Sec. 721. Remote satellite servicing demonstrations
241 words·~1 min read·
/bill/113/hr/4412/unknown/section-721A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that— the Administration plays a key role in demonstrating the feasibility of using robotic technologies for a spacecraft that could autonomously access, inspect, repair, and refuel satellites; demonstrating this feasibility would both assist the Administration in its future missions and provide other Federal agencies and private sector entities with enhanced confidence in the feasibility to robotically refuel, inspect, repair, and maintain their satellites in both near and distant orbits; and the capability to refuel, inspect, repair, and maintain satellites robotically could add years of functional life to satellites.
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a 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 describing the Administration’s— activities, tools, and techniques associated with the ultimate goal of autonomously servicing satellites using robotic spacecraft; efforts to coordinate its technology development and demonstrations with other Federal agencies and private sector entities that conduct programs, projects, or activities on on-orbit satellite inspection and servicing capabilities; efforts to leverage the work of these Federal agencies and private sector entities into the Administration’s plans; accomplishments to date in demonstrating various servicing technologies; major technical and operational challenges encountered and mitigation measures taken; and demonstrations needed to increase confidence in the use of the technologies for operational missions, and the timeframe for these demonstrations.