12 2 STA T .4789PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 422 —O CT. 1 5, 2008 (4)inter n a ti o na lp arti c ipation an d cooperation , a sw ell as co m mercial in v olvement in space e x ploration activities .SEC.403 .S T E P P ING ST O NE A PP R OAC H TOE X P L ORATION. I n order to maximi z et h e cost - e f fectiveness of the lon g -term exploration and u tilization activities of the U nited S tates, the A dministrator shall ta k e all necessar y steps, including engaging international partners, to ensure that activities in its lunar explo- ration program shall b e designed and implemented in a manner that gives strong consideration to how those activities might also help meet the re q uirements of future exploration and utilization activities beyond the M oon. T he timetable of the lunar phase of the long-term international exploration initiative shall be deter- mined by the availability of funding. H owever, once an exploration- related pro j ect enters its development phase, the Administrator shall seek, to the maximum extent practicable, to complete that project without undue delays. SEC. 404. L U NAR OUTPOST. (a) ESTABLI S HMEN T. — As N ASA works toward the establishment of a lunar outpost, NASA shall make no plans that would require a lunar outpost to be occupied to maintain its viability. Any such outpost shall be operable as a human-tended facility capable of remote or autonomous operation for extended periods. (b) D ESI G NATI O N.—The United States portion of the first human-tended outpost established on the surface of the Moon shall be designated the ‘ ‘Neil A. Armstrong L unar O utpost ’ ’. (c) SENSE O FC ONG R ESS.—It is the sense of Congress that NASA should make use of commercial services to the maximum extent practicable in support of its lunar outpost activities. SEC. 40 5 . EXPLORATION TECHNOLOG YD E V ELOP M ENT. (a) IN G ENERAL.—A robust program of long-term exploration- related technology research and development will be essential for the success and sustainability of any enduring initiative of human and robotic exploration of the solar system. (b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall carry out a pro- gram of long-term exploration-related technology research and development, including such things as in-space propulsion, power systems, life support, and advanced avionics, that is not tied to specific flight projects. The program shall have the funding goal of ensuring that the technology research and development can be completed in a timely manner in order to support the safe, success- ful, and sustainable exploration of the solar system. In addition, in order to ensure that the broadest range of innovative concepts and technologies are captured, the long-term technology program shall have the goal of having a significant portion of its funding available for external grants and contracts with universities, research institutions, and industry. SEC. 40 6 . EXPLORATION RIS K MITIGATION PLAN. (a) P LAN.—The Administrator shall prepare a plan that identi- fies and prioritizes the human and technical risks that will need to be addressed in carrying out human exploration beyond low Earth orbit and the research and development activities required to address those risks. The plan shall address the role of the International Space Station in exploration risk mitigation and 42USC17 7 3 3 . 42 USC 17732. 42 USC 17731.
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