Sec. 10841. SPACE NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES
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## SEC. 10841 SPACE NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES **[**[51 U.S.C. 20301 note](/us/usc/t51/s20301)**]** ###
(a)Nuclear Propulsion ####
(1)Use in robotic and human exploration activities The Administrator, in collaboration with other relevant Federal agencies and with industry, shall take all necessary steps to carry out research and development, ground-based testing and in-space testing, and other associated activities to enable the use of space nuclear propulsion in Administration robotic and human exploration activities, including in cargo missions to Mars in the late 2020’s and crewed missions to Mars in the 2030’s. ####
(2)Space nuclear propulsion program #####
(A)In general The Administrator shall establish a space nuclear propulsion program to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1). #####
(B)Elements The program established under subparagraph
(A)shall include the following: ######
(i)Research and development in both nuclear electric and nuclear thermal propulsion technology maturation efforts, to the extent practicable, and the development of consistent figures of merit across both nuclear electric and nuclear thermal systems, as recommended by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in the report entitled “Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration”, so as to inform a down-selection of a nuclear electric or nuclear thermal propulsion system by 2026, or as early as practicable. ######
(ii)Ground-based testing, to the extent practicable, including not less than 1 ground-based test of a full-scale, integrated nuclear propulsion system before any in-space test or demonstration of such system. ######
(iii)In-space demonstration of a nuclear propulsion system in the late 2020’s, which may be carried out as a cargo mission to Mars. ####
(3)Plan #####
(A)In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a plan to achieve an in-space flight test of a nuclear propulsion system that could support the first crewed mission to Mars in the 2030’s. #####
(B)Elements The plan required by subparagraph
(A)shall include the following: ######
(i)A timeline to mature enabling technologies and an outline of major milestones for integration of such technologies into the larger nuclear propulsion system. ######
(ii)A cost estimate for maturing such technologies. ######
(iii)A description of facility requirements for the program under paragraph
(2)associated with such technologies. ######
(iv)A description of the manner in which the Administrator will use the efforts described in paragraph (2)(B) to determine whether the in-space flight test should demonstrate a nuclear electric propulsion system or a nuclear thermal propulsion system. #####
(C)An identification of any policy or regulatory challenges or barriers to conducting such in-space test or any precursor ground-based testing, and a description of options for addressing such challenges or barriers. ###
(b)Nuclear Surface Power Program ####
(1)Establishment The Administrator shall establish a program for research, testing, and development of a space nuclear surface power reactor design. ####
(2)Plan #####
(A)In general The Administrator shall— ######
(i)develop a plan and timeline for the program established under paragraph (1), taking into consideration mission needs; and ######
(ii)include in such plan opportunities for participation by United States commercial entities. #####
(B)Submission Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the plan developed under subparagraph (A). ###
(c)Assessment of In-space Propulsion Testing Facilities ####
(1)In general The Administrator shall carry out a needs assessment for facilities and technical capabilities required to support ground-based testing of a full-scale, full-power integrated nuclear propulsion system. ####
(2)Element The assessment required by paragraph
(1)shall consider the potential development of facilities that will support long-term research and development of space nuclear propulsion systems. ####
(3)Report Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the results of the assessment carried out under paragraph (1).
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Sec. 10841
SPACE NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES
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