ales together constitute a compelling case for human 
space exploration. These rationales include economic 
benefits, national security, national prestige, inspir-
ing students and other citizens, scientific discovery, 
human survival, and a sense of shared destiny. 
(3) The Committee on Human Spaceflight af-
firmed that Mars is the appropriate long-term goal 
for the human space flight program. 
(4) The Committee on Human Spaceflight rec-
ommended that the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration define a series of sustainable steps 
and conduct mission planning and technology devel-
opment as needed to achieve the long-term goal of 
placing humans on the surface of Mars. 
SEC. 3. HUMAN EXPLORATION STRATEGY. 
(a) HUMAN
EXPLORATION
OF
MARS.—Section 
202(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18312(b)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(5) to achieve human exploration of Mars, in-
cluding the establishment of a capability to extend 
human presence to the surface of Mars.’’. 
(b) EXPLORATION STRATEGY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with this sub-
section, the Administrator of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration shall submit an 
interim report and final report setting forth a strat-
egy to achieve the objective in paragraph (5) of sec-
tion 202(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Authorization Act of 2010, as 
amended by subsection (a) of this section, through 
a series of successive, sustainable, free-standing, but 
complementary missions making robust utilization of 
cis-lunar space and employing the Space Launch 
System, Orion crew capsule, and other capabilities 
provided under titles III, IV, V, and IX of that Act 
(42 U.S.C. 18301 et seq.). 
(2) STRATEGY REQUIREMENTS.—In developing 
the strategy under paragraph (1), the Administrator 
shall include— 
(A) the utility of an expanded human pres-
ence in cis-lunar space toward enabling mis-
sions to various lunar orbits, the lunar surface, 
asteroids, Mars, the moons of Mars, and other 
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destinations of interest for future human explo-
ration and development; 
(B) the utility of an expanded human pres-
ence in cis-lunar space for economic, scientific, 
and technological advances; 
(C) the opportunities for collaboration 
with— 
(i) international partners; 
(ii) private industry; and 
(iii) other Federal agencies, including 
missions relevant to national security or 
scientific needs; 
(D) the opportunities specifically afforded 
by the International Space Station (ISS) to 
support high priority scientific research and 
technological developments useful in expanding 
and sustaining a human presence in cis-lunar 
space and beyond; 
(E) a range of exploration mission archi-
tectures and approaches for the missions identi-
fied under paragraph (1), including capabilities 
for the Orion crew capsule and the Space 
Launch System; 
(F) a comparison of architectures and ap-
proaches based on— 
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(i) assessed value of factors including 
cost effectiveness, schedule resiliency, safe-
ty, sustainability, and opportunities for 
international collaboration; 
(ii) the extent to which certain archi-
tectures and approaches may enable new 
markets and opportunities for United 
States private industry, provide compelling 
opportunities for scientific discovery and 
technological excellence, sustain United 
States competitiveness and leadership, and 
address critical national security consider-
ations and requirements; and 
(iii) the flexibility of such architec-
tures and approaches to adjust to evolving 
technologies, 
partners, 
priorities, 
and 
budget projections and constraints; 
(G) measures for setting standards for en-
suring crew health and safety, including limits 
regarding radiation exposure and counter-
measures necessary to meet those limits, means 
and methods for addressing urgent medical con-
ditions or injuries, and other such safety, 
health, and medical issues that can be antici-
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pated in the conduct of the missions identified 
under paragraph (1); 
(H) a description of crew training needs 
and capabilities (including space suits and life 
support systems) necessary to support the con-
duct of missions identified under paragraph (1); 
(I) a detailed plan for prioritizing and 
phasing near-term intermediate destinations 
and missions identified under paragraph (1); 
(J) an assessment of the recommendations 
of the report prepared in compliance with sec-
tion 204 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Authorization Act of 2010 
(Public Law 111–267; 124 Stat. 2813), includ-
ing a detailed explanation of how the Adminis-
trator has ensured such recommendations have 
been, to the extent practicable, incorporated 
into the strategy under paragraph (1); and 
(K) technical information as needed to 
identify interest from potential stakeholder or 
partner communities. 
(3) INDEPENDENT REVIEW.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall enter into an arrangement with the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences to review and com-
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ment on each interim report pursuant to para-
graph (1). Under the arrangement, the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences shall review each in-
terim report on the strategy described in para-
graph (1) and identify the following: 
(i) Matters in such interim report 
agreed upon by the National Academy of 
Sciences. 
(ii) Matters in such interim report 
raising concerns for the National Academy 
of Sciences. 
(iii) Such further recommendations 
with respect to matters covered by such in-
terim report as the National Academy of 
Sciences considers appropriate. 
(B) TIMING OF REVIEW AND COMMENT.— 
The Administrator shall ensure that the review 
and comment on an interim report provided for 
pursuant to subparagraph (A) is conducted in 
a timely manner to comply with the require-
ments of this subsection and, to the maximum 
extent practicable, to facilitate the incorporation 
of the comments of the National Academy of 
Sciences pursuant to subparagraph (A) into the 
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