In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Spacefaring Priorities for America's
Continued Exploration Act'' or the ''SPACE Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) Russia is not a reliable partner.--(A) Unless Space
Shuttle operations are extended beyond 2010, the United States
will be heavily reliant on Russia to supply crew and possibly
cargo transport services to the International Space Station
during the gap period of 2010 through 2015. There will be no
other way to fly our astronauts into space during this period.
(B) The United States should not increase its reliance on
Russia to transport American astronauts into space, given the
increasingly divergent views and posturing from Russia. Russia
opposes the United States plan to base an antimissile radar
system in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland
to deal with the threat posed by the Iranian nuclear weapons
and missile programs. Russia also suspended its participation
in the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, one of the
most significant arms control agreements of the Cold War years.
Additionally, Russia continues to arm some of America's most
hostile adversaries, Iran and Venezuela. Despite United States
objections, Russia sold billions of dollars worth of weapons to
the regime of Hugo Chavez in 2006. Such meddling is a possible
violation of the Monroe Doctrine and a throwback to the Cold
War era. Even more troublesome is the Russian history of
weapons trading with Iran. Russia has supplied advanced
conventional arms technology, missile technology, and nuclear
technologies to this very anti-American regime.
(2) Russia has abused past nasa cooperation agreements.--
(A) In the late 1990s, Russia fell short in fulfilling its
commitment to the International Space Station.
(B) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (in
this Act referred to as ''NASA'') was forced to transfer
hundreds of millions of dollars to enable the Russians to
complete the critical Space Station service module Zvezda,
without which the International Space Station could not
operate.
(C) Russia delayed completion of the Zvezda service module
for several years. Under the International Space Station
agreement, the Russian government had committed to fund as well
as build the Zvezda service module. Subsequent transfers from
the United States, in order to complete the module, reflect
serious Russian mismanagement in the field of space.
(D) In 2000, while Russia was failing to meet its
commitment to the International Space Station, Russia was
diverting financial and human resources away from fulfilling
its International Space Station commitments in order to keep
the Russian's Mir Space Station aloft.
(E) Russia's past shortcomings in fulfilling commitments to
its international space partners should serve as a warning to
the United States as we consider increased reliance on Russian
space services in the future. It is not prudent for the United
States to depend on Russia for access to space given our past
experience with this relationship.
(3) American space science should not be dependent on
russian support.--(A) The United States has already invested
billions of dollars in the International Space Station program
since its inception.
(B) There is much research of great value being conducted
in space, and on the International Space Station, that may
yield tremendous gains. Research being conducted on the
International Space Station may help scientists back on Earth
develop medicines to treat diseases and help us better
understand the Earth's climate. Many scientists believe that
the microgravity environment of space will enable the
development of new drugs, vaccines, and other therapies.
Equipment on the International Space Station will monitor
stratospheric gases, and investigate ozone chemistry.
(4) The united states must have assured access to space.--
(A) To ensure that the United States realizes the dividends
from the considerable investment we have made in the
International Space Station, we need to ensure continued access
to space for our astronauts. However, NASA's plan for transport
of crew to and from the International Space Station fails to
provide necessary redundancies to provide assured access to
space.
(B) NASA anticipates that the Russian Soyuz spacecraft will
be the only vehicle for astronaut crew rotation to the
International Space Station after 2010. From 2011 until the
planned operation of Orion in 2015, NASA likely has no other
option for transporting American astronauts to space other than
on Russian vehicles.
(C) NASA has conceded that without the Space Shuttle, it
will be unable to transport the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer
(AMS) to the International Space Station. Scientists involved
in the development of the AMS acknowledge that it will enhance
scientific discoveries. While the AMS has cost over
$1,500,000,000 to develop and build, NASA has stated that the
remaining Space Shuttle manifest does not allow for transport
of the AMS and that it will not be an option to retrofit
another launch vehicle in order to fly it into space. Only by
extending Space Shuttle operations beyond 2010 will NASA be
able to transport the AMS to the International Space Station.
As long as the AMS meets all required standards to verify its
validity and justify its transport on the Space Shuttle, NASA
should fulfill its obligation to the Department of Energy and
our international partners.
(D) In addition, the Japanese Centrifuge Accommodation
Module, which can only fly to the International Space Station
on the Space Shuttle, will also be unable to reach the Space
Station absent extending Space Shuttle operations.
(5) A better approach.--(A) Due to NASA's lack of a backup
plan for reliance on the Russians for transport of American
astronauts to space, the United States needs a better approach.
The best approach is the Space Shuttle, a proven, domestic
source of space transport for assured access to space,
including the International Space Station, for crew and cargo
transport.
(B) With 2 Shuttle missions per year during the human
spaceflight program flight gap between Shuttle and Orion,
currently scheduled from 2010 through 2015, we can replace our
need to rely on the Russians for crew rotation for the
International Space Station.
(C) Savings from replacing Russian transport services to
the International Space Station with the Space Shuttle would
pay for a portion of the costs for flying 2 Space Shuttle
missions per year.
(D) Only by closing the gap between 2010 and 2015, or until
the Orion is operational, will our Nation be able to keep our
Nation's highly skilled and critically important spaceworkers
and engineers gainfully employed, and mitigate the loss of
critical skills.
(E) By extending Space Shuttle operations, NASA may realize
considerable savings by no longer having to pay retention
bonuses to critical space workers. But retention bonuses would
not be the only added costs associated with the end of Space
Shuttle operations when critical skilled workers leave NASA or
its contractors. Recruitment incentives for new workers and
contract cost increases could also be incurred by NASA since
the majority of the Kennedy Space Center's workforce are
contractors.
(F) The success of the Constellation program will depend on
having the most skilled and experienced workforce possible. The
workforce gap, as currently envisioned by NASA, will jeopardize
this. NASA has acknowledged that thousands of critical space
workers will lose their jobs in the transition from the Space
Shuttle to the Constellation program. Continued operation of
the Space Shuttle, but on a reduced flight requirement, while
also integrating these workers into the Orion program, is the
best way to retain many of these critical workers and skill
sets.
(G) An August 2007 study by the Government Accountability
Office, ''NASA Progress Made on Strategic Human Capital
Management, but Future Program Challenges Remain,'' stated that
''the agency as a whole faces challenges in recruiting and
retaining highly experienced senior-level engineers in certain
specialties. NASA's principal workforce challenge will be faced
in the transition to the next generation of human space flight
systems.''.
(H) This Act authorizes for NASA additional funding under
section 4 to fully restore the appropriation shortfalls in
fiscal years 2007 and 2008 compared to the funds that were
authorized for NASA. An additional $1,000,000,000 is authorized
in section 4(b) to reimburse NASA for the costs incurred by
NASA from the Space Shuttle return-to-flight efforts following
the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON USE OF RUSSIAN SPACE SERVICES.

