ISS Extension Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4779
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2022-08-04
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Latest action: action_date: 2022-08-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-08-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>ISS Extension Act of 2022</b></p> <p>This bill extends U.S. support and use of the International Space Station through FY2030.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4779 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 4, 2022 Mr. Cruz introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To extend the use of, and set forth priorities for, the International Space Station, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the ISS Extension Act of 2022 . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Administration The term Administration means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (3) Appropriate committees of Congress Except as otherwise expressly provided, the term appropriate committees of Congress 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) ISS The term ISS means the International Space Station. 3. Extension and modification relating to International Space Station (a) Policy Section 501(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18351(a) ) is amended by striking 2024 and inserting September 30, 2030 . (b) Maintenance of United States segment and assurance of continued operations Section 503(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18353(a) ) is amended by striking September 30, 2024 and inserting September 30, 2030 . (c) Research capacity allocation and integration of research payloads Section 504(d) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18354(d) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), in the first sentence— (A) by striking As soon as practicable and all that follows through 2011, and inserting The ; and (B) by striking September 30, 2024 and inserting September 30, 2030 ; and (2) in paragraph (2), in the third sentence, by striking September 30, 2024 and inserting September 30, 2030 . (d) Maintenance of use (1) In general Section 70907 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (A) in the section heading, by striking 2024 and inserting 2030 ; (B) in subsection (a), by striking September 30, 2024 and inserting September 30, 2030 ; and (C) in subsection (b)(3), by striking September 30, 2024 and inserting September 30, 2030 . (2) Conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 709 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 70907 and inserting the following: 70907. Maintaining use through at least 2030. . (e) Transition plan reports Section 50111(c)(2) of title 51, United States Code is amended— (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 2023 and inserting 2028 ; and (2) in subparagraph (J), by striking 2028 and inserting 2030 . (f) Assessments and report The Administrator shall— (1) conduct a comprehensive assessment of the viability of the ISS to operate safely and support full and productive use through 2030, including all necessary analyses to certify ISS operations through 2030; (2) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel an assessment of— (A) the root cause of cracks and air leaks in the Russian Service Module Transfer Tunnel; (B) the certification of all United States systems and modules to operate through 2030; (C) (i) an inventory of spares or replacements for elements, systems, and equipment, including systems certified under subparagraph (B), that are currently produced, in inventory, or on order; (ii) a description of the state of the readiness of such spares and replacements; and (iii) a schedule for delivery of such spares and replacements to the ISS, including the planned transportation means for such delivery and the estimated cost and schedule for procurement of such spares and replacements and their delivery to the ISS; and (D) any other relevant data, information, or analysis relevant to the safe and productive use of the ISS through 2030; and (3) not later than 240 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the appropriate committees of Congress— (A) a report on the results of the assessment conducted under paragraph (1); and (B) a plan to address any recommendations of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, consistent with section 31101(c)(2) of title 51, United States Code, with respect to such assessment. 4. Priorities for International Space Station (a) In general The Administrator shall assess International Space Station research activities and shall ensure that crew time and resources allocated to the Administration for use on the International Space Station prioritize— (1) the research of the Human Research Program, including research on and development of countermeasures relevant to reducing human health and performance risks, behavioral and psychological risks, and other astronaut safety risks related to long-duration human spaceflight; (2) risk reduction activities relevant to exploration technologies, including for the Environmental Control and Life Support System, extravehicular activity and space suits, environmental monitoring, safety, emergency response, and deep space communications; (3) the advancement of United States leadership in basic and applied space life and physical science research, consistent with the priorities of the most recent space life and physical sciences decadal survey of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and (4) other research and development activities identified by the Administrator as essential to Moon to Mars activities. (b) Reports (1) Assessment and prioritization Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on— (A) the assessment; and (B) the steps taken to achieve the prioritization required by subsection (a). (2) Space flight participants Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on measures taken, with respect to space flight participants aboard the ISS, to ensure government astronaut safety, to avoid interference in ISS operations and research priorities, and to prevent undue demands on crew time and resources. (3) Annual progress reports Concurrent with the annual budget submission of the President to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, the Administrator shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress an annual accounting of the use of Administration crew time and ISS resources, including the allocation of such resources toward the priorities described in subsection (a).