equipment and facilities that were com-
pleted or in development prior to being cancelled, 
and provide the budget and milestones for com-
pleting and preparing the equipment for flight on 
the International Space Station; and 
(3) provide the results of the assessment to the 
Committee on Science and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later 
than 18 months after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
(d) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall establish an advisory panel under the Federal Advi-
sory Committee Act to monitor the activities and manage-
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ment of the International Space Station National Labora-
tory. 
SEC. 603. CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR CARGO RESUPPLY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The International Space Station 
represents a significant investment of national resources, 
and it is a facility that embodies a cooperative inter-
national approach to the exploration and utilization of 
space. As such, it is important that its continued viability 
and productivity be ensured, to the maximum extent pos-
sible, after the Space Shuttle is retired. 
(b) CONTINGENCY PLAN.—The Administrator shall 
develop a contingency plan and arrangements, including 
use of International Space Station international partner 
cargo resupply capabilities, to ensure the continued viabil-
ity and productivity of the International Space Station in 
the event that United States commercial cargo resupply 
services are not available during any extended period after 
the date that the Space Shuttle is retired. The plan shall 
be delivered to the Committee on Science and Technology 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not 
later than one year after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
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Subtitle B—Space Shuttle 
SEC. 611. FLIGHT MANIFEST. 
(a) BASELINE MANIFEST.—In addition to the Space 
Shuttle flights listed as part of the baseline flight manifest 
as of January 1, 2008, the Utilization flights ULF–4 and 
ULF–5 shall be considered part of the Space Shuttle base-
line flight manifest and shall be flown prior to the retire-
ment of the Space Shuttle. 
(b) ADDITIONAL FLIGHT TO DELIVER THE ALPHA 
MAGNETIC
SPECTROMETER
TO
THE
INTERNATIONAL 
SPACE STATION.—In addition to the flying of the baseline 
manifest as described in subsection (a), the Administrator 
shall take all necessary steps to fly one additional Space 
Shuttle flight to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer 
to the International Space Station prior to the retirement 
of the Space Shuttle. 
(c) SPACE
SHUTTLE
RETIREMENT
DATE.—The 
Space Shuttle shall be retired following the completion of 
the baseline flight manifest and the flight of the additional 
flight specified in subsection (b), events that are antici-
pated to occur in 2010. 
SEC. 612. DISPOSITION OF SHUTTLE-RELATED ASSETS. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall provide a plan to Con-
gress for the disposition of the remaining Space Shuttle 
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orbiters and other Space Shuttle program-related hard-
ware and facilities after the retirement of the Space Shut-
tle fleet. The plan shall include a process by which edu-
cational institutions and science museums and other ap-
propriate organizations may acquire, through loan or dis-
posal by the Federal Government, Space Shuttle program- 
related hardware. The Administrator shall not dispose of 
any Space Shuttle-related hardware prior to the comple-
tion of the plan. 
SEC. 613. SPACE SHUTTLE TRANSITION LIAISON OFFICE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish an office within NASA’s Office of Human Capital 
Management that shall assist local communities affected 
by the termination of the Space Shuttle program. The of-
fice shall offer technical assistance and serve as a clearing-
house to assist communities in identifying services avail-
able from other Federal agencies. 
(b) SUNSET.—The Office established under sub-
section (a) shall cease operations 24 months after the last 
Space Shuttle flight. 
Subtitle C—Launch Services 
SEC. 621. LAUNCH SERVICES STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In preparation for the award of 
contracts to follow up on the current NASA Launch Serv-
ices (NLS) contracts, the Administrator shall develop a 
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strategy for providing domestic commercial launch services 
in support of NASA’s small and medium-sized Science, 
Space Operations, and Exploration missions, consistent 
with current law and policy. 
(b) REPORT.—The Administrator shall transmit a re-
port to the Committee on Science and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate describ-
ing the strategy developed under subsection (a) not later 
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. The 
report shall provide, at a minimum— 
(1) the results of the Request for Information 
on small to medium-sized launch services released on 
April 22, 2008; 
(2) an analysis of possible alternatives to main-
tain small and medium-sized lift capabilities after 
June 30, 2010, including the use of the Department 
of Defense’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle 
(EELV); 
(3) the recommended alternatives, and associ-
ated 5-year budget plans starting in October 2010 
that would enable their implementation; and 
(4) a contingency plan in the event the rec-
ommended alternatives described in paragraph (3) 
are not available when needed. 
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