NASA shall not rely solely on the Russian government for astronaut
transport or cargo resupply services. This prohibition does not apply
to the current Soyuz emergency escape services for astronauts on the
International Space Station.

SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR NASA.

(a) Additional Authorization for Fiscal Year 2007 Shortfall.--There
are authorized to be appropriated to NASA $1,648,000,000, 41.6 percent
of which shall be for Exploration Systems, and 28.7 percent of which
shall be available for Space Operations.
(b) Columbia Return-to-Flight.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to NASA $1,000,000,000 for emergency funding to reimburse
for Columbia return-to-flight costs, of which the Exploration Systems
and Space Operations Accounts shall receive funding at the rate
proportional to the amounts used to pay the costs associated with the
Space Shuttle return-to-flight efforts.
(c) Additional Authorization for Fiscal Year 2008 Shortfall.--There
are authorized to be appropriated to NASA $1,064,000,000, 41.7 percent
of which shall be for Exploration Systems.
(d) Preservation of Funding for Programs.--NASA shall not take any
funding from its Exploration Systems account or the Constellation
program in order to fund the continued operation of the Space Shuttle
program as required in this Act.

SEC. 5. EXTENDING SPACE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS.

(a) Use of Space Shuttle for Access to Space.--NASA shall fly at
least 2 Space Shuttle missions per year for crew transport, instead of
Russian crew and cargo services, for the period of 2010 through 2015,
or until Orion is operational. There are authorized to be appropriated
to NASA such sums as may be necessary, in addition to amounts otherwise
authorized, to carry out this subsection, including for the production
of more external tanks as may be needed.
(b) Insufficient Funding.--Except as provided under subsection (c),
the requirements of this Act shall have effect only to the extent that
sufficient funding is appropriated, as authorized under subsection (a).
Sufficient funding is defined as funds required to fully or partially
comply with the requirements of this Act.
(c) Report to Congress.--NASA shall report to Congress not later
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act on the specific
costs and actions needed to extend the operation of the Space Shuttle
in accordance with this Act.
(d) Operational Efficiencies.--As soon as possible, but no later
than March 31, 2011, NASA shall investigate areas of reduced operations
and enhanced cost savings and implement those that do not impinge the
safe operation of the Space Shuttle program, including the following:
(1) The possible retirement of one Space Shuttle orbiter,
leaving 2 to remain operational, in a manner that ensures the
safe operation of the Space Shuttle program.
(2) Significantly reducing changes to the design of the
Space Shuttle orbiters, in a manner that ensures the safe
operation of the Space Shuttle program. This shall include
changes to the Space Shuttle software systems.
(3) Significantly reducing Space Shuttle orbiter
configuration operations and payload configuration operations,
in a manner that ensures the safe operation of the Space
Shuttle program.
(4) Maximizing the use of shared personnel between the
continued operation of the Space Shuttle and Constellation and
other NASA programs.
(e) Facilities.--If conflicts arise in NASA's efforts to allocate
facilities, personnel, and other resources in order to fly the Space
Shuttle as well as continue the development of Constellation, then NASA
shall identify in a report to Congress in advance such conflicts, along
with recommendations as to how they can be mitigated.

SEC. 6. SHUTTLE RECERTIFICATION.

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
NASA shall define achievable and attainable requirements for operation
of the Space Shuttle program beyond 2010, as recommended by the
Columbia Accident Investigation Board. NASA shall transmit these
requirements to Congress in the form of a report. NASA shall then
immediately begin the process of satisfying these requirements and
shall satisfy all requirements no later than March 31, 2010.
A:
Spacefaring Priorities for America's Continued Exploration Act or SPACE Act - Prohibits the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from relying solely on the Russian government for astronaut transport or cargo resupply services, except for the current Soyuz emergency escape services for astronauts on the International Space Station.

Authorizes appropriations to NASA for: (1) exploration systems; and (2) emergency funding for Columbia return-to-flight costs.

Requires NASA to fly at least two space shuttle missions per year for crew transport, instead of Russian crew and cargo services, for the period 2010-2015, or until Orion is operational. Authorizes appropriations to carry out such operations. Requires NASA to report to Congress on the specific costs and actions needed to extend the operation of the space shuttle.

Requires NASA, by March 31, 2011, to investigate areas of reduced operations and enhanced cost savings and implement those that do not impinge on the safe operation of the space shuttle program.

Directs NASA to define achievable and attainable requirements for the operation of such program beyond 2010, as recommended by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. Requires: (1) NASA to report to Congress on such requirements; and (2) NASA to immediately begin satisfying those requirements and to satisfy all of them by March 31, 2010.