113 
(3) a description of programs, policies, and ac-
tivities the Administration is using, and will con-
tinue to use, to ensure compliance; 
(4) an explanation of how the Administration 
could expand on the efforts to comply; and 
(5) a summary of all current and planned ac-
tivities pursuant to this policy. 
(c) BARRIERS
TO FULLEST COMMERCIAL USE
OF 
SPACE.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report on current and 
continuing efforts by the Administration to reduce impedi-
ments, bureaucracy, redundancy, and burdens to ensure the 
fullest commercial use of space as required by section 
20102(c) of title 51, United States Code. 
SEC. 715. ORBITAL DEBRIS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that orbital debris 
poses serious risks to the operational space capabilities of 
the United States and that an international commitment 
and integrated strategic plan are needed to mitigate the 
growth of orbital debris wherever possible. Congress finds 
the delay in the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s 
submission of a report on the status of international coordi-
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114 
nation and development of mitigation strategies to be in-
consistent with such risks. 
(b) REPORTS.— 
(1) COORDINATION.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall provide the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate with a report on the status of ef-
forts to coordinate with countries within the Inter- 
Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee to 
mitigate the effects and growth of orbital debris as re-
quired by section 1202(b)(1) of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Authorization Act 
of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18441(b)(1)). 
(2) MITIGATION STRATEGY.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Di-
rector of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
shall provide the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate with a report on the status of the 
orbital debris mitigation strategy required under sec-
tion 1202(b)(2) of the National Aeronautics and 
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Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 
U.S.C. 18441(b)(2)). 
SEC. 716. REVIEW OF ORBITAL DEBRIS REMOVAL CON-
CEPTS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that the amount of orbital debris in low-Earth orbit poses 
risks for human activities and robotic spacecraft and that 
this debris may increase due to collisions between existing 
debris objects. Understanding options to address and remove 
orbital debris is important for ensuring safe and effective 
spacecraft operations in low-Earth orbit. 
(b) REVIEW.—The Administrator, in collaboration 
with other relevant Federal agencies, shall solicit and re-
view concepts and technological options for removing or-
bital debris from low-Earth orbit. The solicitation and re-
view shall also address the requirements for and feasibility 
of developing and implementing each of the options. 
(c) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 270 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall pro-
vide a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
on the solicitation and review required under subsection (b). 
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116 
SEC. 717. USE OF OPERATIONAL COMMERCIAL SUBORBITAL 
VEHICLES FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, 
AND EDUCATION. 
(a) POLICY.—The Administrator shall develop a policy 
on the use of operational commercial reusable suborbital 
flight vehicles for carrying out scientific and engineering 
investigations and educational activities. 
(b) PLAN.—The Administrator shall prepare a plan 
on the Administration’s use of operational commercial reus-
able suborbital flight vehicles for carrying out scientific and 
engineering investigations and educational activities. The 
plan shall— 
(1) describe the purposes for which the Adminis-
tration intends to use such vehicles; 
(2) describe the processes required to support 
such use, including the criteria used to determine 
which scientific and engineering investigations and 
educational activities are selected for a suborbital 
flight; 
(3) describe Administration, space flight oper-
ator, and supporting contractor responsibilities for 
developing standard payload interfaces and con-
ducting payload safety analyses, payload integration 
and processing, payload operations, and safety assur-
ance for Administration-sponsored space flight par-
ticipants, among other functions required to fly Ad-
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ministration-sponsored payloads and space flight par-
ticipants on operational commercial suborbital vehi-
cles; 
(4) identify Administration-provided hardware, 
software, or services that may be provided to commer-
cial reusable suborbital space flight operators on a 
cost-reimbursable basis, through agreements or con-
tracts entered into under section 20113(e) of title 51, 
United States Code; and 
(5) describe the United States Government and 
space flight operator responsibilities for liability and 
indemnification with respect to commercial suborbital 
vehicle flights that involve Administration-sponsored 
payloads 
or 
activities, 
Administration-supported 
space flight participants, or other Administration-re-
lated contributions. 
(c) ASSESSMENT OF CAPABILITIES AND RISKS.—The 
Administrator shall assess and characterize the potential 
capabilities and performance of commercial reusable sub-
orbital vehicles for addressing scientific research, including 
research requiring access to low-gravity and microgravity 
environments, for carrying out technology demonstrations 
related to science, exploration, or space operations require-
ments, and for providing opportunities for educating and 
training space scientists and engineers, once those vehicles 
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