Sec. 2658. Prioritization of low-enriched uranium technology
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It is the sense of Congress that— space technology, including nuclear propulsion technology and space surface power reactors, should be developed in a manner consistent with broader United States foreign policy, national defense, and space exploration and commercialization priorities; highly enriched uranium presents security and nuclear nonproliferation concerns; since 1977, based on the concerns associated with highly enriched uranium, the United States has promoted the use of low-enriched uranium over highly enriched uranium in nonmilitary contexts, including research and commercial applications; as part of United States efforts to limit international use of highly enriched uranium, the United States has actively pursued— since 1978, the conversion of domestic and foreign research reactors that use highly enriched uranium fuel to low-enriched uranium fuel and the avoidance of any new research reactors that use highly enriched uranium fuel; and since 1994, the elimination of international commerce in highly enriched uranium for civilian purposes; and the use of low-enriched uranium in place of highly enriched uranium has security, nonproliferation, and economic benefits, including for the national space program.
The Administrator shall— establish, within the Space Technology Mission Directorate, a program for the research, testing, and development of in-space reactor designs, including a surface power reactor, that uses low-enriched uranium fuel; and prioritize the research, demonstration, and deployment of such designs over designs using highly enriched uranium fuel. Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this division, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that— details the actions taken to implement subsection (b); and identifies a plan and timeline under which such subsection will be implemented.
In this section: The term highly enriched uranium means uranium having an assay of 20 percent or greater of the uranium-235 isotope. The term low-enriched uranium means uranium having an assay greater than the assay for natural uranium but less than 20 percent of the uranium-235 isotope.