National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2020

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 5666 To authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 24, 2020 Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma (for herself, Mr. BABIN, Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, and Mr. LUCAS) introduced the following bill; which was re- ferred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology A BILL To authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 3 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 4 ‘‘National Aeronautics and Space Administration Author- 5 ization Act of 2020’’. 6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 7 this Act is as follows: 8 Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Findings. Sec. 3. Definitions. VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 Jan 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\H5666.IH H5666 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 5666 IH TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS Sec. 101. Fiscal year 2020. TITLE II—HUMAN SPACE EXPLORATION AND OPERATIONS Subtitle A—Moon to Mars Program Sec. 201. Sustainable human exploration program. Sec. 202. Goals and objectives. Sec. 203. Structure of Moon to Mars Program. Sec. 204. Reporting and briefings. Sec. 205. Critical enabling capabilities. Sec. 206. Noncritical path activities. Sec. 207. Core exploration capabilities. Sec. 208. Reviews and assessments. Subtitle B—International Space Station Sec. 221. Extension and post-ISS support. Sec. 222. Priorities for ISS utilization. Sec. 223. Assured crew access to the International Space Station. Sec. 224. International Space Station Deorbit Capability and Plan. Sec. 225. Replacement Extravehicular Mobility Units. Sec. 226. Low Earth orbit development. TITLE III—SCIENCE Sec. 301. Importance of a balanced science program. Sec. 302. Review of implementation of quality assurance program and parts policy in science mission development. Sec. 303. Independent external technical, management, and cost reviews. Sec. 304. Small satellites. Sec. 305. Options for small satellite and payload access to the near-space and space environment. Sec. 306. Study on space life and physical sciences research and applications placement. Sec. 307. Space life and physical sciences research requirements. Subtitle A—Earth Science and Applications Sec. 311. Goal. Sec. 312. Applied uses of Earth science data. Sec. 313. Survey of State, Tribal, and territory use of NASA Earth observation data. Sec. 314. Commercial Earth observation data. Sec. 315. Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission. Sec. 316. CLARREO Pathfinder. Subtitle B—Astrophysics Sec. 321. Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope. Sec. 322. Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. Sec. 323. Research on technosignatures. Subtitle C—Planetary Science Sec. 331. Mars communications infrastructure. VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 Jan 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\H5666.IH H5666 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 5666 IH Sec. 332. Mars sample return strategy and plan. Sec. 333. Commercial Lunar Payload Services. Sec. 334. Europa Clipper launch vehicle. Sec. 335. Dedicated survey mission. Sec. 336. Near-Earth object and planetary defense roadmap. Sec. 337. Assessment of requirements for cataloguing and archiving near-Earth object data. Sec. 338. International confidence and capacity building for near-Earth object impact mitigation. Sec. 339. Close passing near-Earth objects. Subtitle D—Heliophysics and Space Weather Research Sec. 341. Importance of heliophysics research to understanding space weather. Sec. 342. Space Weather Research and Applications Program. Subtitle E—Data Science and Management Sec. 361. Data science and management. Sec. 362. Workshop on data analytics for Earth science research. TITLE IV—SPACE COMMUNICATIONS Sec. 401. Review of space communications. TITLE V—AERONAUTICS Sec. 501. Research effort to advance sustainable aviation. Sec. 502. Workshop on research and development on noise. Sec. 503. Aeronautics research and technology roundtable. Sec. 504. Experimental aircraft demonstrations. Sec. 505. Review of research roadmap on hypersonics. Sec. 506. Supersonic flight. Sec. 507. Urban air mobility. Sec. 508. Aeronautics workforce and modeling and test facilities. Sec. 509. University leadership initiative. TITLE VI—SPACE TECHNOLOGY Sec. 601. Space nuclear systems. Sec. 602. Nuclear thermal propulsion. Sec. 603. Nuclear surface power. Sec. 604. Review of flight opportunities program. Sec. 605. Sense of Congress on optical communications. Sec. 606. Propulsion testing facilities. Sec. 607. In-space satellite servicing and assembly. Sec. 608. Parachute systems research and development. TITLE VII—SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION Sec. 701. Office of STEM engagement. Sec. 702. Independent review of Space Grant. TITLE VIII—SAFETY, SUPPORT, AND MISSION SERVICES