I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6531 
To authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 20, 2016 
Mr. SMITH of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transi-
tion Authorization Act of 2016’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:56 Dec 21, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H6531.IH
H6531
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
Sec. 101. Fiscal year 2017. 
TITLE II—SUSTAINING NATIONAL SPACE COMMITMENTS 
Sec. 201. Sense of Congress on sustaining national space commitments. 
Sec. 202. Findings. 
TITLE III—MAXIMIZING UTILIZATION OF THE ISS AND LOW- 
EARTH ORBIT 
Sec. 301. Operation of the ISS. 
Sec. 302. Transportation to ISS. 
Sec. 303. ISS transition plan. 
Sec. 304. Space communications. 
Sec. 305. Indemnification; NASA launch services and reentry services. 
TITLE IV—ADVANCING HUMAN DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION 
Subtitle A—Human Space Flight and Exploration Goals and Objectives 
Sec. 411. Human space flight and exploration long-term goals. 
Sec. 412. Key objectives. 
Sec. 413. Vision for space exploration. 
Sec. 414. Stepping stone approach to exploration. 
Sec. 415. Update of exploration plan and programs. 
Sec. 416. Repeals. 
Sec. 417. Assured access to space. 
Subtitle B—Assuring Core Capabilities for Exploration 
Sec. 421. Space Launch System, Orion, and exploration ground systems. 
Subtitle C—Journey to Mars 
Sec. 431. Findings on human space exploration. 
Sec. 432. Human exploration roadmap. 
Sec. 433. Advanced space suit capability. 
Sec. 434. Asteroid robotic redirect mission. 
Sec. 435. Mars 2033 report. 
Subtitle D—TREAT Astronauts Act 
Sec. 441. Short title. 
Sec. 442. Findings; sense of Congress. 
Sec. 443. Medical monitoring and research relating to human space flight. 
TITLE V—ADVANCING SPACE SCIENCE 
Sec. 501. Maintaining a balanced space science portfolio. 
Sec. 502. Planetary science. 
Sec. 503. James Webb Space Telescope. 
Sec. 504. Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope. 
Sec. 505. Mars 2020 rover. 
Sec. 506. Europa. 
Sec. 507. Congressional declaration of policy and purpose. 
Sec. 508. Extrasolar planet exploration strategy. 
Sec. 509. Astrobiology strategy. 
Sec. 510. Astrobiology public-private partnerships. 
Sec. 511. Near-Earth objects. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:56 Dec 21, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H6531.IH
H6531
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
Sec. 512. Near-Earth objects public-private partnerships. 
Sec. 513. Assessment of science mission extensions. 
Sec. 514. Stratospheric observatory for infrared astronomy. 
Sec. 515. Radioisotope power systems. 
Sec. 516. Assessment of Mars architecture. 
Sec. 517. Collaboration. 
TITLE VI—AERONAUTICS 
Sec. 601. Sense of Congress on aeronautics. 
Sec. 602. Transformative aeronautics research. 
Sec. 603. Hypersonic research. 
Sec. 604. Supersonic research. 
Sec. 605. Rotorcraft research. 
TITLE VII—SPACE TECHNOLOGY 
Sec. 701. Space technology infusion. 
Sec. 702. Space technology program. 
TITLE VIII—MAXIMIZING EFFICIENCY 
Subtitle A—Agency Information Technology and Cybersecurity 
Sec. 811. Information technology governance. 
Sec. 812. Information technology strategic plan. 
Sec. 813. Cybersecurity. 
Sec. 814. Security management of foreign national access. 
Sec. 815. Cybersecurity of web applications. 
Subtitle B—Collaboration Among Mission Directorates and Other Matters 
Sec. 821. Collaboration among Mission Directorates. 
Sec. 822. NASA launch capabilities collaboration. 
Sec. 823. Detection and avoidance of counterfeit parts. 
Sec. 824. Education and outreach. 
Sec. 825. Leveraging commercial satellite servicing capabilities across Mission 
Directorates. 
Sec. 826. Flight opportunities. 
Sec. 827. Sense of Congress on small class launch missions. 
