(2) The lunar south pole is home to shadowed 
craters that may contain water ice and other 
volatiles. Understanding the nature of lunar polar 
volatiles, such as water ice, would advance science 
related to the origin and evolution of volatiles in the 
inner solar system and could facilitate the long-term 
future of space exploration. Water ice lunar re-
sources have the potential to become an enabling 
component of future space exploration missions 
throughout the solar system, including crewed mis-
sions to Mars. 
(3) Other countries have demonstrated techno-
logical advances and successful robotic missions for 
lunar exploration and have announced credible plans 
for long-term human exploration of the Moon that 
include the intent to establish lunar bases. 
(4) United States leadership of and measurable 
progress on the exploration of deep space is essential 
for guiding development of norms related to oper-
ations on and around the Moon and for other space 
destinations. 
(5) It is in the national interest of the United 
States to hold a leadership role in discussions of fu-
ture norms governing activities in space, including 
those on the lunar surface and in cislunar space. 
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(b) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out activities to en-
able a crewed lunar landing under the Moon to Mars Pro-
gram, the Administrator shall— 
(1) use relevant elements set forth in section 
10811(b)(2)(B) of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022 
(Public Law 117–167); 
(2) continue to ensure that the elements under 
paragraph (1) enable the human exploration of 
Mars, consistent with section 10811(b)(2)(C)(i) of 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117–167); 
(3) engage with international partners, as ap-
propriate, in a manner that is consistent with sec-
tion 10811(b)(2)(C) the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022 
(Public Law 117–167), and that increases redun-
dancy, efficiency, and cost savings; and 
(4) leverage private sector capabilities as set 
forth in subsection (c). 
(c) PRIVATE SECTOR CAPABILITIES ON THE MOON 
IN SUPPORT OF LUNAR EXPLORATION EFFORTS.— 
(1) PRIVATE SECTOR CAPABILITIES.—The Ad-
ministrator shall, to the greatest extent practicable, 
use services of United States private sector providers 
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or engage in public-private partnerships to procure 
logistical, augmenting, and supporting capabilities 
and services for the human exploration of the Moon 
or cislunar space. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY.—For purposes of this section, 
to be considered a United States private sector com-
mercial service provider, the provider must— 
(A) be headquartered in the United States; 
(B) be organized under the laws of the 
United States or of a State; 
(C) have more than 50 percent ownership 
by United States citizens; 
(D) employ United States citizens for the 
majority of its positions; 
(E) meet the requirement for components 
mined, produced, or manufactured in the 
United States to total at least 50 percent of the 
total cost; 
(F) use United States launch vehicles; 
(G) be majority-designed, majority-devel-
oped, and majority-manufactured in the United 
States; and 
(H) maintain substantial ties to the United 
States. 
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(d) ARTEMIS FLIGHT RATE AND SAFETY.—To main-
tain the critical human spaceflight production and oper-
ation skills necessary to safely conduct human spaceflight 
activities in deep space, after the first crewed lunar land-
ing, the Administrator shall, to the extent practicable, seek 
to carry out a flight rate of two crewed lunar landing mis-
sions annually until lunar activities needed to enable a 
human mission to Mars are completed. 
SEC. 204. REAFFIRMATION OF THE SPACE LAUNCH SYS-
TEM. 
(a) SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM.— 
(1) DEVELOPMENT
AND
CADENCE
OBJEC-
TIVES.—Congress reaffirms— 
(A) support for the full development of ca-
pabilities of the Space Launch System as set 
forth in section 302(c) of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Authorization 
Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18322(c)). 
(B) its commitment to the flight rate spec-
ified in section 10812(b) of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Authorization 
Act of 2022 (Public Law 117–267; 51 U.S.C. 
20301 note). 
(2) OTHER USES.—The Administrator shall as-
sess the utility of the Space Launch System, in ac-
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cordance with section 421(g) of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Transition Au-
thorization Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–10; 51 
U.S.C. 20302 note), by entities other than NASA. 
Such assessment shall— 
(A) estimate overall cost and schedule sav-
ings from reduced transit times and the poten-
tial for increased returns enabled by the unique 
capabilities of the Space Launch System; 
(B) describe any barriers or challenges 
that could prevent or impede use of the Space 
Launch System by entities other than NASA; 
and 
(C) set forth recommendations, if any, for 
enabling non-NASA uses of the Space Launch 
System and mitigating any barriers and chal-
lenges described in subparagraph (B). 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
describing the following: 
(1) NASA’s progress towards achieving the 
flight rate referred to in subsection (a)(1)(B) and 
the expected launch of the Space Launch System 
after which such cadence shall be achieved. 
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(2) The results of the assessment conducted 
pursuant to subsection (a)(2). 
SEC. 205. HUMAN LUNAR LANDING CAPABILITIES. 
