(3) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall transmit the strategy and plan to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate. 
(b) SPACE RADIATION RESEARCH FACILITIES.—The 
Administrator, in consultation with the heads of other ap-
propriate Federal agencies, shall assess the national capa-
bilities for carrying out critical ground-based research on 
space radiation biology and shall identify any issues that 
could affect the ability to carry out that research. 
SEC. 206. PLANETARY PROTECTION FOR HUMAN EXPLO-
RATION MISSIONS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Academies for a study to 
explore the planetary protection ramifications of potential 
future missions by astronauts such as to the lunar polar 
regions, near-Earth asteroids, the moons of Mars, and the 
surface of Mars. 
(b) SCOPE.—The study shall— 
(1) collate and summarize what has been done 
to date with respect to planetary protection meas-
ures to be applied to potential human missions such 
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as to the lunar polar regions, near-Earth asteroids, 
the moons of Mars, and the surface of Mars; 
(2) identify and document planetary protection 
concerns associated with potential human missions 
such as to the lunar polar regions, near-Earth aster-
oids, the moons of Mars, and the surface of Mars; 
(3) develop a methodology, if possible, for defin-
ing and classifying the degree of concern associated 
with each likely destination; 
(4) assess likely methodologies for addressing 
planetary protection concerns; and 
(5) identify areas for future research to reduce 
current uncertainties. 
(c) COMPLETION DATE.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall provide the results of the study to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate. 
Subtitle B—Space Operations 
SEC. 211. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The International Space Station is an ideal 
testbed for future exploration systems development, 
including long-duration space travel. 
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(2) The use of the private market to provide 
cargo and crew transportation services is currently 
the most expeditious process to restore domestic ac-
cess to the International Space Station and low- 
Earth orbit. 
(3) Government access to low-Earth orbit is 
paramount to the continued success of the Inter-
national Space Station and National Laboratory. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—The following is the policy of the 
United States: 
(1) The United States International Space Sta-
tion program shall have two primary objectives: sup-
porting achievement of the goal established in sec-
tion 201 of this Act and pursuing a research pro-
gram that advances knowledge and provides benefits 
to the Nation. It shall continue to be the policy of 
the United States to, in consultation with its inter-
national partners in the International Space Station 
program, support full and complete utilization of the 
International Space Station. 
(2) The International Space Station shall be 
utilized to the maximum extent practicable for the 
development of capabilities and technologies needed 
for the future of human exploration beyond low- 
Earth orbit and shall be considered in the develop-
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ment of the Human Exploration Roadmap developed 
under section 70504 of title 51, United States Code. 
(3) The Administrator shall, in consultation 
with the International Space Station partners— 
(A) take all necessary measures to support 
the operation and full utilization of the Inter-
national Space Station; and 
(B) seek to minimize, to the extent prac-
ticable, the operating costs of the International 
Space Station. 
(4) Reliance on foreign carriers for crew trans-
fer is unacceptable, and the Nation’s human space 
flight program must acquire the capability to launch 
United States astronauts on United States rockets 
from United States soil as soon as is safe and prac-
tically possible, whether on Government-owned and 
operated space transportation systems or privately 
owned systems that have been certified for flight by 
the appropriate Federal agencies. 
(c) REAFFIRMATION
OF POLICY.—Congress reaf-
firms— 
(1) its commitment to the development of a 
commercially developed launch and delivery system 
to the International Space Station for crew missions 
as expressed in the National Aeronautics and Space 
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Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public 
Law 109–155), the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Authorization Act of 2008 (Public 
Law 110–422), and the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 
(Public Law 111–267); 
(2) that the Administration shall make use of 
United States commercially provided International 
Space Station crew transfer and crew rescue services 
to the maximum extent practicable; 
(3) that the Orion crew vehicle shall provide an 
alternative means of delivery of crew and cargo to 
the International Space Station, in the event other 
vehicles, whether commercial vehicles or partner-sup-
plied vehicles, are unable to perform that function; 
and 
(4) the policy stated in section 501(b) of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Au-
thorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18351(b)) that 
the Administration shall pursue international, com-
mercial, and intragovernmental means to maximize 
International Space Station logistics supply, mainte-
nance, and operational capabilities, reduce risks to 
International Space Station systems sustainability, 
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and offset and minimize United States operations 
costs relating to the International Space Station. 
