§18321 Human space flight beyond low-Earth orbit

Summary

Congress says moving humans beyond low-Earth orbit will make Moon landings and trips to deep-space targets like near-Earth asteroids and Mars possible. Space near the Moon can be reached by many nations and companies, which raises security and economic issues that working with international partners can help with. Building the ability to do these missions will drive new space infrastructure and technology. Those advances can enable things like in-space servicing, fuel resupply and transfer, and using resources found in space. A long-term aim is international exploration of Mars. Future missions should grow capability, be affordable, include international contributions, and follow a pay-as-you-go plan with requirements kept to the minimum needed to do core cis-lunar missions and gain operational experience. NASA must, within 120 days after October 11, 2010, send a report to the appropriate committees of Congress about its work to expand international collaboration on the ISS and its plans and progress for near-term human missions in cis-lunar space. In that report, NASA should assume it will provide a Space Launch System, a multi-purpose crew vehicle, and any other technology elements it identifies.