U.S. CODE

U.S. Code

§ 16761. Space Shuttle follow-on

(a) Policy statement

It is the policy of the United States to possess the capability for human access to space on a continuous basis.

(b) Progress report

Not later than 180 days after December 30, 2005, and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall transmit a report to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate describing the progress being made toward developing the Crew Exploration Vehicle and the Crew Launch Vehicle and the estimated time before they will demonstrate crewed, orbital spaceflight.

Not later than 90 days after October 15, 2008, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the lack of a United States human space flight system to replace the Space Shuttle upon its planned retirement, currently scheduled for 2010, and the ability of the United States to uphold the policy described in subsection (a), including a description of—

(1) strategic risks to the United States associated with the failure to uphold the policy described in subsection (a);

(2) the estimated length of time during which the United States will not have its own human access to space;

(3) what steps will be taken to shorten that length of time; and

(4) what other means will be used to allow human access to space during that time.

Tips