§18385 On-going Restoration of Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Material Production

Summary

NASA's Administrator must work with the Secretary of Energy starting in fiscal year 2011 to restart and keep running U.S. production of fuel for radioisotope thermoelectric generators used on deep-space and other science missions. Money authorized for NASA under this chapter will be sent to the Department of Energy under a reimbursable agreement to rebuild the facilities that make this fuel. Congress found that the U.S. has led space science for decades, that RTG fuel is the only practical power source for many deep-space missions, and that current supplies will not meet planned missions in the next decade. Relying on foreign sources is not secure, and restarting domestic production takes a long time, so work must begin quickly. Within 120 days after October 11, 2010, the NASA Administrator and the Energy Secretary must send a joint report to the appropriate Congressional committees describing agreements, plans, schedule, expected production amounts, and which missions will use the fuel.