---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 18385"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "18385"
heading: "On-going restoration of radioisotope thermoelectric generator material production"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/18385"
units:
  - "Chapter 159 — Space Exploration, Technology, and Science"
  - "Subchapter VII — Space Science"
---

# §18385. On-going restoration of radioisotope thermoelectric generator material production

- (a) **Findings—** The Congress finds the following:
  - (1) The United States has led the world in the scientific exploration of space for nearly 50 years.
  - (2) Missions such as Viking, Voyager, Cassini, and New Horizons have greatly expanded knowledge of our solar system and planetary characteristics and evolution.
  - (3) Radioisotope power systems are the only available power sources for [deep space](/usc/42/18302.md?p=4) missions making it possible to travel to such distant destinations as Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto, and beyond and maintain operational control and systems viability for extended mission durations.
  - (4) Current radioisotope power systems supplies and production will not fully support [NASA](/usc/42/18302.md?p=6) missions planned even in the next decade and, without a new domestic production capability, the United States will no longer have the means to explore the majority of the solar system by the end of this decade.
  - (5) Continuing to rely on Russia or other foreign sources for radioisotope power system fuel production is not a secure option.
  - (6) Reestablishing domestic production will require a long lead-time. Thus, meeting future space exploration mission needs requires that a restart [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) begin at the earliest opportunity.
- (b) **In general—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/18302.md?p=1) shall, in coordination with the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Energy, pursue a joint approach beginning in fiscal year 2011 towards restarting and sustaining the domestic production of radioisotope thermoelectric generator material for [deep space](/usc/42/18302.md?p=4) and other science and exploration missions. Funds authorized by this chapter for [NASA](/usc/42/18302.md?p=6) shall be made available under a reimbursable agreement with the Department of Energy for the purpose of reestablishing facilities to produce fuel required for radioisotope thermoelectric generators to enable future missions.
- (c) **Report—** Within 120 days after October 11, 2010, the [Administrator](/usc/42/18302.md?p=1) and the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Energy shall submit a joint report to the [appropriate committees of Congress](/usc/42/18302.md?p=2) on coordinated agreements, planned implementation, and anticipated schedule, production quantities, and mission applications under this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–267, title VIII, § 806, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2833.)