Sec. 421. Space Launch System and Orion
410 words·~2 min read·
/bill/114/s/3346/is/section-421A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Congress makes the following findings: NASA has made steady progress in developing and testing the Space Launch System and Orion exploration systems with the successful Exploration Flight Test of Orion in December of 2014, the final qualification test firing of the 5-segment Space Launch System boosters in June 2016, and a full thrust, full duration test firing of the RS–25 Space Launch System core stage engine in August 2016. Through the 21st Century Launch Complex program and Exploration Ground Systems (referred to in this section as EGS ) programs, NASA has made significant progress in transforming exploration ground systems infrastructure to meet NASA’s mission requirements for the Space Launch System and Orion and to modernize NASA’s launch complexes to the benefit of the civil, defense, and commercial space sectors.
It is the sense of Congress that— as the United States works to send humans on a series of missions on or near Mars in the 2030s, the United States national space program should continue to make progress on its commitment by fully developing the Space Launch System, Orion, and related exploration ground systems; using the Space Launch System and Orion for a wide range of contemplated missions will facilitate the national defense, science, and exploration objectives of the United States; and continuity of purpose within the Space Launch System and Orion programs are imperative as NASA prepares for the uncrewed mission, EM–1, planned for 2018 followed by the crewed mission, EM–2, in cis-lunar space planned for 2021, and for subsequent missions beginning with EM–3 extending into cis-lunar space and eventually to Mars.
The Administrator shall continue development of— an uncrewed exploration mission to demonstrate the capability of both the Space Launch System and Orion as an integrated system by 2018; a crewed exploration mission to demonstrate the Space Launch System, including the Core Stage and Exploration Upper Stages, and the crewed Orion by 2021; subsequent missions beginning with EM–3 using the Space Launch System and Orion to extend into cis-lunar space and eventually to Mars; and development of a deep space habitat as the next element in a deep space exploration architecture along with the Space Launch System and Orion.
The Administrator shall assess the utility of the Space Launch System for use by the science community and for other Federal Government launch needs, including consideration of overall cost and schedule savings from reduced transit times and increased science returns enabled by the unique capabilities of the Space Launch System.