Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60

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

Title 42 › Chapter 159— SPACE EXPLORATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SCIENCE › Subchapter VII— SPACE SCIENCE › § 18385

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Congress says the United States has led space science for about 50 years and used many famous missions to learn about the solar system. It found that radioisotope thermoelectric generators (the special fuel-powered systems needed for deep-space probes) are the only practical power source for very distant missions. Current supplies will not meet planned missions, depending on foreign sources is unsafe, and rebuilding U.S. production will take a long time, so work must begin quickly. The NASA Administrator and the Secretary of Energy must, starting in fiscal year 2011, work together to restart and keep U.S. production of this fuel. NASA money authorized by this chapter must be provided to the Department of Energy under a reimbursable agreement to rebuild fuel-making facilities. Within 120 days after October 11, 2010, they must send a joint report to the appropriate congressional committees describing agreements, plans, the expected schedule, how much fuel will be produced, and which missions will use it.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §18385

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

(a)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 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 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 begin at the earliest opportunity.

(b)The Administrator shall, in coordination with the Secretary 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 and other science and exploration missions. Funds authorized by this chapter for NASA 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)Within 120 days after October 11, 2010, the Administrator and the Secretary of Energy shall submit a joint report to the appropriate committees of Congress on coordinated agreements, planned implementation, and anticipated schedule, production quantities, and mission applications under this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 18385

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60