I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1962 
To authorize the Space Shuttle to be flown from 2010 through 2015, and 
to authorize appropriations for the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration for this purpose. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 2, 2009 
Mr. POSEY (for himself and Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology 
A BILL 
To authorize the Space Shuttle to be flown from 2010 
through 2015, and to authorize appropriations for the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration for this 
purpose. 
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 ‘‘American Space Access 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The United States has been the preeminent 
leader in human spaceflight for nearly 50 years. 
Under NASA’s leadership, this Nation has engaged 
many countries, including former adversaries, in a 
series of peaceful space missions that have contrib-
uted to mutual trust and understanding that con-
tinue to this day. 
(2) The planning and development of the Inter-
national Space Station (ISS) is the culmination of 
many of these collaborations, bringing together 
through NASA’s leadership a number of foreign 
partners to invest and participate in its construction 
and operation. It is the most technologically chal-
lenging and complex project ever undertaken. The 
United States has been the largest contributor, hav-
ing invested tens of billions of dollars developing, 
building, and transporting components of the Inter-
national Space Station to orbit. 
(3) One of the guiding principles articulated in 
National Security Presidential Directive 49, United 
States National Space Policy, states, ‘‘The United 
States considers space capabilities—including the 
ground and space segments and supporting links— 
vital to its national interests. Consistent with this 
policy, the United States will preserve its rights, ca-
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pabilities, and freedom of action in space; dissuade 
or deter others from either impeding those rights or 
developing capabilities intended to do so; take those 
actions necessary to protect its space capabilities; re-
spond to interference; and deny, if necessary, adver-
saries the use of space capabilities hostile to U.S. 
national interests’’. 
(4) The International Space Station is nearing 
completion, with remaining ISS construction mis-
sions scheduled to be concluded in 2010. The Sta-
tion’s crew size will increase to 6, enabling the full 
utilization of its laboratories and research facilities 
in a microgravity environment for the decade to 
come. Routine and assured access to the Station is 
critical if we are to capitalize on our investment. 
(5) In January 2004, the President directed 
NASA to honor our international commitments to 
complete the assembly of the International Space 
Station and retire the Space Shuttle by 2010. The 
directive also called for the development of a new 
system to enable astronauts to travel beyond low 
Earth orbit. This system, the Constellation System, 
consisting of the Orion crew exploration vehicle and 
Ares launch vehicle, would also be capable of trav-
eling to the International Space Station but would 
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not be available until 4 years after the projected re-
tirement of the Space Shuttle. This plan was ratified 
by Congress in the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public 
Law 109–155). 
(6) Other nations are now investing heavily to 
develop manned spaceflight and robotic capabilities. 
During the planned gap following retirement of the 
Space Shuttle, these nations are expected to enhance 
their space capabilities, jeopardizing our Nation’s 
preeminence and our ability to influence other space- 
faring nations, contrary to the national policy (Na-
tional Security Presidential Directive 49). United 
States influence in world affairs and our ability to 
shape future peaceful uses in space will be imperiled. 
(7) Congress believes it is imperative that 
NASA reduce our Nation’s dependence on foreign 
launch providers to access the International Space 
Station. The planned gap has expanded to 5 years, 
and if development problems are encountered, the 
gap will continue to widen. A 5-year or more gap is 
too long to rely on other nations to access the Inter-
national Space Station, the bulk of which we have 
provided. 
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(8) Unless Space Shuttle operations are ex-
tended beyond 2010, the United States will be heav-
ily reliant on Russia to supply crew and possibly 
cargo transport services to the International Space 
Station during the gap period of 2010 through 
2015. There is no other proven and reliable means 
of transporting our astronauts into space during this 
period. 