(a) REAFFIRMATION.—Congress reaffirms that the 
Moon to Mars program, as set forth in subsection (b) of 
section 10811 of the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117– 
267; 51 U.S.C. 20302 note.; 136 Stat. 1732) shall include 
human-rated lunar landing systems in accordance with 
paragraph (2)(B)(v) of such subsection. 
(b) HUMAN LANDING CAPABILITIES.— 
(1) The Administrator shall support the devel-
opment and demonstration of, and shall obtain, 
human-rated lunar landing capabilities to further 
the goals of the human exploration roadmap under 
section 432 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Transition Authorization Act of 
2017 (Public Law 115–10; 51 U.S.C. 20302 note). 
(2) The Administrator shall ensure that such 
human-rated lunar landing capabilities meet all rel-
evant requirements, including requirements of the 
Moon to Mars program, and for human-rating and 
certification. 
(3) Any commercial provider from which the 
Administrator obtains human-rated lunar landing 
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capabilities must be a United States private sector 
commercial service provider, as described in section 
203(c) of this Act. 
(c) REPORT.—The Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress the following: 
(1) Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, a report— 
(A) identifying the contribution over the 
past five years, and the planned contribution 
from 2024–2029, of government personnel, ex-
pertise, technologies and infrastructure utilized 
and to be utilized in support of design, develop-
ment, or operations of human lunar landing ca-
pabilities under this section; and 
(B) setting forth details and the associated 
costs of such government support, broken out 
according to the areas of contributions specified 
in subparagraph (A), as part of any develop-
ment initiative for obtaining human lunar land-
ing capabilities. 
(2) Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, a report that sets forth, for 
any agreement with a United States private sector 
commercial provider for human lunar landing capa-
bilities, the following: 
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(A) The total value of the agreement when 
awarded. 
(B) If different from the amount in sub-
paragraph (A), the total value of the agreement 
as of the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
an explanation for any change in value, as well 
as an identification of whether NASA or the 
commercial partner is responsible for meeting 
the change in value. 
(C) The dollar amount invested and to be 
invested by the Administration, and the dollar 
amount invested and to be invested by the com-
mercial provider. 
(D) The full requirements, including 
human-rating and safety requirements, for 
human lunar landing capabilities under the 
agreement when awarded. 
(E) If different from the amount specified 
in subparagraph (C), the full requirements, in-
cluding human-rating and certification require-
ments, for the human lunar landing capabilities 
under the agreement as of the date of the en-
actment of this Act and an explanation for any 
changes in requirements. 
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(F) A description of milestones and associ-
ated payments provided for in the agreement, 
including the following: 
(i) An identification of all milestones 
under the agreement. 
(ii) The value of the associated pay-
ment for each milestone identified under 
clause (i). 
(iii) An identification of completed 
milestones and the date of completion. 
(iv) An identification of milestones 
which have not yet been completed and an 
estimated schedule for completion. 
(v) The value of all NASA payments 
under the agreement, outlays as of the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and the 
amount which as of the date of the enact-
ment of this Act has not yet been paid. 
(vi) A description of any changes in 
milestones and associated payments be-
tween the date of contract award and the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(G) Any cost, schedule, and performance 
challenges as of the date of the enactment of 
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this Act in provider performance of the agree-
ment. 
(H) A detailed justification of compliance 
with section 30301 of title 51, United States 
Code. 
(I) A detailed certification and of compli-
ance with section 50503 of title 51, United 
States Code. 
(3) Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, in consultation with any 
United States private sector commercial service pro-
vider of human lunar landing capabilities under this 
section, a report on any steps the Administrator and 
such providers are taking to carry out the following: 
(A) Address cost, schedule, and perform-
ance challenges faced by each commercial pro-
vider in development and performance of 
human lunar landing services described in para-
graph (2)(G). 
(B) Facilitate the timely availability of 
human lunar landing capabilities of each pro-
vider to support the schedule of Artemis mis-
sions in effect as of the date of the enactment 
of this Act, as applicable to each provider. 
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(4) Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, a report on alternative 
approaches, and implementation plans for such ap-
proaches, including an estimate of needed budgetary 
resources, for a human lunar landing capability that 
meets NASA human-rating and certification require-
ments in the event challenges referred to in para-
graph (3)(A) cannot be overcome or the timeline 
specified in paragraph (3)(B) cannot be met. 
SEC. 206. ADVANCED SPACESUIT CAPABILITIES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Space suits and associated extravehicular 
activity (EVA) technologies are critical exploration 
technologies that are necessary for future human 
deep space exploration efforts, including crewed mis-
sions to the Moon. 
(2) The NASA civil service workforce at the 
Johnson Space Center provides unique capabilities 
to design, integrate, and validate Space Suits and 
associated EVA technologies. 
(3) Maintaining a strong NASA core com-
petency in the design, development, manufacture, 
and operation of space suits and related technologies 
allows NASA to be an informed purchaser of com-
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