Sec. 801. Policy and procedure. Sec. 802. Monitoring millimeter-sized orbital debris. VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 Jan 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\H5666.IH H5666 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 5666 IH Sec. 803. Planetary protection strategic plan. TITLE IX—CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION Sec. 901. Data collection on cost benefits to the Administration of use of en- hanced-use leasing. Sec. 902. Report on enhanced-use leasing requirements. Sec. 903. Report on current and anticipated effects of climate change and ex- treme weather on agency infrastructure and facilities. TITLE X—GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec. 1001. Space situational awareness and orbital debris mitigation. Sec. 1002. International framework on active orbital debris removal. Sec. 1003. Safety and technical risks of active debris removal. Sec. 1004. Independent program analysis and evaluation office. Sec. 1005. Report on use of the term ‘‘commercial’’ in NASA activities. Sec. 1006. Supply chain and supplier base. Sec. 1007. Use of operational commercial suborbital vehicles for research, de- velopment, and education. Sec. 1008. The space capabilities of the People’s Republic of China. Sec. 1009. Spectrum interference. Sec. 1010. Reports to Congress. Sec. 1011. General accountability office report on large-scale programs, projects, and activities. Sec. 1012. NASA institutes. Sec. 1013. Surveys on the industrial base of the United States. Sec. 1014. Budgets. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 1 Congress makes the following findings: 2 (1) NASA should remain a multimission agency 3 and continue to carry out, in partnership with aca- 4 demia, industry, and international partners, a bal- 5 anced program of science, aeronautics, space tech- 6 nology, human exploration, and educational activi- 7 ties. 8 (2) The Nation’s investments in civil space re- 9 search, technology, and development have and will 10 continue to contribute significantly to the Nation’s 11 innovation capacity and economic strength, and pro- 12 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 Jan 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5666.IH H5666 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 5666 IH vide applications and benefits that improve the lives 1 of United States citizens and society. 2 (3) International cooperation and collaboration 3 strengthen the Nation’s science, aeronautics, and 4 human exploration programs and unify partner na- 5 tions in the peaceful uses of outer space. 6 (4) NASA’s leadership in aeronautics has con- 7 tributed greatly to the Nation’s strength in civil and 8 commercial aviation and should remain a priority as 9 innovative technologies and aviation concepts offer 10 the potential to transform the future of aviation and 11 support the Nation’s economic growth. 12 (5) NASA makes essential contributions to our 13 understanding of the global challenge of climate 14 change through its collection of space-based Earth 15 science data, research on global, integrated Earth 16 system science, and development of models that ad- 17 vance our understanding of the climate system and 18 the natural and human impacts on it. 19 (6) The Nation’s human space exploration goal 20 should be to send humans to the surface of Mars. 21 (7) Reducing the risk and demonstrating the 22 capabilities and operations needed to support a 23 human mission to Mars may require human explo- 24 ration of the cis-lunar vicinity and lunar surface. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 Jan 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5666.IH H5666 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 5666 IH (8) A constancy of purpose, including clear and 1 consistent goals and objectives, is essential for mak- 2 ing effective progress on the Nation’s science, aero- 3 nautics, space technology, and human exploration 4 programs and for attracting and keeping the Na- 5 tion’s best, brightest, and most capable workforce. 6 (9) Clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and 7 accountability provides transparency in the imple- 8 mentation of the Nation’s civil space goals and ob- 9 jectives. 10 (10) The innovative capabilities of the commer- 11 cial space industry are essential to the Nation’s 12 science, aeronautics, and human space exploration 13 activities, are an important instrument of techno- 14 logical and economic competitiveness, and should be 15 leveraged, as appropriate, to advance the Nation’s 16 objectives in civil space. 17 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 18 In this Act: 19 (1) ADMINISTRATION.—The term ‘‘Administra- 20 tion’’ has the meaning given the term in section 21 10101 of title 51, United States Code. 22 (2) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis- 23 trator’’ has the meaning given the term in section 24 10101 of title 51, United States Code. