SPACE LAUNCH MODERNIZATION.

SEC. 211. SPACE LAUNCH MODERNIZATION. (a) Policy.— (1) It is in the Nation’s long-term national security and economic interests to regain preeminence in the area of space launch technology and operations. (2) Access to space at affordable costs is fundamental to maintaining required command, control, communications, intelligence, navigation, weather, and early warning support to United States and coalition forces. 108 STAT. 2691 (3) Encouragement of privately financed, cost effective expendable and reusable launch vehicles is in the economic interest of the Department of Defense and the United States Government. (b) Finding.— Congress finds that the current Department of Defense space launch infrastructure has several deficiencies, including high cost, excessive management overhead, inadequate operability and responsiveness to satellite launch requirements, lack of standardization, very large launch personnel requirements to support launch operations, over capacity, and technology obsolescence. (c) Required Actions.— The Secretary of Defense shall take the following actions in pursuance of the space launch modernization policy set forth in subsection (a) and to correct the deficiencies described in subsection (b): (1) Develop an integrated space launch vehicle strategy that, if implemented, would replace or consolidate the current fleet of medium and heavy launch vehicles. Where prudent and cost effective, the strategy should include a plan for the development of new or upgraded expendable launch vehicles. (2) Implement improved management practices including streamlined acquisition approaches, small government program staff, and minimal program overhead. (3) Encourage and evaluate innovative acquisition, technical, and financing (including best commercial practices) solutions for providing affordable, operable, reliable, and responsive access to space. (4) Centralize oversight of launch requirements to ensure integrated evaluation of satellite requirements and launch capabilities. (5) Encourage and provide incentives for the use of commercial practices in the acquisition, operation, and support of Department of Defense space operations. (6) Establish effective coordination among military, civilian, and commercial launch developers and users. (d) Allocation of Funds.— Of the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 201(3), $90,000,000 shall be available for research, development, test, and evaluation of non-man-rated space launch systems and technologies. Of that amount— (1) $30,000,000 shall be available for a competitive reusable rocket technology program; and (2) $60,000,000 shall be available for expendable launch vehicle technology development and acquisition, as appropriate. (e) Transfer of Funds.— The Secretary of Defense shall, to the extent provided in appropriations Acts, transfer to the Department of the Air Force the unobligated balance of funds appropriated for fiscal year 1994 to the Department of Defense for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for single-stage to orbit rocket research and development. (f) Program Plan.— The Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall develop a plan to coordinate the programs of the Department of Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for expendable and reusable rocket technology demonstrators and technology development. The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress the plan developed under this subsection. (g) Limitations.— (1) Funds authorized for appropriation in subsection (d)(1) may be obligated only— 108 STAT. 2692 (A) to the extent that the fiscal year 1995 current operating plan of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration allocates at least an equal amount for its Reusable Space Launch program; and (B) as specified in the program plan developed and submitted to Congress pursuant to subsection (f). (2) Not more than $30,000,000 of the funds authorized in subsection (d)(2) may be obligated until 30 days after the Secretary of Defense submits to Congress program plans, including objectives, milestones, future years defense program funding, and government-industry cost sharing considerations, as applicable.