(d) ASSURED ACCESS TO LOW-EARTH ORBIT.—Sec-
tion 70501(a) of title 51, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) POLICY STATEMENT.—It is the policy of the 
United States to maintain an uninterrupted capability for 
human space flight and operations in low-Earth orbit, and 
beyond, as an essential instrument of national security 
and the capability to ensure continued United States par-
ticipation and leadership in the exploration and utilization 
of space.’’. 
(e) REPEALS.— 
(1) USE
OF
SPACE
SHUTTLE
OR
ALTER-
NATIVES.—Chapter 701 of title 51, United States 
Code, and the item relating to such chapter in the 
table of chapters for such title, are repealed. 
(2) SHUTTLE PRICING POLICY FOR COMMER-
CIAL AND FOREIGN USERS.—Chapter 703 of title 
51, United States Code, and the item relating to 
such chapter in the table of chapters for such title, 
are repealed. 
(3) SHUTTLE PRIVATIZATION.—Section 50133 
of title 51, United States Code, and the item relat-
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ing to such section in the table of sections for chap-
ter 501 of such title, are repealed. 
(f) EXTENSION CRITERIA REPORT.—Not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Admin-
istrator shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate a report on the feasibility of extending the op-
eration of the International Space Station that includes— 
(1) criteria for defining the International Space 
Station as a research success; 
(2) any necessary contributions to enabling exe-
cution of the Human Exploration Roadmap devel-
oped under section 70504 of title 51, United States 
Code; 
(3) cost estimates for operating the Inter-
national Space Station to achieve the criteria re-
quired under paragraph (1); 
(4) cost estimates for extending operations to 
2024 and 2030; 
(5) an assessment of how the defined criteria 
under paragraph (1) respond to the National Acad-
emies Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical 
Sciences in Space; and 
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(6) an identification of the actions and cost es-
timate needed to deorbit the International Space 
Station once a decision is made to deorbit the lab-
oratory. 
(g) STRATEGIC PLAN FOR INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION RESEARCH.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with 
the Administrator, academia, other Federal agencies, 
the International Space Station National Laboratory 
Advisory Committee, and other potential stake-
holders, shall develop and transmit to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a stra-
tegic plan for conducting competitive, peer-reviewed 
research in physical and life sciences and related 
technologies on the International Space Station 
through at least 2020. 
(2) PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—The strategic plan 
shall— 
(A) be consistent with the priorities and 
recommendations established by the National 
Academies in its Decadal Survey on Biological 
and Physical Sciences in Space; 
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(B) provide a research timeline and iden-
tify resource requirements for its implementa-
tion, including the facilities and instrumenta-
tion necessary for the conduct of such research; 
and 
(C) identify— 
(i) criteria for the proposed research, 
including— 
(I) a justification for the research 
to be carried out in the space micro-
gravity environment; 
(II) the use of model systems; 
(III) the testing of flight hard-
ware to understand and ensure its 
functioning in the microgravity envi-
ronment; 
(IV) the use of controls to help 
distinguish among the direct and indi-
rect effects of microgravity, among 
other effects of the flight or space en-
vironment; 
(V) approaches for facilitating 
data collection, analysis, and interpre-
tation; 
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(VI) procedures to ensure repeti-
tion of experiments, as needed; 
(VII) support for timely presen-
tation of the peer-reviewed results of 
the research; 
(VIII) defined metrics for the 
success of each study; and 
(IX) how these activities enable 
the Human Exploration Roadmap de-
scribed in section 70504 of title 51, 
United States Code; 
(ii) instrumentation required to sup-
port the measurements and analysis of the 
research to be carried out under the stra-
tegic plan; 
(iii) the capabilities needed to support 
direct, real-time communications between 
astronauts working on research experi-
ments onboard the International Space 
Station and the principal investigator on 
the ground; 
(iv) a process for involving the exter-
nal user community in research planning, 
including planning for relevant flight hard-
ware and instrumentation, and for utiliza-
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tion of the International Space Station, 
free flyers, or other research platforms; 
(v) the acquisition strategy the Ad-
ministration plans to use to acquire any 
new support capabilities which are not 
operational on the International Space Sta-
tion as of the date of enactment of this 
Act, and the criteria the Administration 
will apply if less than full and open com-
petition is selected; and 
(vi) defined metrics for success of the 
research plan. 
