Sec. 203. Space Launch System
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Congress finds that— the Space Launch System is the most practical approach to reaching the Moon, Mars, and beyond, and Congress reaffirms the policy and minimum capability requirements for the Space Launch System contained in section 302 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18322 ); the primary goal for the design of the fully integrated Space Launch System is to safely carry a total payload of 130 tons or more to low-Earth orbit to enable human space exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond over the course of the next century as required in section 302(c) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18322(c) ); the uncrewed flight test of the 70-ton core element of the Space Launch System fully integrated with the Orion crew capsule as described in section 302(c)(1) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18322(c)(1) ) is a necessary flight demonstration in an overall program plan, subject to appropriations; and the schedule of the 70-ton core element crewed flight demonstration in 2021 with the Space Launch System fully integrated with the Orion crew capsule as described in section 302(c)(1) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18322(c)(1) ) is subject to appropriations.
As required in section 302(c)(2) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18322(c)(2) ), the Administration shall design the Space Launch System as a fully integrated vehicle capable of carrying a total payload of 130 tons or more into low-Earth orbit in preparation for transit for missions beyond low-Earth orbit. Using the President’s budget request for fiscal year 2014 and notional numbers requested therein as a baseline, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an estimate of— when the 70-ton core element of the Space Launch System fully integrated with the Orion crew capsule may be demonstrated as an operational capability; when the 130-ton Space Launch System fully integrated with the Orion crew capsule may be demonstrated as an operational capability; the projected annual operational costs through 2030 for the 130-ton Space Launch System fully integrated with the Orion crew capsule after its operational capability has been demonstrated; and the projected flight rate for the 130-ton Space Launch System fully integrated with the Orion crew capsule through 2030.
If the Administrator determines that the uncrewed test flight of the 70-ton core element of the Space Launch System fully integrated with the Orion crew capsule will not occur on or before December 31, 2017, or that the crewed test flight of the 70-ton core element of the Space Launch System fully integrated with the Orion crew capsule will not occur on or before December 31, 2021, the report transmitted under paragraph
(1)shall include an estimate of additional funds required through annual appropriations for fiscal years 2015 through 2021 which may be necessary to meet such goals in those years. The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, shall prepare a report that addresses the effort and budget required to enable and utilize a cargo variant of the 130-ton Space Launch System configuration described in section 302(c) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18322(c)). This report shall also include consideration of the technical requirements of the scientific and national security communities related to such Space Launch System and shall directly assess the utility and estimated cost savings obtained by using such Space Launch System for national security and space science missions. The Administrator shall transmit such report 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 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act and concluding not later than 1 year after such date of enactment, the Administrator shall conduct a well-publicized competition among students in elementary and secondary schools to name the elements of the Administration’s exploration program, including— a name for the deep space human exploration program as a whole, which includes the Space Launch System, the Orion crew capsule, lunar landers, and future missions; and a name for the Space Launch System.
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Sec. 203
Space Launch System
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