Sec. 828. Baseline and cost controls. 
Sec. 829. Commercial technology transfer program. 
Sec. 830. Avoiding organizational conflicts of interest in major Administration 
acquisition programs. 
Sec. 831. Protection of Apollo landing sites. 
Sec. 832. NASA lease of non-excess property. 
Sec. 833. Termination liability. 
Sec. 834. Independent reviews. 
Sec. 835. NASA Advisory Council. 
Sec. 836. Cost estimation. 
Sec. 837. Facilities and infrastructure. 
Sec. 838. Human space flight accident investigations. 
Sec. 839. Orbital debris. 
Sec. 840. Review of orbital debris removal concepts. 
Sec. 841. Project and program reserves. 
Sec. 842. Space Act agreements. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:56 Dec 21, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H6531.IH
H6531
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADMINISTRATION.—The term ‘‘Administra-
tion’’ means the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration. 
(2) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. 
(3) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives. 
(4) CIS-LUNAR
SPACE.—The term ‘‘cis-lunar 
space’’ means the region of space from the Earth 
out to and including the region around the surface 
of the Moon. 
(5) DEEP
SPACE.—The term ‘‘deep space’’ 
means the region of space beyond low-Earth orbit, 
to include cis-lunar space. 
(6) 
GOVERNMENT
ASTRONAUT.—The 
term 
‘‘government astronaut’’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 50902 of title 51, United States 
Code. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:56 Dec 21, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6531.IH
H6531
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
(7) ISS.—The term ‘‘ISS’’ means the Inter-
national Space Station. 
(8) ISS 
MANAGEMENT
ENTITY.—The term 
‘‘ISS management entity’’ means the organization 
with which the Administrator has a cooperative 
agreement under section 504(a) of the National Aer-
onautics and Space Administration Authorization 
Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18354(a)). 
(9) NASA.—The term ‘‘NASA’’ means the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration. 
(10) ORION.—The term ‘‘Orion’’ means the 
multipurpose crew vehicle described under section 
303 of the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
18323). 
(11) SPACE
LAUNCH
SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘Space Launch System’’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 3 of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 
U.S.C. 18302). 
(12) UNITED
STATES
GOVERNMENT
ASTRO-
NAUT.—The term ‘‘United States Government astro-
naut’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘government 
astronaut’’ in section 50902 of title 51, United 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:56 Dec 21, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6531.IH
H6531
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
States Code, except it does not include an individual 
who is an international partner astronaut. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF 
APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 101. FISCAL YEAR 2017. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to NASA for fiscal year 2017 $19,508,000,000, 
as follows: 
(1) For Exploration, $4,330,000,000. 
(2) For Space Operations, $5,023,000,000. 
(3) For Science, $5,500,000,000. 
(4) For Aeronautics, $640,000,000. 
(5) For Space Technology, $686,000,000. 
(6) For Education, $115,000,000. 
(7) For Safety, Security, and Mission Services, 
$2,788,600,000. 
(8) For Construction and Environmental Com-
pliance and Restoration, $388,000,000. 
(9) For Inspector General, $37,400,000. 
