Human Space Flight Capability Assurance and Enhancement Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3068
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2010-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Executive agency funding and structure
International organizations and cooperation
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Space flight and exploration

Summary:
action_date: 2010-03-03
text: 
Human Space Flight Capability Assurance and Enhancement Act of 2010 - Directs the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to: (1) take all necessary steps to ensure that all Space Shuttle Program activities and operations are able to continue, or to be resumed, including flight operations and support, pending the completion of required reviews, requirements, and reports; and (2) ensure space shuttle launch capability through FY2011 by enabling launch, at a minimum, of all payloads manifested as of February 28, 2010. 
 
Instructs the Administrator to ask the National Academies of Science (NAS) to appoint a Flight Certification Review Committee to: (1) review space shuttle certification activities undertaken or initiated after February 2003; and (2) assess their adequacy in assuring vehicle durability, flight-worthiness, and sustainability for continued operations of up to five years beyond the flight manifest planned as February 2010. 
 
Requires NASA to operate the Space Shuttle Program at a flight rate of not more than 2 missions in any consecutive 12-month period during FY2010-FY2012. 
 
Prohibits termination of such Program as of a scheduled date certain. 
 
Specifies the conditions for termination of space shuttle missions operations. Requires a determination by the President regarding termination of missions in support of International Space Station (ISS) operations and Congress to be notified of any such determination. 
 
Sets forth requirements for the decommissioning of the remaining space shuttles and the preservation of shuttle vehicle and systems design and engineering data.
 
States that it shall be the policy of the United States, in consultation with its ISS International Partners, to support full and complete utilization of the Space Station through at least the year 2020.
 
Requires a review of all essential vehicles, components, and permanent scientific equipment on board or planned for installation aboard the ISS, including international partner elements, and the Comptroller General to monitor such review. 
 
Establishes responsibility for the ISS United States National Laboratory in the Space Operations Mission Directorate, ISS Program Office. Delegates to a Deputy Associate Administrator for ISS the conduct of ISS operations by NASA and non-NASA organizations. 
 
Establishes a management entity for the National Laboratory to implement research and development projects using the ISS U.S. segment. 
 
Guarantees National Laboratory-managed experiments access to 50% of the U.S.'s research facilities allocation through FY2014, increased by an additional 10% annually through FY2020. 
 
Establishes a National Space Transportation System. Requires a technology development plan. Provides for specified crew and cargo studies, reviews, and activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1026-1030)
action_date: 2010-03-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1024-1026)
action_date: 2010-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate