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(5) the United States is committed to maintaining world leadership 
in space transportation; 
(6) making the Space Transportation System fully operational and 
cost effective in providing routine access to space will maximize the na-
tional economic benefits of the system; and 
(7) national goals and the objectives for the Space Transportation 
System can be furthered by a stable and fair pricing policy for the 
Space Transportation System. 
§ 70302. Purpose, policy, and goals 
The purpose of this chapter is to set, for commercial and foreign users, 
the reimbursement pricing policy for the Space Transportation System that 
is consistent with the findings included in section 70301 of this title, en-
courages the full and effective use of space, and is designed to achieve the 
following goals: 
(1) The preservation of the role of the United States as a leader in 
space research, technology, and development. 
(2) The efficient and cost effective use of the Space Transportation 
System. 
(3) The achievement of greatly increased commercial space activity. 
(4) The enhancement of the international competitive position of the 
United States. 
§ 70303. Definition of additive cost 
In this chapter, the term ‘‘additive cost’’ means the average direct and 
indirect costs to the Administration of providing additional flights of the 
Space Transportation System beyond the costs associated with those flights 
necessary to meet the space transportation needs of the United States Gov-
ernment. 
§ 70304. Duties of Administrator 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF REIMBURSEMENT RE-
COVERY SYSTEM.—The Administrator shall establish and implement a pric-
ing system to recover reimbursement in accordance with the pricing policy 
under section 70302 of this title from each commercial or foreign user of 
the Space Transportation System, which, except as provided in subsections 
(c), (d), and (e), shall include a base price of not less than $74,000,000 
for each flight of the Space Transportation System in 1982 dollars. 
(b) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Each year the Administrator shall submit 
to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives a report, transmitted contemporaneously with the annual budget re-
quest of the President, which shall inform Congress how the policy goals 
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contained in section 70302 of this title are being furthered by the shuttle 
price for foreign and commercial users. 
(c) REDUCTION OF BASE PRICE.— 
(1) AUTHORITY TO REDUCE.—If at any time the Administrator finds 
that the policy goals contained in section 70302 of this title are not 
being achieved, the Administrator shall have authority to reduce the 
base price established in subsection (a) after 45 days following receipt 
by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Represent-
atives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate, and the Committee on Science and Technology of the 
House of Representatives of a notice by the Administrator containing 
a description of the proposed reduction together with a full and com-
plete statement of the facts and circumstances which necessitate such 
proposed reduction. 
(2) MINIMUM PRICE.—In no case shall the minimum price estab-
lished under paragraph (1) be less than additive cost. 
(d) LOW OR NO-COST FLIGHTS.—The Administrator may set a price 
lower than the price determined under subsection (a) or (c), or provide no- 
cost flights, for any commercial or foreign user of the Space Transportation 
System that is involved in research, development, or demonstration pro-
grams with the Administration. 
(e) CUSTOMER INCENTIVES.—Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall have the authority to offer reasonable 
customer incentives consistent with the policy goals in section 70302 of this 
title. 
CHAPTER 705—EXPLORATION INITIATIVES 
Sec. 
70501.
Space shuttle follow-on. 
70502.
Exploration plan and programs. 
70503.
Ground-based analog capabilities. 
70504.
Stepping stone approach to exploration. 
70505.
Lunar outpost. 
70506.
Exploration technology research. 
70507.
Technology development. 
70508.
Robotic or human servicing of spacecraft. 
§ 70501. Space shuttle follow-on 
(a) POLICY STATEMENT.—It is the policy of the United States to possess 
the capability for human access to space on a continuous basis. 
(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Administrator shall transmit an annual re-
port to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate describing the progress being made toward developing the 
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Crew Exploration Vehicle and the Crew Launch Vehicle and the estimated 
time before they will demonstrate crewed, orbital spaceflight. 
§ 70502. Exploration plan and programs 
The Administrator shall— 
(1) construct an architecture and implementation plan for the Ad-
ministration’s human exploration program that is not critically depend-
ent on the achievement of milestones by fixed dates; 
(2) implement an exploration technology development program to en-
able lunar human and robotic operations consistent with section 
20302(b) of this title, including surface power to use on the Moon and 
other locations; 
(3) conduct an in-situ resource utilization technology program to de-
velop the capability to use space resources to increase independence 
from Earth, and sustain exploration beyond low-Earth orbit; and 
(4) pursue aggressively automated rendezvous and docking capabili-
ties that can support the International Space Station and other mission 
requirements. 
§ 70503. Ground-based analog capabilities 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may establish a ground-based ana-
log capability in remote United States locations in order to assist in the de-
velopment of lunar operations, life support, and in-situ resource utilization 
experience and capabilities. 
(b) ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS.—The Administrator shall select 
locations for the activities described in subsection (a) that— 
(1) are regularly accessible; 
(2) have significant temperature extremes and range; and 
(3) have access to energy and natural resources (including geo-
thermal, permafrost, volcanic, or other potential resources). 
(c) INVOLVEMENT OF LOCAL POPULATIONS AND PRIVATE SECTOR PART-
NERS.—In carrying out this section, the Administrator shall involve local 
populations, academia, and industrial partners as much as possible to en-
sure that ground-based benefits and applications are encouraged and devel-
oped. 
§ 70504. Stepping stone approach to exploration 
In order to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the long-term exploration 
and utilization activities of the United States, the Administrator shall take 
all necessary steps, including engaging international partners, to ensure that 
activities in its lunar exploration program shall be designed and imple-
mented in a manner that gives strong consideration to how those activities 
might also help meet the requirements of future exploration and utilization 
activities beyond the Moon. The timetable of the lunar phase of the long- 
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term international exploration initiative shall be determined by the avail-
ability of funding. However, once an exploration-related project enters its 
development phase, the Administrator shall seek, to the maximum extent 
practicable, to complete that project without undue delays. 
§ 70505. Lunar outpost 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—As the Administration works toward the establish-
ment of a lunar outpost, the Administration shall make no plans that would 
require a lunar outpost to be occupied to maintain its viability. Any such 
outpost shall be operable as a human-tended facility capable of remote or 
autonomous 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’’. 
§ 70506. Exploration technology research 
The Administrator shall carry out a program of long-term exploration-re-
lated technology research and development, including such things as in- 
space propulsion, power systems, life support, and advanced avionics, that 
is not tied to specific flight projects. The program shall have the funding 
goal of ensuring that the technology research and development can be com-
pleted in a timely manner in order to support the safe, successful, and sus-
tainable exploration of the solar system. In addition, in order to ensure that 
the broadest range of innovative concepts and technologies are captured, the 
long-term technology program shall have the goal of having a significant 
portion of its funding available for external grants and contracts with uni-
versities, research institutions, and industry. 
§ 70507. Technology development 
The Administrator shall establish an intra-Directorate long-term tech-
nology 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. The Adminis-
tration shall have a goal of funding the intra-Directorate technology devel-
opment program at a level of 5 percent of the total Science Mission Direc-
torate annual budget. The program shall be structured to include competi-
tively awarded grants and contracts. 
§ 70508. Robotic or human servicing of spacecraft 
The Administrator shall take all necessary steps to ensure that provision 
is made in the design and construction of all future observatory-class sci-
entific spacecraft intended to be deployed in Earth orbit or at a Lagrangian 
point in space for robotic or human servicing and repair to the extent prac-
ticable and appropriate. 
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