National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2020

Short title— This Act may be cited as the “National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2020”.

Table of contents— The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

NASA should remain a multimission agency and continue to carry out, in partnership with academia, industry, and international partners, a balanced program of science, aeronautics, space technology, human exploration, and educational activities.

The Nation’s investments in civil space research, technology, and development have and will continue to contribute significantly to the Nation’s innovation capacity and economic strength, and provide applications and benefits that improve the lives of United States citizens and society.

International cooperation and collaboration strengthen the Nation’s science, aeronautics, and human exploration programs and unify partner nations in the peaceful uses of outer space.

NASA’s leadership in aeronautics has contributed greatly to the Nation’s strength in civil and commercial aviation and should remain a priority as innovative technologies and aviation concepts offer the potential to transform the future of aviation and support the Nation’s economic growth.

NASA makes essential contributions to our understanding of the global challenge of climate change through its collection of space-based Earth science data, research on global, integrated Earth system science, and development of models that advance our understanding of the climate system and the natural and human impacts on it.

The Nation’s human space exploration goal should be to send humans to the surface of Mars.

Reducing the risk and demonstrating the capabilities and operations needed to support a human mission to Mars may require human exploration of the cis-lunar vicinity and lunar surface.

A constancy of purpose, including clear and consistent goals and objectives, is essential for making effective progress on the Nation’s science, aeronautics, space technology, and human exploration programs and for attracting and keeping the Nation’s best, brightest, and most capable workforce.

Clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and accountability provides transparency in the implementation of the Nation’s civil space goals and objectives.

The innovative capabilities of the commercial space industry are essential to the Nation’s science, aeronautics, and human space exploration activities, are an important instrument of technological and economic competitiveness, and should be leveraged, as appropriate, to advance the Nation’s objectives in civil space.

Administration— The term “Administration” has the meaning given the term in section 10101 of title 51, United States Code.

Administrator— The term “Administrator” has the meaning given the term in section 10101 of title 51, United States Code.

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.

Deep space— The term “deep space” means the region of space beyond low-Earth orbit, including cis-lunar space.

ISS— The term “ISS” means the International Space Station.

NASA— The term “NASA” means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Orion— The term “Orion” has the meaning given the term in section 20302 of title 51, United States Code.

Space launch system— The term “Space Launch System” has the meaning given the term in section 20302 of title 51, United States Code.

United states government astronaut— The term “United States government astronaut” has the meaning given the term “government astronaut” in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code.