Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 4.djvu/873

 PUBLIC LAW 101-611—NOV. 16, 1990 104 STAT. 3189 (9) the United States space transportation system will depend upon a robust fleet of space shuttle orbiters and expendable and reusable launch vehicles and services; (10) the United States space program will be advanced with an assured funding stream for the development of a permanently manned space station with research, experimentation, observation, servicing, manufacturing, and staging capabilities for lunar and Mars missions; (11) the United States aeronautics program has been a key factor in maintaining preeminence in aviation over many decades; (12) the United States needs to maintain a strong program with respect to transatmospheric research and technology by developing and demonstrating National Aero-Space Plane technology by a mid-decade date certain; (13) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is primarily responsible for formulating and implementing policy that supports and encourages civil aeronautics and space activities in the United States; and (14) commercial activities of the private sector will substantially and increasingly contribute to the strength of both the United States space program and the national economy. SEC. 102. POLICY. 42 USC 2451 It is declared to be national policy that the United States should— (1) rededicate itself to the goal of leadership in critical areas of space science, space exploration, and space commercialization; (2) increase its commitment of budgetary resources for the space program to reverse the dramatic decline in real spending for such program since the achievements of the Apollo moon program; (3) ensure that the long-range environmental impact of all activities carried out under this title are fully understood and considered; (4) promote and support efforts to advance scientific understanding by conducting or otherwise providing for research on environmental problems, including global change, ozone depletion, acid precipitation, deforestation, and smog; (5) forge a robust national space program that maintains a healthy balance between manned and unmanned space activities and recognizes the mutually reinforcing benefits of both; (6) maintain an active fleet of space shuttle orbiters, including an adequate provision of structural spare parts, and evolve the orbiter design to improve safety and performance, and reduce operational costs; (7) sustain a mixed fleet by utilizing commercial expendable launch vehicle services to the fullest extent practicable; (8) support an aggressive program of research and development designed to enhance the United States preeminence in launch vehicles; (9) continue and complete on schedule the development and deployment of a permanently manned, fully capable, space station; (10) develop an advanced, high pressure space suit to support extravehicular activity that will be required for Space Station Freedom when Assembly Complete is reached;

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