SEC. 212. BARRIERS IMPEDING ENHANCED UTILIZATION OF 
THE ISS’S NATIONAL LABORATORY BY COM-
MERCIAL COMPANIES. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) enhanced utilization of the International 
Space Station’s National Laboratory requires a full 
understanding of the barriers impeding such utiliza-
tion and actions needed to be taken to remove or 
mitigate them to the maximum extent practicable; 
and 
(2) doing so will allow the Administration to en-
courage commercial companies to invest in micro-
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gravity research using National Laboratory research 
facilities. 
(b) ASSESSMENT.—The Administrator shall enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academies for an 
assessment to— 
(1) identify barriers impeding enhanced utiliza-
tion of the International Space Station’s National 
Laboratory; 
(2) recommend ways to encourage commercial 
companies to make greater use of the International 
Space Station’s National Laboratory, including cor-
porate investment in microgravity research; and 
(3) identify any legislative changes that may be 
required. 
(c) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
transmit 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 
the results of the assessment described in subsection (b). 
SEC. 213. UTILIZATION OF INTERNATIONAL SPACE STA-
TION FOR SCIENCE MISSIONS. 
The Administrator shall utilize the International 
Space Station for Science Mission Directorate missions in 
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low-Earth orbit wherever it is practical and cost effective 
to do so. 
SEC. 214. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION CARGO RESUP-
PLY SERVICES LESSONS LEARNED. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a report to 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that— 
(1) identifies the lessons learned to date from 
the Commercial Resupply Services contract; 
(2) indicates whether changes are needed to the 
manner in which the Administration procures and 
manages similar services upon the expiration of the 
existing Commercial Resupply Services contract; and 
(3) identifies any lessons learned from the Com-
mercial Resupply Services contract that should be 
applied to the procurement and management of com-
mercially provided crew transfer services to and 
from the International Space Station. 
SEC. 215. COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that once developed and certified to meet the Admin-
istration’s safety and reliability requirements, United 
States commercially provided crew transportation systems 
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offer the potential of serving as the primary means of 
transporting American astronauts and international part-
ner astronauts to and from the International Space Sta-
tion and serving as International Space Station emergency 
crew rescue vehicles. At the same time, the budgetary as-
sumptions used by the Administration in its planning for 
the Commercial Crew Program have consistently assumed 
significantly higher funding levels than have been author-
ized and appropriated by Congress. It is the sense of Con-
gress that credibility in the Administration’s budgetary es-
timates for the Commercial Crew Program can be en-
hanced by an independently developed cost estimate. Such 
credibility in budgetary estimates is an important factor 
in understanding program risk. 
(b) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the Administra-
tion’s Commercial Crew Program shall be to assist the de-
velopment of at least one crew transportation system to 
carry Administration astronauts safely, reliably, and 
affordably to and from the International Space Station 
and to serve as an emergency crew rescue vehicle as soon 
as practicable within the funding levels authorized. The 
Administration shall not use any considerations beyond 
this objective in the overall acquisition strategy. 
(c) SAFETY.—Consistent with the findings and rec-
ommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation 
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Board, the Administration shall ensure that safety and the 
minimization of the probability of loss of crew are the 
highest priorities of the commercial crew transportation 
program. 