(9) The United States should not increase its 
reliance on Russia to transport American astronauts 
into space, given the increasingly divergent views 
and posturing from Russia. Russia opposes the 
United States plan to base an antimissile radar sys-
tem in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles 
in Poland to counter the threat posed by the Iranian 
nuclear weapons and missile programs. Russia also 
suspended its participation in the Conventional 
Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, one of the most sig-
nificant arms control agreements of the Cold War 
years. Additionally, Russia continues to arm some of 
America’s adversaries. Despite United States objec-
tions, Russia provided billions of dollars worth of 
weapons to the regime of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela 
in 2006. Such meddling is a possible violation of the 
Monroe Doctrine and a throwback to the Cold War 
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era. Even more troublesome is the Russian history 
of weapons trading with Iran. Russia has supplied 
advanced conventional arms technology, missile tech-
nology, and nuclear technologies to this very anti- 
American regime. 
(10) In the late 1990s, Russia fell short in ful-
filling its commitment to the International Space 
Station. 
(11) NASA was forced to transfer hundreds of 
millions of dollars to enable the Russians to com-
plete the critical Space Station service module 
Zvezda, without which the International Space Sta-
tion could not operate. 
(12) Russia delayed completion of the Zvezda 
service module for several years. Under the Inter-
national Space Station agreement, the Russian gov-
ernment had committed to fund as well as build the 
Zvezda service module. Subsequent transfers from 
the United States, in order to complete the module, 
reflect serious Russian mismanagement in the field 
of space. 
(13) In 2000, while Russia was failing to meet 
its commitment to the International Space Station, 
Russia was diverting financial and human resources 
away from fulfilling its International Space Station 
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commitments in order to keep the Russian’s Mir 
Space Station aloft. 
(14) Russia’s past shortcomings in fulfilling 
commitments to its international space partners 
should serve as a warning to the United States as 
we consider increased reliance on Russian space 
services in the future. It is not prudent for the 
United States to depend on Russia for access to 
space given our past experience with this relation-
ship. 
(15) The United States has already invested 
tens of billions of dollars in the International Space 
Station program since its inception. 
(16) There is much research of great value 
being conducted in space, and on the International 
Space Station, that may yield tremendous gains. Re-
search conducted on the International Space Station 
may help scientists back on Earth develop medicines 
to treat diseases and help us better understand the 
Earth’s climate. Many scientists believe that the 
microgravity environment of space will enable the 
development of new drugs, vaccines, and other thera-
pies. Equipment on the International Space Station 
will monitor stratospheric gases, and investigate 
ozone chemistry. 
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(17) To ensure that the United States realizes 
the dividends from the considerable investment we 
have made in the International Space Station, we 
need to ensure continued access to space for our as-
tronauts. However, NASA’s plan for transport of 
crew to and from the International Space Station 
fails to provide necessary redundancies to provide 
assured access to space. 
(18) NASA anticipates that the Russian Soyuz 
spacecraft will be the only vehicle for astronaut crew 
rotation to the International Space Station after 
2010. From 2011 until the planned operation of 
Orion in 2015, NASA likely has no other option for 
transporting American astronauts to space other 
than on Russian vehicles. 
(19) Due to NASA’s lack of a backup plan for 
reliance on the Russians for transport of American 
astronauts to space, the United States needs a bet-
ter approach. The best approach is the Space Shut-
tle, a proven, domestic source of space transport for 
assured access to space, including the International 
Space Station, for crew and cargo transport. 
(20) With 2 Shuttle missions per year during 
the human spaceflight program flight gap between 
Shuttle and Orion, currently scheduled from 2010 
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through 2015, we can replace our need to rely on 
the Russians for crew rotation for the International 
Space Station. 
(21) Savings from replacing Russian transport 
services to the International Space Station with the 
Space Shuttle would pay for a portion of the costs 
for flying 2 Space Shuttle missions per year. 
(22) Only by closing the gap between 2010 and 
2015, or until the Orion is operational, will our Na-
tion be able to keep our Nation’s highly skilled and 
critically important spaceworkers and engineers 
gainfully employed, and mitigate the loss of critical 
skills. 
(23) By extending Space Shuttle operations, 
NASA may realize considerable savings by no longer 
having to pay retention bonuses to critical space 
workers. But retention bonuses would not be the 
only added costs associated with the end of Space 
Shuttle operations when critical skilled workers leave 
NASA or its contractors. Recruitment incentives for 
new workers and contract cost increases could also 
be incurred by NASA since the majority of the Ken-
nedy Space Center’s workforce are contractors. 
