republic-os/legal/us/code/title-42/chapter-159/section-18321.md

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LegalText	42 U.S.C. § 18321	Human space flight beyond low-Earth orbit	us	united_states_code	code_section	42	THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE	159	SPACE EXPLORATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SCIENCE	18321	42 U.S.C. § 18321	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc42@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t42/s18321	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-42/usc42.xml	cdf744fab82fbd406996e96dd55f503443596b15325960699aa97547201218ca	644321055a08eb1f260a6a3e31ac157fa024756abf612a9fd6857e7e400cf24e	ee6915cab8303ca05aaf0f871e8b6b7dd637c7938b097b9dc1a0e6ca1f2f0ac5	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

42 U.S.C. § 18321 - Human space flight beyond low-Earth orbit

Text

(a) Findings Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The extension of the human presence from low-Earth orbit to other regions of space beyond low-Earth orbit will enable missions to the surface of the Moon and missions to deep space destinations such as near-Earth asteroids and Mars.

(2) The regions of cis-lunar space are accessible to other national and commercial launch capabilities, and such access raises a host of national security concerns and economic implications that international human space endeavors can help to address.

(3) The ability to support human missions in regions beyond low-Earth orbit and on the surface of the Moon can also drive developments in emerging areas of space infrastructure and technology.

(4) Developments in space infrastructure and technology can stimulate and enable increased space applications, such as in-space servicing, propellant resupply and transfer, and in situ resource utilization, and open opportunities for additional users of space, whether national, commercial, or international.

(5) A long term objective for human exploration of space should be the eventual international exploration of Mars.

(6) Future international missions beyond low-Earth orbit should be designed to incorporate capability development and availability, affordability, and international contributions.

(7) Human space flight and future exploration beyond low-Earth orbit should be based around a pay-as-you-go approach. Requirements in new launch and crew systems authorized in this chapter should be scaled to the minimum necessary to meet the core national mission capability needed to conduct cis-lunar missions. These initial missions, along with the development of new technologies and in-space capabilities can form the foundation for missions to other destinations. These initial missions also should provide operational experience prior to the further human expansion into space.

(b) Report on international collaboration (1) Report required Not later than 120 days after October 11, 2010, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the following assets and capabilities:

(A) Any effort by NASA to expand and ensure effective international collaboration on the ISS.

(B) The efforts of NASA, including its approach and progress, in defining near-term, cis-lunar space human missions.

(2) NASA contributions In preparing the report required by paragraph (1), the Administrator shall assume that NASA will contribute to the efforts described in that paragraph the following:

(A) A Space Launch System.

(B) A multi-purpose crew vehicle.

(C) Such other technology elements the Administrator may consider appropriate, and which the Administrator shall specifically identify in the report.

(Pub. L. 111–267, title III, § 301, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2813.)