(d) COST MINIMIZATION.—The Administrator shall 
strive through the competitive selection process to mini-
mize the life cycle cost to the Administration through the 
planned period of commercially provided crew transpor-
tation services. 
(e) TRANSPARENCY.—Transparency is the corner-
stone of ensuring a safe and reliable commercial crew 
transportation service to the International Space Station. 
The Administrator shall, to the greatest extent prac-
ticable, ensure that every commercial crew transportation 
services provider has provided evidence-based support for 
their costs and schedule. 
(f) INDEPENDENT
COST
AND
SCHEDULE
ESTI-
MATE.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall arrange for the initiation of an Inde-
pendent Cost and Schedule Estimate for— 
(A) all activities associated with the devel-
opment, test, demonstration, and certification 
of commercial crew transportation systems; 
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(B) transportation and rescue services re-
quired by the Administration for International 
Space Station operations through calendar year 
2020 or later if Administration requirements so 
dictate; and 
(C) the estimated date of operational read-
iness for the program. 
(2) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after initiation of the Independent Cost and Sched-
ule Estimate under paragraph (1), the Adminis-
trator shall transmit the results of the Independent 
Cost and Schedule Estimate to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 216. SPACE COMMUNICATIONS. 
(a) PLAN.—The Administrator shall develop a plan, 
in consultation with relevant Federal agencies, for updat-
ing the Administration’s space communications and navi-
gation architecture for low-Earth orbital and deep space 
operations so that it is capable of meeting the Administra-
tion’s communications needs over the next 20 years. The 
plan shall include lifecycle cost estimates, milestones, esti-
mated performance capabilities, and 5-year funding pro-
files. The plan shall also include an estimate of the 
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amounts of any reimbursements the Administration is 
likely to receive from other Federal agencies during the 
expected life of the upgrades described in the plan. At a 
minimum, the plan shall include a description of the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Steps to sustain the existing space commu-
nications and navigation network and infrastructure 
and priorities for how resources will be applied and 
cost estimates for the maintenance of existing space 
communications network capabilities. 
(2) Upgrades needed to support space commu-
nications and navigation network and infrastructure 
requirements, including cost estimates and schedules 
and an assessment of the impact on missions if re-
sources are not secured at the level needed. 
(3) Projected space communications and navi-
gation network requirements for the next 20 years, 
including those in support of human space explo-
ration missions. 
(4) Projected Tracking and Data Relay Sat-
ellite System requirements for the next 20 years, in-
cluding those in support of other relevant Federal 
agencies, and cost and schedule estimates to main-
tain and upgrade the Tracking and Data Relay Sat-
ellite System to meet projected requirements. 
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(5) Steps the Administration is taking to meet 
future space communications requirements after all 
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System third-gen-
eration communications satellites are operational. 
(6) Steps the Administration is taking to miti-
gate threats to electromagnetic spectrum use. 
(b) SCHEDULE.—The Administrator shall transmit 
the plan developed under this section to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
TITLE III—SCIENCE 
Subtitle A—General 
SEC. 301. SCIENCE PORTFOLIO. 
(a) BALANCED AND ADEQUATELY FUNDED ACTIVI-
TIES.—Section 803 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (124 Stat. 
2832) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 803. OVERALL SCIENCE PORTFOLIO—SENSE OF THE 
CONGRESS. 
‘‘Congress reaffirms its sense, expressed in the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration Authoriza-
tion Act of 2010, that a balanced and adequately funded 
set of activities, consisting of research and analysis grants 
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programs, technology development, small, medium, and 
large space missions, and suborbital research activities, 
contributes to a robust and productive science program 
and serves as a catalyst for innovation and discovery.’’. 
(b) DECADAL SURVEYS.—In proposing the funding 
of programs and activities for the Administration for each 
fiscal year, the Administrator shall, to the greatest extent 
practicable, follow guidance provided in the current 
decadal surveys from the National Academies’ Space 
Studies Board. 
