Sec. 503. Commercial in-space infrastructure
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Subchapter II of chapter 501 of title 51, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following: In planning and carrying out space exploration missions, the Administrator shall, to the greatest extent practicable, make use of commercial in-space infrastructure to support such missions. In this section, the term commercial in-space infrastructure means infrastructure that is— owned, managed, or built by a United States commercial provider or through a public-private partnership with a United States commercial provider; and located more than 320,000 kilometers from the Earth’s surface.
The Administrator shall not be required to use commercial in-space infrastructure if, on a case-by-case basis— the Administrator determines that— cost-effective infrastructure that meets specific mission requirements would not be reasonably available from United States commercial providers when required; the use of commercial in-space infrastructure poses an unacceptable mission risk; or the use of commercial in-space infrastructure is inconsistent with international agreements for international collaborative efforts relating to science and technology; or the Secretary of the Air Force determines that the use of commercial in-space infrastructure is inconsistent with national security objectives.
Nothing in this section shall prevent the Administrator from planning or negotiating agreements with foreign governmental entities for the use infrastructure in support of United States civil government activities in outer space. . Subchapter II of chapter 501 of title 51, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following: 50119. Commercial in-space infrastructure. .