(b) EXCEPTION.—In addition to the amounts author-
ized to be appropriated for each account under subsection 
(a), there are authorized to be appropriated additional 
funds for each such account, but only if the authorized 
amounts for all such accounts are fully provided for in 
annual appropriation Acts, consistent with the discre-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:56 Dec 21, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6531.IH
H6531
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
tionary spending limits in section 251(c) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 
TITLE 
II—SUSTAINING 
NA-
TIONAL 
SPACE 
COMMIT-
MENTS 
SEC. 201. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SUSTAINING NATIONAL 
SPACE COMMITMENTS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) honoring current national space commit-
ments and building upon investments in space across 
successive Administrations demonstrates clear con-
tinuity of purpose by the United States, in collabora-
tion with its international, academic, and industry 
partners, to extend humanity’s reach into deep 
space, including cis-lunar space, the Moon, the sur-
face and moons of Mars, and beyond; 
(2) NASA leaders can best leverage investments 
in the United States space program by continuing to 
develop a balanced portfolio for space exploration 
and space science, including continued development 
of the Space Launch System, Orion, Commercial 
Crew Program, space and planetary science missions 
such as the James Webb Space Telescope, Wide- 
Field Infrared Survey Telescope, and Europa mis-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:56 Dec 21, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6531.IH
H6531
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
sion, and ongoing operations of the ISS and Com-
mercial Resupply Services Program; 
(3) a national, government-led space program 
that builds on current science and exploration pro-
grams, advances human knowledge and capabilities, 
and opens the frontier beyond Earth for ourselves, 
commercial enterprise, and science, and with our 
international partners, is of critical importance to 
our national destiny and to a future guided by 
United States values and freedoms; 
(4) continuity of purpose and effective execu-
tion of core NASA programs are essential for effi-
cient use of resources in pursuit of timely and tan-
gible accomplishments; 
(5) NASA could improve its efficiency and ef-
fectiveness by working with industry to streamline 
existing programs and requirements, procurement 
practices, institutional footprint, and bureaucracy 
while preserving effective program oversight, ac-
countability, and safety; 
(6) it is imperative that the United States 
maintain and enhance its leadership in space explo-
ration and space science, and continue to expand 
freedom and economic opportunities in space for all 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:56 Dec 21, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6531.IH
H6531
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
Americans that are consistent with the Constitution 
of the United States; and 
(7) NASA should be a multimission space agen-
cy, and should have a balanced and robust set of 
core missions in space science, space technology, aer-
onautics, human space flight and exploration, and 
education. 
SEC. 202. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Returns on the Nation’s investments in 
science, technology, and exploration accrue over dec-
ades-long timeframes, and a disruption of such in-
vestments could prevent returns from being fully re-
alized. 
(2) Past challenges to the continuity of such in-
vestments, particularly threats regarding the can-
cellation of authorized programs with bipartisan and 
bicameral support, have disrupted completion of 
major space systems thereby— 
(A) impeding planning and pursuit of na-
tional objectives in space science and human 
space exploration; 
(B) placing such investments in space 
science and space exploration at risk; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:56 Dec 21, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6531.IH
H6531
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
(C) degrading the aerospace industrial 
base. 
(3) The National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 
109–155; 119 Stat. 2895), National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 
(Public Law 110–422; 122 Stat. 4779), and Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration Au-
thorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18301 et seq.) 
reflect a broad, bipartisan agreement on the path 
forward for NASA’s core missions in science, space 
technology, aeronautics, human space flight and ex-
ploration, and education, that serves as the founda-
tion for the policy updates by this Act. 
(4) Sufficient investment and maximum utiliza-
tion of the ISS and ISS National Laboratory with 
our international and industry partners is— 
(A) consistent with the goals and objectives 
of the United States space program; and 
(B) imperative to continuing United States 
global leadership in human space exploration, 
science, research, technology development, and 
education opportunities that contribute to devel-
opment of the next generation of American sci-
entists, engineers, and leaders, and to creating 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:56 Dec 21, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6531.IH
H6531
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
the opportunity for economic development of 
low-Earth orbit. 
(5) NASA has made measurable progress in the 
development and testing of the Space Launch Sys-
tem and Orion exploration systems with the near- 
term objectives of the initial integrated test flight 
and launch in 2018, a human mission in 2021, and 
continued missions with an annual cadence in cis- 
lunar space and eventually to the surface of Mars. 
(6) The Commercial Crew Program has made 
measurable progress toward reestablishing the capa-
bility to launch United States Government astro-
nauts from United States soil into low-Earth orbit 
by the end of 2018. 
(7) The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, in its 
2015 Annual Report, urged continuity of purpose 
noting concerns over the potential for cost overruns 
and schedule slips that could accompany significant 
changes to core NASA programs. 
TITLE III—MAXIMIZING UTILIZA-
TION OF THE ISS AND LOW- 
EARTH ORBIT 
SEC. 301. OPERATION OF THE ISS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:56 Dec 21, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6531.IH
H6531
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS