§18321 Human Space Flight Beyond Low-earth Orbit

Summary

NASA must send a report to the proper congressional committees no later than 120 days after October 11, 2010. The report must describe NASA’s work to expand international cooperation on the International Space Station and its plans for near-term human missions in cis‑lunar space. In the report NASA should assume it will provide a Space Launch System, a multi-purpose crew vehicle, and any other technology items it identifies. Congress found that moving people beyond low‑Earth orbit will enable Moon and deep-space missions, that cis‑lunar space is accessible to other countries and companies (raising security and economic concerns), and that such missions can drive new space infrastructure and technologies. Congress said these developments can enable services like in-space servicing, refueling and using local resources, that the long-term goal should be international exploration of Mars, and that future missions should build capabilities, be affordable, include international partners, and follow a pay-as-you-go approach with only the minimum requirements needed for core mission goals.