Sec. 202. Stepping stone approach to exploration
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Section 70504 of title 51, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: In order to maximize the cost effectiveness of the long-term space exploration and utilization activities of the United States, the Administrator shall direct the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate to develop a Mars Human Exploration Roadmap to define the specific capabilities and technologies necessary to extend human presence to the surface of Mars and the mission sets required to demonstrate such capabilities and technologies.
The President should invite the United States partners in the International Space Station program and other nations, as appropriate, to participate in an international initiative under the leadership of the United States to achieve the goal of successfully conducting a crewed mission to the surface of Mars. In developing the Mars Human Exploration Roadmap, the Administrator shall— include the specific set of capabilities and technologies required to extend human presence to the surface of Mars and the mission sets necessary to demonstrate the proficiency of these capabilities and technologies with an emphasis on using the International Space Station, lunar landings, cis-lunar space, trans-lunar space, Lagrangian points, and the natural satellites of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, as testbeds, as necessary, and shall include the most appropriate process for developing such capabilities and technologies; describe those technologies already under development across the Federal Government or by nongovernment entities which meet or exceed the needs described in paragraph (1); provide a specific process for the evolution of the capabilities of the fully integrated Orion crew capsule with the Space Launch System and how these systems demonstrate the capabilities and technologies described in paragraph (1); provide a description of the capabilities and technologies that could be demonstrated or research data that could be gained through the utilization of the International Space Station and the status of the development of such capabilities and technologies; describe a framework for international cooperation in the development of all technologies and capabilities required in this section, as well as an assessment of the risks posed by relying on international partners for capabilities and technologies on the critical path of development; describe a process for utilizing nongovernmental entities for future human exploration beyond trans-lunar space and specify what, if any, synergy could be gained from— partnerships using Space Act Agreements (as defined in section 2 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2014 ); or other acquisition instruments; include in the Roadmap an addendum from the NASA Advisory Council, and an addendum from the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, each with a statement of review of the Roadmap that shall include— subjects of agreement; areas of concern; and recommendations; and include in the Roadmap an examination of the benefits of utilizing current Administration launch facilities for trans-lunar missions.
The Administrator shall update such Roadmap at least every 4 years and include it in the budget for that fiscal year transmitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, and describe— the achievements and goals reached in the process of developing such capabilities and technologies during the 4-year period prior to the submission of the Roadmap to Congress; and the expected goals and achievements in the following 4-year period. The terms Orion crew capsule and Space Launch System have the meanings given such terms in section 20302. .
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a copy of the Mars Human Exploration Roadmap developed under section 70504 of title 51, United States Code, to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. The Administrator shall transmit a copy of each updated Mars Human Exploration Roadmap to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 7 days after such Roadmap is updated under section 70504(b)(6) of such title.