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 
(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) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall submit the results of the analysis to the appropriate 
committees of Congress. 
SEC. 516. ASSESSMENT OF MARS ARCHITECTURE. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Administrator shall enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academies of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to assess— 
(1) the Administration’s Mars exploration ar-
chitecture and its responsiveness to the strategies, 
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priorities, and guidelines put forward by the Na-
tional Academies’ planetary science decadal surveys 
and other relevant National Academies Mars-related 
reports; 
(2) the long-term goals of the Administration’s 
Mars Exploration Program and such program’s abil-
ity to optimize the science return, given the current 
fiscal posture of the program; 
(3) the Mars exploration architecture’s relation-
ship to Mars-related activities to be undertaken by 
foreign agencies and organizations; and 
(4) the extent to which the Mars exploration ar-
chitecture represents a reasonably balanced mission 
portfolio. 
(b) REPORT
TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator shall submit the results of the assessment to 
the appropriate committees of Congress. 
SEC. 517. COLLABORATION. 
The Administration shall continue to develop first-of- 
a-kind instruments that, once proved, can be transitioned 
to other agencies for operations. Whenever responsibilities 
for the development of sensors or for measurements are 
transferred to the Administration from another agency, 
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the Administration shall seek, to the extent possible, to 
be reimbursed for the assumption of such responsibilities. 
TITLE VI—AERONAUTICS 
SEC. 601. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON AERONAUTICS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) a robust aeronautics research portfolio will 
help maintain the United States status as a leader 
in aviation, enhance the competitiveness of the 
United States in the world economy, and improve 
the quality of life of all citizens; 
(2) aeronautics research is essential to the Ad-
ministration’s mission, continues to be an important 
core element of the Administration’s mission, and 
should be supported; 
(3) the Administrator should coordinate and 
consult with relevant Federal agencies and the pri-
vate sector to minimize duplication of efforts and le-
verage resources; and 
(4) carrying aeronautics research to a level of 
maturity that allows the Administration’s research 
results to be transferred to the users, whether pri-
vate or public sector, is critical to their eventual 
adoption. 
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SEC. 602. TRANSFORMATIVE AERONAUTICS RESEARCH. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator 
should look strategically into the future and ensure that 
the Administration’s Center personnel are at the leading 
edge of aeronautics research by encouraging investigations 
into the early-stage advancement of new processes, novel 
concepts, and innovative technologies that have the poten-
tial to meet national aeronautics needs. 
SEC. 603. HYPERSONIC RESEARCH. 
(a) ROADMAP FOR HYPERSONIC RESEARCH.—Not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator, in consultation with the heads of other 
relevant Federal agencies, shall develop and submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a research and devel-
opment roadmap for hypersonic aircraft research. 
(b) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the roadmap is to 
explore hypersonic science and technology using air- 
breathing propulsion concepts, through a mix of theo-
retical work, basic and applied research, and development 
of flight research demonstration vehicles. 
(c) CONTENTS.—The roadmap shall recommend ap-
propriate Federal agency contributions, coordination ef-
forts, and technology milestones. 
SEC. 604. SUPERSONIC RESEARCH. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
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(1) the ability to fly commercial aircraft over 
land at supersonic speeds without adverse impacts 
on the environment or on local communities could 
open new global markets and enable new transpor-
tation capabilities; and 
(2) continuing the Administration’s research 
program is necessary to assess the impact in a rel-
evant environment of commercial supersonic flight 
operations and provide the basis for establishing ap-
propriate sonic boom standards for such flight oper-
ations. 
(b) ROADMAP FOR SUPERSONIC RESEARCH.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall develop and submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress a roadmap that allows for flexible 
funding profiles for supersonic aeronautics research 
and development. 
(2) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the roadmap 
is to develop and demonstrate, in a relevant environ-
ment, airframe and propulsion technologies to mini-
mize the environmental impact, including noise, of 
supersonic overland flight in an efficient and eco-
nomical manner. 
(3) CONTENTS.—The roadmap shall include— 
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(A) the baseline research as embodied by 
the Administration’s existing research on super-
sonic flight; 
(B) a list of specific technological, environ-
mental, and other challenges that must be over-
come to minimize the environmental impact, in-
cluding noise, of supersonic overland flight; 
(C) a research plan to address the chal-
lenges under subparagraph (B), including a 
project timeline for accomplishing relevant re-
search goals; 
(D) a plan for coordination with stake-
holders, including relevant government agencies 
and industry; and 
(E) a plan for how the Administration will 
ensure that sonic boom research is coordinated 
as appropriate with relevant Federal agencies. 
