Historical and Revision Notes |
|---|
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|
50111(a) | 42 U.S.C. 14711(a). | Pub. L. 105–303, title I, § 101(a), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2845. |
50111(b) | 42 U.S.C. 17801. | Pub. L. 110–422, title IX, § 902, Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4805. |
In subsection (b)(1)(D), the date “October 15, 2008” is substituted for “the date of enactment of this Act” to reflect the date of enactment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 ([Public Law 110–422], [122 Stat. 4779]).
References in Text
Section 101(3)(A) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is [section 101(3)(A) of Pub. L. 110–422], Oct. 15, 2008, [122 Stat. 4783], which was not classified to the Code.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), (2)(E), (G), is [Pub. L. 115–10], Mar. 21, 2017, [131 Stat. 18]. Section 2 of the Act is set out as a note under section 10101 of this title, section 301(b)(2) of the Act is set out in a note under this section, and section 432 of the Act is set out in a note under section 20302 of this title.
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (c)(2). [Pub. L. 117–167, § 10815(e)(1)], substituted “2028” for “2023” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (c)(2)(J). [Pub. L. 117–167, § 10815(e)(2)], substituted “2030” for “2028” in introductory provisions.
2017—Subsec. (c). [Pub. L. 115–10] added subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Maximizing Utilization of ISS
[Pub. L. 115–10, title III], §§ 301–303, Mar. 21, 2017, [131 Stat. 22–26], provided that:“SEC. 301.
OPERATION OF THE ISS.
“(a)
Sense of Congress.—
It is the sense of Congress that—
“(1)
after 15 years of continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit, the ISS continues to overcome challenges and operate safely;
“(2)
the ISS is a unique testbed for future space exploration systems development, including long-duration space travel;
“(3)
the expansion of partnerships, scientific research, and commercial applications of the ISS is essential to ensuring the greatest return on investments made by the United States and its international space partners in the development, assembly, and operations of that unique facility;
“(4)
utilization of the ISS will sustain United States leadership and progress in human space exploration by—
“(A)
facilitating the commercialization and economic development of low-Earth orbit;
“(B)
serving as a testbed for technologies and a platform for scientific research and development; and
“(C)
serving as an orbital facility enabling research upon—
“(i)
the health, well-being, and performance of humans in space; and
“(ii)
the development of in-space systems enabling human space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit; and
“(5)
the ISS provides a platform for fundamental, microgravity, discovery-based space life and physical sciences research that is critical for enabling space exploration, protecting humans in space, increasing pathways for commercial space development that depend on advances in basic research, and contributes to advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research.
“(b)
Objectives.—
The primary objectives of the ISS program shall be—
“(1)
to achieve the long term goal and objectives under section 202 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (
42 U.S.C. 18312); and
“(2)
to pursue a research program that advances knowledge and provides other benefits to the Nation.
“(c)
Continuation of the ISS.—
“SEC. 302.
TRANSPORTATION TO ISS.
“(a)
Findings.—
Congress finds that reliance on foreign carriers for United States crew transfer is unacceptable, and the Nation’s human space flight program must acquire the capability to launch United States government astronauts on vehicles using United States rockets from United States soil as soon as is safe, reliable, and affordable to do so.
“(b)
Sense of Congress on Commercial Crew Program and Commercial Resupply Services Program.—
It is the sense of Congress that—
“(1)
once developed and certified to meet the Administration’s safety and reliability requirements, United States commercially provided crew transportation systems can serve as the primary means of transporting United States government astronauts and international partner astronauts to and from the ISS and serving as ISS crew rescue vehicles;
“(2)
previous budgetary assumptions used by the Administration in its planning for the Commercial Crew Program assumed significantly higher funding levels than were authorized and appropriated by Congress;
“(3)
credibility in the Administration’s budgetary estimates for the Commercial Crew Program can be enhanced by an independently developed cost estimate;
“(4)
such credibility in budgetary estimates is an important factor in understanding program risk;
“(5)
United States access to low-Earth orbit is paramount to the continued success of the ISS and ISS National Laboratory;
“(6)
a stable and successful Commercial Resupply Services Program and Commercial Crew Program are critical to ensuring timely provisioning of the ISS and to reestablishing the capability to launch United States government astronauts from United States soil into orbit, ending reliance upon Russian transport of United States government astronauts to the ISS which has not been possible since the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011;
“(7)
NASA should build upon the success of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Program and Commercial Resupply Services Program that have allowed private sector companies to partner with NASA to deliver cargo and scientific experiments to the ISS since 2012;
“(8)
the 21st Century Launch Complex Program has enabled significant modernization and infrastructure improvements at launch sites across the United States to support NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services Program and other civil and commercial space flight missions; and
“(9)
the 21st Century Launch Complex Program should be continued in a manner that leverages State and private investments to achieve the goals of that program.
“(c)
Reaffirmation.—
Congress reaffirms—
“(1)
its commitment to the use of a commercially developed, private sector launch and delivery system to the ISS for crew missions as expressed in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 ([Public Law 109–155];