Cornyn Introduces Bill to Require NASA Human Exploration Strategy

Press Release

Following Commander Scott Kelly's return to Earth last night after a year aboard the International Space Station, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Mapping a New and Innovative Focus on our Exploration Strategy (MANIFEST) for Human Spaceflight Act to require the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop plans for the future of U.S. manned space exploration. The bill is based on the recommendations of a 2014 National Academies report, which called on NASA to commit to an exploration pathway that recognizes Mars as the horizon goal for human space exploration.

"We need a long-term strategy from NASA so we can focus existing assets on priority exploration missions and opportunities. This legislation creates that framework, and for the first time would designate a human presence on the surface of Mars as a long-term goal of NASA," Sen. Cornyn said. "With this bill, we can rightly prioritize human space exploration and affirm our commitment to exploring the next frontier."

More information on the MANIFEST for Human Spaceflight Act of 2016:

The legislation would require NASA to regularly provide Congress a human exploration strategy outlining goals and destinations for future manned space missions.
To ensure the agency considers independent views, NASA is directed to partner with the National Academy of Sciences to provide input and further recommendations that would be included in the final strategy.
The exploration strategy would be updated every five years, consistent with an independent review cycle applied to other NASA programs.
For the first time, the bill would amend NASA's guiding exploration goals to specifically designate a human presence on the surface of Mars as the long-term goal, a position supported by the Spaceflight Committee's report as well as the broader space exploration community.
The legislation is based on the recommendations of a 2014 report from the National Academies' Committee on Human Spaceflight.

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