(24) The success of the Constellation program 
will depend on having the most skilled and experi-
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enced workforce possible. The workforce gap, as cur-
rently envisioned by NASA, will jeopardize this. 
NASA has acknowledged that thousands of critical 
space workers will lose their jobs in the transition 
from the Space Shuttle to the Constellation pro-
gram. Continued operation of the Space Shuttle, but 
on a reduced flight requirement, while also inte-
grating these workers into the Orion program, is the 
best way to retain many of these critical workers 
and skill sets. 
(25) An August 2007 study by the Government 
Accountability Office, ‘‘NASA Progress Made on 
Strategic Human Capital Management, but Future 
Program Challenges Remain,’’ stated that ‘‘the 
agency as a whole faces challenges in recruiting and 
retaining highly experienced senior-level engineers in 
certain specialties. NASA’s principal workforce chal-
lenge will be faced in the transition to the next gen-
eration of human space flight systems.’’. 
SEC. 3. EXTENDING SPACE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS. 
(a) USE
OF SPACE SHUTTLE
FOR ACCESS
TO 
SPACE.—NASA shall fly not less than 2 Space Shuttle 
missions per year for crew transport, instead of pur-
chasing Russian crew and cargo services, for the period 
beginning in 2010 and ending— 
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(1) in 2015; 
(2) when Orion is operational; or 
(3) when NASA has certified the safe operation 
of an available United States commercial capability, 
whichever occurs first. There are authorized to be appro-
priated to NASA such sums as may be necessary, in addi-
tion to amounts otherwise authorized, to carry out this 
subsection. 
(b) INSUFFICIENT FUNDING.—Except as provided 
under subsection (c), the requirements of this Act shall 
have effect only to the extent that sufficient funding is 
appropriated, as authorized under subsection (a). Suffi-
cient funding is defined as funds required to fully or par-
tially comply with the requirements of this Act. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—NASA shall report to 
Congress not later than 90 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act on the specific costs and actions needed 
to extend the operation of the Space Shuttle in accordance 
with this Act. 
(d) OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES.—As soon as pos-
sible, but no later than March 31, 2011, NASA shall in-
vestigate areas of reduced operations and enhanced cost 
savings and implement those that do not impinge the safe 
operation of the Space Shuttle program, including the fol-
lowing: 
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(1) The possible retirement of one Space Shut-
tle orbiter, leaving 2 to remain operational, in a 
manner that ensures the safe operation of the Space 
Shuttle program. 
(2) Significantly reducing changes to the design 
of the Space Shuttle orbiters, in a manner that en-
sures the safe operation of the Space Shuttle pro-
gram. This shall include changes to the Space Shut-
tle software systems. 
(3) Significantly reducing Space Shuttle orbiter 
configuration operations and payload configuration 
operations, in a manner that ensures the safe oper-
ation of the Space Shuttle program. 
(4) Maximizing the use of shared personnel be-
tween the continued operation of the Space Shuttle 
and Constellation and other NASA programs. 
(e) FACILITIES.—If conflicts arise in NASA’s efforts 
to allocate facilities, personnel, and other resources in 
order to fly the Space Shuttle as well as continue the de-
velopment of Constellation, then NASA shall identify in 
a report to Congress in advance such conflicts, along with 
recommendations as to how they can be mitigated. 
SEC. 4. EXPEDITING CONSTELLATION. 
(a) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, NASA 
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shall report to Congress on the amount of funding needed 
to expedite the schedule of the Orion Crew Exploration 
Vehicle and the Ares I Crew Vehicle and associated 
ground support systems. Such report shall— 
(1) contain a description and timeline for an ex-
pedited schedule to bring Orion and Ares I on line 
sooner; and 
(2) outline the additional funding needed to 
achieve this expedited schedule. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to NASA such sums as 
may be necessary to achieve the goals of this section. Such 
funding shall be in addition to any funding needed to con-
tinue operations of the Shuttle beyond 2010. 
Æ 
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