Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§18323 Multi-purpose Crew Vehicle

Title 42 › CHAPTER 159 — SPACE EXPLORATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SCIENCE › SUBCHAPTER II — EXPANSION OF HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT BEYOND THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND LOW-EARTH ORBIT › § 18323

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

NASA must keep developing a multi-purpose crew vehicle so it is ready as soon as practical and in time to fly on the Space Launch System. The work must build on the Orion project’s human safety designs and systems. The goal is full operational capability by December 31, 2016, and NASA may test the vehicle at the International Space Station before that date. The vehicle must be able to serve as the main crew transport for missions beyond low-Earth orbit, perform in-space tasks like rendezvous, docking, and spacewalk support with SLS-delivered or other payloads to prepare or service cis-lunar assets, act as a backup way to carry crew and cargo to the ISS if other vehicles can’t, and be designed so it can evolve with new technology, competitive sub-parts, and commercial use.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §18323

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Initiation of development

(1)In general

The Administrator shall continue the development of a multi-purpose crew vehicle to be available as soon as practicable, and no later than for use with the Space Launch System. The vehicle shall continue to advance development of the human safety features, designs, and systems in the Orion project.

(2)Goal for operational capability

It shall be the goal to achieve full operational capability for the transportation vehicle developed pursuant to this subsection by not later than December 31, 2016. For purposes of meeting such goal, the Administrator may undertake a test of the transportation vehicle at the ISS before that date.

(b)Minimum capability requirements

The multi-purpose crew vehicle developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall be designed to have, at a minimum, the following:

(1)The capability to serve as the primary crew vehicle for missions beyond low-Earth orbit.

(2)The capability to conduct regular in-space operations, such as rendezvous, docking, and extra-vehicular activities, in conjunction with payloads delivered by the Space Launch System developed pursuant to section 18322 of this title, or other vehicles, in preparation for missions beyond low-Earth orbit or servicing of assets described in section 18383 of this title, or other assets in cis-lunar space.

(3)The capability to provide an alternative means of delivery of crew and cargo to the ISS, in the event other vehicles, whether commercial vehicles or partner-supplied vehicles, are unable to perform that function.

(4)The capacity for efficient and timely evolution, including the incorporation of new technologies, competition of sub-elements, and commercial operations.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 18323

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110