Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/2833

 124 STAT. 2807 PUBLIC LAW 111–267—OCT. 11, 2010 Sec. 1209. Enhanced-use Leasing. Sec. 1210. Sense of Congress concerning the Stennis Space Center. TITLE XIII—COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTORY PAY -AS-YOU-GO ACT OF 2010 Sec. 1301. Compliance provision. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) The United States human space flight program has, since the first Mercury flight on May 5, 1961, been a source of pride and inspiration for the Nation. (2) The establishment of and commitment to human explo- ration goals is essential for providing the necessary long term focus and programmatic consistency and robustness of the United States civilian space program. (3) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is and should remain a multi-mission agency with a balanced and robust set of core missions in science, aeronautics, and human space flight and exploration. (4) In the 50 years since the establishment of NASA, the arena of space has evolved substantially. As the uses and users of space continue to expand, the issues and operations in the regions closest to Earth have become increasingly com- plex, with a growing number of overlaps between civil, commer- cial and national security activities. These developments present opportunities and challenges to the space activities of NASA and the United States. (5) The extraordinary challenges of achieving access to space both motivated and accelerated the development of tech- nologies and industrial capabilities that have had widespread applications which have contributed to the technological excel- lence of the United States. It is essential to tie space activity to human challenges ranging from enhancing the influence, relationships, security, economic development, and commerce of the United States to improving the overall human condition. (6) It is essential to the economic well-being of the United States that the aerospace industrial capacity, highly skilled workforce, and embedded expertise remain engaged in demanding, challenging, and exciting efforts that ensure United States leadership in space exploration and related activities. (7) Crewmembers provide the essential component to ensure the return on investment from and the growth and safe operation of the ISS. The Russian Soyuz vehicle has allowed continued human presence on the ISS for United States crewmembers with its ability to serve as both a routine and backup capability for crew delivery, rescue, and return. With the impending retirement of the Space Shuttle, the United States will find itself with no national crew delivery and return system. Without any other system, the United States and all the ISS partners will have no redundant system for human access to and from the ISS. It is therefore essential that a United States capability be developed as soon as possible. (8) Existing and emerging United States commercial launch capabilities and emerging launch capabilities offer the potential for providing crew support assets. New capabilities for human crew access to the ISS should be developed in a manner that ensures ISS mission assurance and safety. Commercial services 42 USC 18301.