US Codex
Pub. L.
Notes

Title VII — Space Technology

115th Congress · Approved Mar 21, 2017 · 131 Stat. 18 · Lineage

TITLE VII Space Technology

SEC. 701. Space Technology Infusion.

(a)
Sense of Congress on Space Technology.— It is the sense of Congress that space technology is critical—
(1)
to developing technologies and capabilities that will make the Administration’s core missions more affordable and more reliable;
(2)
to enabling a new class of Administration missions beyond low-Earth orbit; and
(3)
to improving technological capabilities and promote innovation for the Administration and the Nation.
(b)
Sense of Congress on Propulsion Technology.— It is the sense of Congress that advancing propulsion technology would improve the efficiency of trips to Mars and could shorten travel time to Mars, reduce astronaut health risks, and reduce radiation exposure, consumables, and mass of materials required for the journey.
(c)
Policy.— It is the policy of the United States that the Administrator shall develop technologies to support the Administration’s core missions, as described in section 2(3) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18301(3)), and support sustained investments in early stage innovation, fundamental research, and technologies to expand the boundaries of the national aerospace enterprise.
(d)
Propulsion Technologies.— A goal of propulsion technologies developed under subsection (c) shall be to significantly reduce human travel time to Mars.

SEC. 702. Space Technology Program.

(a)
Space Technology Program Authorized.— The Administrator shall conduct a space technology program (referred to in this section as the “Program”) to research and develop advanced space technologies that could deliver innovative solutions across the Administration’s space exploration and science missions.
(b)
Considerations.— In conducting the Program, the Administrator shall consider—
(1)
the recommendations of the National Academies’ review of the Administration’s Space Technology roadmaps and priorities; and
(2)
the applicable enabling aspects of the stepping stone approach to exploration under section 70504 of title 51, United States Code.
(c)
Requirements.— In conducting the Program, the Administrator shall—
(1)
to the extent practicable, use a competitive process to select research and development projects;
(2)
to the extent practicable and appropriate, use small satellites and the Administration’s suborbital and ground-based platforms to demonstrate space technology concepts and developments; and
(3)
as appropriate, partner with other Federal agencies, universities, private industry, and foreign countries.
(d)
Small Business Programs.— The Administrator shall organize and manage the Administration’s Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program within the Program.
(e)
Nonduplication Certification.— The Administrator shall submit a budget for each fiscal year, as transmitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, that avoids duplication of projects, programs, or missions conducted by Program with other projects, programs, or missions conducted by another office or directorate of the Administration.
(f)
Collaboration, Coordination, and Alignment.—
(1)
In general.— The Administrator shall—
(A)
ensure that the Administration’s projects, programs, and activities in support of technology research and development of advanced space technologies are fully coordinated and aligned;
(B)
ensure that the results the projects, programs, and activities under subparagraph (A) are shared and leveraged within the Administration; and
(C)
ensure that the organizational responsibility for research and development activities in support of human space exploration not initiated as of the date of enactment of this Act is established on the basis of a sound rationale.
(2)
Sense of congress.— It is the sense of Congress that projects, programs, and missions being conducted by the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate in support of research and development of advanced space technologies and systems focusing on human space exploration should continue in that Directorate.
(g)
Report.— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress a report—
(1)
comparing the Administration’s space technology investments with the high-priority technology areas identified by the National Academies in the National Research Council’s report on the Administration’s Space Technology Roadmaps; and
(2)
including—
(A)
identification of how the Administration will address any gaps between the agency’s investments and the recommended technology areas, including a projection of funding requirements; and
(B)
identification of the rationale described in subsection (f)(1)(C).
(h)
Annual Report.— The Administrator shall include in the Administration’s annual budget request for each fiscal year the rationale for assigning organizational responsibility for, in the year prior to the budget fiscal year, each initiated project, program, and mission focused on research and development of advanced technologies for human space exploration.