125 
§ 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 
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. 
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§ 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- 
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-
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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. 
CHAPTER 707—HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT INDEPENDENT 
INVESTIGATION COMMISSION 
Sec. 
70701.
Definitions. 
70702.
Establishment of Commission. 
70703.
Tasks of Commission. 
70704.
Composition of Commission. 
70705.
Powers of Commission. 
70706.
Public meetings, information, and hearings. 
70707.
Staff of Commission. 
70708.
Compensation and travel expenses. 
70709.
Security clearances for Commission members and staff. 
70710.
Reporting requirements and termination. 
§ 70701. Definitions 
In this chapter: 
(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ means a Commission es-
tablished under this chapter. 
(2) INCIDENT.—The term ‘‘incident’’ means either an accident or a 
deliberate act. 
§ 70702. Establishment of Commission 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President shall establish an independent, 
nonpartisan Commission within the executive branch to investigate any inci-
dent that results in the loss of— 
(1) a space shuttle; 
(2) the International Space Station or its operational viability; 
(3) any other United States space vehicle carrying humans that is 
owned by the Federal Government or that is being used pursuant to 
a contract with the Federal Government; or 
(4) a crew member or passenger of any space vehicle described in 
this subsection. 
(b) DEADLINE FOR ESTABLISHMENT.—The President shall establish a 
Commission within 7 days after an incident specified in subsection (a). 
§ 70703. Tasks of Commission 
A Commission established pursuant to this chapter shall, to the extent 
possible, undertake the following tasks: 
(1) INVESTIGATION.—Investigate the incident. 
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(2) CAUSE.—Determine the cause of the incident. 
(3) CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.—Identify all contributing factors to 
the cause of the incident. 
(4) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Make recommendations for corrective ac-
tions. 
(5) ADDITIONAL
FINDINGS
OR
RECOMMENDATIONS.—Provide any 
additional findings or recommendations deemed by the Commission to 
be important, whether or not they are related to the specific incident 
under investigation. 
(6) REPORT.—Prepare a report to Congress, the President, and the 
public. 
§ 70704. Composition of Commission 
(a) NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS.—A Commission established pursuant 
to this chapter shall consist of 15 members. 
(b) SELECTION.—The members of a Commission shall be chosen in the 
following manner: 
(1) APPOINTMENT BY PRESIDENT.—The President shall appoint the 
members, and shall designate the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the 
Commission from among its members. 
(2) LISTS
PROVIDED
BY
LEADERS
OF
CONGRESS.—The majority 
leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, and the minority leader of the House 
of Representatives shall each provide to the President a list of can-
didates for membership on the Commission. The President may select 
one of the candidates from each of the 4 lists for membership on the 
Commission. 
(3) PROHIBITION REGARDING FEDERAL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 
AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.—No officer or employee of the Federal 
Government or Member of Congress shall serve as a member of the 
Commission. 
(4) PROHIBITION REGARDING CONTRACTORS.—No member of the 
Commission shall have, or have pending, a contractual relationship with 
the Administration. 
(5) PROHIBITION REGARDING CONFLICT OF INTEREST.—The Presi-
dent shall not appoint any individual as a member of a Commission 
under this section who has a current or former relationship with the 
Administrator that the President determines would constitute a conflict 
of interest. 
(6) EXPERIENCE.—To the extent practicable, the President shall en-
sure that the members of the Commission include some individuals with 
experience relative to human carrying spacecraft, as well as some indi-
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