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 Jan 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5666.IH H5666 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 5666 IH (3) CIS-LUNAR SPACE.—The term ‘‘cis-lunar 1 space’’ means the region of space from the Earth 2 out to and including the region around the surface 3 of the Moon. 4 (4) DEEP SPACE.—The term ‘‘deep space’’ 5 means the region of space beyond low-Earth orbit, 6 including cis-lunar space. 7 (5) ISS.—The term ‘‘ISS’’ means the Inter- 8 national Space Station. 9 (6) NASA.—The term ‘‘NASA’’ means the Na- 10 tional Aeronautics and Space Administration. 11 (7) ORION.—The term ‘‘Orion’’ has the mean- 12 ing given the term in section 20302 of title 51, 13 United States Code. 14 (8) SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘Space 15 Launch System’’ has the meaning given the term in 16 section 20302 of title 51, United States Code. 17 (9) UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ASTRO- 18 NAUT.—The term ‘‘United States government astro- 19 naut’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘government 20 astronaut’’ in section 50902 of title 51, United 21 States Code. 22 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 Jan 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5666.IH H5666 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 5666 IH TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF 1 APPROPRIATIONS 2 SEC. 101. FISCAL YEAR 2020. 3 There are authorized to be appropriated to NASA for 4 fiscal year 2020, $22,629,000,000 as follows: 5 (1) For exploration, $6,017,600,000, of which 6 $1,406,700,000 shall be for the Orion multi-purpose 7 Crew Vehicle, $2,585,900,000 shall be for the Space 8 Launch System, $590,000,000 shall be for Explo- 9 ration Ground Systems, and $1,435,000,000 shall be 10 for Exploration Research and Development. 11 (2) For space operations, $4,140,200,000. 12 (3) For science, $7,138,900,000, of which 13 $1,971,800,000 shall be for Earth Science, 14 $2,713,400,000 shall be for Planetary Science, 15 $1,306,200,000 shall be for Astrophysics, 16 $423,000,000 shall be for the James Webb Space 17 Telescope, and $724,500,000 shall be for 18 Heliophysics. 19 (4) For aeronautics, $783,900,000. 20 (5) For space technology, $1,100,000,000. 21 (6) For science, technology, engineering, and 22 mathematics (STEM), $120,000,000, of which 23 $48,000,000 shall be for the National Space Grant 24 College and Fellowship Program, $24,000,000 shall 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:36 Jan 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5666.IH H5666 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 9 •HR 5666 IH be for the Established Program to Stimulate Com- 1 petitive Research (EPSCoR), $36,000,000 shall be 2 for the Minority University Research and Education 3 Project (MUREP), and $12,000,000 shall be for 4 STEM Education and Accountability Projects 5 (SEAP). 6 (7) For safety, security, and mission services, 7 $2,913,300,000. 8 (8) For construction and environmental compli- 9 ance and restoration, $373,400,000. 10 (9) For Inspector General, $41,700,000. 11 TITLE II—HUMAN SPACE EXPLO- 12 RATION AND OPERATIONS 13 Subtitle A—Moon to Mars Program 14 SEC. 201. SUSTAINABLE HUMAN EXPLORATION PROGRAM. 15 It is the sense of Congress that the Nation’s human 16 exploration program is an important element of United 17 States leadership in space exploration, economic strength, 18 and national security. It is the further sense of Congress 19 that constancy of purpose and the sustainability of the 20 Nation’s human exploration goals and objectives should be 21 an inherent principle of a long-term, deep space human 22 exploration program that spans several Congresses and 23 Administrations. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:36 Jan 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5666.IH H5666 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 10 •HR 5666 IH SEC. 202. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. 1 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator is authorized 2 under sections 20302 and 70504 of title 51, United States 3 Code, and shall carry out plans and programs to achieve 4 sustainable human exploration of deep space for the pur- 5 pose of sending humans to the surface of Mars. 6 (b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The goal of NASA’s Moon to 7 Mars Program shall be to land humans on Mars in a sus- 8 tainable manner as soon as practicable. The Moon to Mars 9 Program shall have the interim goal of sending a crewed 10 mission to the lunar surface by 2028 and a goal of sending 11 a crewed mission to orbit Mars by 2033. 12 (c) PRECURSOR ACTIVITIES.—The Administrator 13 shall undertake precursor crewed missions to cis-lunar 14 space and the lunar surface for the purpose of risk reduc- 15 tion for human missions to Mars by developing and testing 16 those systems and operational practices needed for suc- 17 cessful crewed Mars missions. 18 (d) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of the human mis- 1 [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]