In subsection (d), the date “October 28, 1998” is substituted for “the date of the enactment of this Act” and for “such date” to reflect the date of enactment of the Commercial Space Act of 1998 ([Public Law 105–303], [112 Stat. 2843]).
Amendments
2015—Subsec. (a). [Pub. L. 114–90] inserted “or in section 70102” after “in this section”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
NASA Launch Capabilities Collaboration
[Pub. L. 115–10, title VIII, § 822], Mar. 21, 2017, [131 Stat. 61], provided that:“(a)
Findings.—
Congress makes the following findings:
“(1)
The Launch Services Program is responsible for the acquisition, management, and technical oversight of commercial launch services for NASA’s [National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s] science and robotic missions.
“(2)
The Commercial Crew Program is responsible for the acquisition, management, and technical oversight of commercial crew transportation systems.
“(3)
The Launch Services Program and Commercial Crew Program have worked together to gain exceptional technical insight into the contracted launch service providers that are common to both programs.
“(4)
The Launch Services Program has a long history of oversight of 12 different launch vehicles and over 80 launches.
“(5)
Co-location of the Launch Services Program and Commercial Crew Program has enabled the Commercial Crew Program to efficiently obtain the launch vehicle technical expertise of and provide engineering and analytical support to the Commercial Crew Program.
“(b)
Sense of Congress.—
It is the sense of Congress that—
“(1)
the Launch Services Program and Commercial Crew Program each benefit from communication and coordination of launch manifests, technical information, and common launch vehicle insight between the programs; and
“(2)
such communication and coordination is enabled by the co-location of the programs.
“(c)
In General.—
The Administrator [of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration] shall pursue a strategy for acquisition of crewed transportation services and non-crewed launch services that continues to enhance communication, collaboration, and coordination between the Launch Services Program and the Commercial Crew Program.”
Leveraging Commercial Satellite Servicing Capabilities Across Mission Directorates
[Pub. L. 115–10, title VIII, § 825], Mar. 21, 2017, [131 Stat. 65], provided that:“(a)
Findings.—
Congress makes the following findings:
“(1)
Refueling and relocating aging satellites to extend their operational lifetimes is a capacity that NASA [National Aeronautics and Space Administration] will substantially benefit from and is important for lowering the costs of ongoing scientific, national security, and commercial satellite operations.
“(2)
The technologies involved in satellite servicing, such as dexterous robotic arms, propellant transfer systems, and solar electric propulsion, are all critical capabilities to support a human exploration mission to Mars.
“(b)
Sense of Congress.—
It is the sense of Congress that—
“(1)
satellite servicing is a vital capability that will bolster the capacity and affordability of NASA’s ongoing scientific and human exploration operations while simultaneously enhancing the ability of domestic companies to compete in the global marketplace; and
“(2)
future NASA satellites and spacecraft across mission directorates should be constructed in a manner that allows for servicing in order to maximize operational longevity and affordability.
“(c)
Leveraging of Capabilities.—
The Administrator [of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration] shall—
“(1)
identify orbital assets in both the Science Mission Directorate and the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate that could benefit from satellite servicing-related technologies; and
“(2)
work across all NASA mission directorates to evaluate opportunities for the private sector to perform such services or advance technical capabilities by leveraging the technologies and techniques developed by NASA programs and other industry programs.”