SEC. 605. ROTORCRAFT RESEARCH. 
(a) ROADMAP FOR ROTORCRAFT RESEARCH.—Not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator, in consultation with the heads of other 
relevant Federal agencies, shall prepare and submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a roadmap for re-
search relating to rotorcraft and other runway-inde-
pendent air vehicles. 
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(b) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the roadmap is to 
develop and demonstrate improved safety, noise, and envi-
ronmental impact in a relevant environment. 
(c) CONTENTS.—The roadmap shall include specific 
goals for the research, a timeline for implementation, 
metrics for success, and guidelines for collaboration and 
coordination with industry and other Federal agencies. 
TITLE VII—SPACE TECHNOLOGY 
SEC. 701. SPACE TECHNOLOGY INFUSION. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SPACE TECHNOLOGY.— 
It is the sense of Congress that space technology is crit-
ical— 
(1) to developing technologies and capabilities 
that will make the Administration’s core missions 
more affordable and more reliable; 
(2) to enabling a new class of Administration 
missions beyond low-Earth orbit; and 
(3) to improving technological capabilities and 
promote innovation for the Administration and the 
Nation. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PROPULSION TECH-
NOLOGY.—It is the sense of Congress that advancing pro-
pulsion technology would improve the efficiency of trips 
to Mars and could shorten travel time to Mars, reduce 
astronaut health risks, and reduce radiation exposure, 
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101 
consumables, and mass of materials required for the jour-
ney. 
(c) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States 
that the Administrator shall develop technologies to sup-
port the Administration’s core missions, as described in 
section 2(3) of the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
18301(3)), and support sustained investments in early 
stage innovation, fundamental research, and technologies 
to expand the boundaries of the national aerospace enter-
prise. 
(d) PROPULSION TECHNOLOGIES.—A goal of propul-
sion technologies developed under subsection (c) shall be 
to significantly reduce human travel time to Mars. 
SEC. 702. SPACE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. 
(a) SPACE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 
The Administrator shall conduct a space technology pro-
gram (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Program’’) to 
research and develop advanced space technologies that 
could deliver innovative solutions across the Administra-
tion’s space exploration and science missions. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the Program, 
the Administrator shall consider— 
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(1) the recommendations of the National Acad-
emies’ review of the Administration’s Space Tech-
nology roadmaps and priorities; and 
(2) the applicable enabling aspects of the step-
ping stone approach to exploration under section 
70504 of title 51, United States Code. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS.—In conducting the Program, 
the Administrator shall— 
(1) to the extent practicable, use a competitive 
process to select research and development projects; 
(2) to the extent practicable and appropriate, 
use small satellites and the Administration’s sub-
orbital and ground-based platforms to demonstrate 
space technology concepts and developments; and 
(3) as appropriate, partner with other Federal 
agencies, universities, private industry, and foreign 
countries. 
(d) SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS.—The Adminis-
trator shall organize and manage the Administration’s 
Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small 
Business Technology Transfer Program within the Pro-
gram. 
(e) NON-DUPLICATION CERTIFICATION.—The Ad-
ministrator shall submit a budget for each fiscal year, as 
transmitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, 
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103 
United States Code, that avoids duplication of projects, 
programs, or missions conducted by the Program with 
other projects, programs, or missions conducted by an-
other office or Directorate of the Administration. 
(f) COLLABORATION, COORDINATION, AND ALIGN-
MENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall— 
(A) ensure that the Administration’s 
projects, programs, and activities in support of 
technology research and development of ad-
vanced space technologies are fully coordinated 
and aligned; 
(B) ensure that the results of the projects, 
programs, and activities under subparagraph 
(A) are shared and leveraged within the Admin-
istration; and 
(C) ensure that the organizational respon-
sibility for research and development activities 
in support of human space exploration not initi-
ated as of the date of enactment of this Act is 
established on the basis of a sound rationale. 
(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that projects, programs, and missions 
being conducted by the Human Exploration and Op-
erations Mission Directorate in support of research 
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