Sec. 322. Space nuclear power
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Congress finds that in-space nuclear fission power complements the use of Plutonium-238 radioisotope thermoelectric generators (in this section referred to as RTG ) for spacecraft power needs. It is the policy of the United States— to continue the development of in-space nuclear fission technology, as necessary, for purposes including— in-space power generation for advanced in-space propulsion; onboard power generation to replace or supplement RTG systems; power generation on the surface of celestial bodies; extraction and processing of in situ resources; and nuclear thermal and nuclear electric propulsion able to transport crew or cargo among Earth and other celestial bodies much more rapidly than is practical with non-nuclear systems; that research and development of in-space nuclear fission power should be carried out as part of a portfolio that appropriately balances development of power systems at different sizes and maturities, with an emphasis on early development of mature, operational systems; and that NASA should continually seek to streamline the process for space launch approval of nuclear materials, eliminate redundant and unneeded processes, and regularize the process for efficient, regular functioning, and toward that end, the Administrator should update the launch approval process and seek to establish a licensing process for private nuclear power sources in space.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report, produced in consultation with industry and academia, on the use and role of nuclear fission power in space. The report required under paragraph
(1)shall include— an assessment of the prospects for in-space nuclear fission reactors, describing particular roles and missions for which nuclear power is uniquely well-suited; a description of the convergence between NASA’s existing Plutonium-238 RTG programs and ongoing nuclear thermal propulsion and nuclear power generation development programs; a detailed plan for encouraging convergence between NASA’s various nuclear power and propulsion efforts; an identification of key infrastructure and facilities needed for the development of in-space nuclear fission power reactors; an identification of particular legal issues, including regulatory challenges, that must be addressed for the use of nuclear fission power systems; how small in-space nuclear fission reactors can complement or replace existing and planned radioisotope thermal generator capabilities; and information on very low cost, high reliability designs that can be made operational quickly. NASA should demonstrate a nuclear electric power reactor for use in space using existing authorized funding levels and within a schedule made possible by appropriated funding.