SEC. 302. RADIOISOTOPE POWER SYSTEMS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that conducting deep space exploration requires ra-
dioisotope power systems, and establishing continuity in 
the production of the material needed to power these sys-
tems is paramount to the success of these future deep 
space missions. It is further the sense of Congress that 
Federal agencies supporting the Administration through 
the production of such material should do so in a cost ef-
fective manner so as not to impose excessive reimburse-
ment requirements on the Administration. 
(b) ANALYSIS OF REQUIREMENTS AND RISKS.—The 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
and the Administrator, in consultation with other Federal 
agencies, shall conduct an analysis of— 
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(1) the requirements of the Administration for 
radioisotope power system material that is needed to 
carry out planned, high priority robotic missions in 
the solar system and other surface exploration activi-
ties beyond low-Earth orbit; and 
(2) the risks to missions of the Administration 
in meeting those requirements, or any additional re-
quirements, due to a lack of adequate radioisotope 
power system material. 
(c) CONTENTS
OF ANALYSIS.—The analysis con-
ducted under subsection (b) shall— 
(1) detail the Administration’s current pro-
jected mission requirements and associated time-
frames for radioisotope power system material; 
(2) explain the assumptions used to determine 
the Administration’s requirements for the material, 
including— 
(A) the planned use of advanced thermal 
conversion 
technology 
such 
as 
advanced 
thermocouples and Stirling generators and con-
verters; and 
(B) the risks and implications of, and con-
tingencies for, any delays or unanticipated tech-
nical challenges affecting or related to the Ad-
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ministration’s mission plans for the anticipated 
use of advanced thermal conversion technology; 
(3) assess the risk to the Administration’s pro-
grams of any potential delays in achieving the sched-
ule and milestones for planned domestic production 
of radioisotope power system material; 
(4) outline a process for meeting any additional 
Administration requirements for the material; 
(5) estimate the incremental costs required to 
increase the amount of material produced each year, 
if such an increase is needed to support additional 
Administration requirements for the material; 
(6) detail how the Administration and other 
Federal agencies will manage, operate, and fund 
production facilities and the design and development 
of all radioisotope power systems used by the Ad-
ministration and other Federal agencies as nec-
essary; 
(7) specify the steps the Administration will 
take, in consultation with the Department of En-
ergy, to preserve the infrastructure and workforce 
necessary for production of radioisotope power sys-
tems and ensure that its reimbursements to the De-
partment of Energy associated with such preserva-
tion are equitable and justified; and 
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(8) detail how the Administration has imple-
mented or rejected the recommendations from the 
National Research Council’s 2009 report titled ‘‘Ra-
dioisotope Power Systems: An Imperative for Main-
taining U.S. Leadership in Space Exploration’’. 
(d) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
transmit the results of the analysis to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 303. CONGRESSIONAL DECLARATION OF POLICY AND 
PURPOSE. 
Section 20102(d) of title 51, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(10) The direction of the unique competence 
of the Administration to the search for life’s origin, 
evolution, distribution, and future in the Universe. 
In carrying out this objective, the Administration 
may use any practicable ground-based, airborne, or 
space-based technical means and spectra of electro-
magnetic radiation.’’. 
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Mission Directorate shall transmit to the Administrator, 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
analyzing the proposal for a Mars Flyby human 
spaceflight mission to be launched in 2021. Such report 
shall include— 
(1) a technical development, test, fielding, and 
operations plan using the Space Launch System and 
other systems to successfully mount a Mars Flyby 
mission by 2021; 
(2) a description of the benefits in scientific 
knowledge and technologies demonstrated by a Mars 
Flyby mission to be launched in 2021 suitable for 
future Mars missions; and 
(3) an annual budget profile, including cost es-
timates, for the development test, fielding, and oper-
ations plan to carry out a Mars Flyby mission 
through 2021 and comparison of that budget profile 
to the 5-year budget profile contained in the Presi-
dent’s Budget request for fiscal year 2017. 
(c) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 60 days after 
transmittal of the report specified in subsection (b), the 
Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
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smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS