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This section directs the NASA Administrator to submit, within 180 days of enactment, updates to existing plans on space nuclear propulsion and power systems. The updates must address program status, near-term mission uses including commercial lunar payload services, in-space demonstration milestones in the late 2020s, a phased program for radioisotope systems with demonstrations by December 31, 2028 and 2030 and routine use by December 31, 2032, the Harmonia project timeline, fission surface power readiness by December 31, 2030, interagency and private sector engagement, and use of prior hardware. It also requires a lessons learned assessment from the joint NASA–DARPA DRACO program identifying technical, programmatic, and coordination failures and corrective actions.
This section requires the NASA Administrator to report within 120 days on projected lunar surface power demand for NASA human and robotic operations over the following 10 years. It authorizes NASA to conduct a feasibility study on power purchase agreements and to enter into agreements with at least two private entities using different technologies to procure lunar surface power, with no more than 10 percent of contract value paid before delivery, a four-year delivery deadline, and authority terminating October 1, 2030.
This section directs the NASA Administrator, in consultation with other agencies, to submit a report within 180 days to the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee reviewing existing indemnification frameworks and proposing new ones for commercial partners supporting NASA space nuclear activities. The report must evaluate current authorities, identify gaps for radioisotope power systems, fission surface power systems, and nuclear propulsion systems, assess solutions under existing statutes and regulations, and recommend legislative or regulatory changes, covering both government-sponsored and public-private partnership missions.