Lunar communications

(a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Reliable communication and navigation capabilities are essential for sustainable human and robotic exploration of the Moon. (2) Fostering the development of commercial capabilities can accelerate the deployment of lunar communication and navigation services. (b) Authorization The Administrator is authorized to develop a robust and resilient architecture for lunar communications and navigation to support the Administration’s human and robotic lunar exploration activities. (c) Study and plan To inform the development described in subsection (b), the Administrator shall conduct a study and develop a plan— (1) to enable interoperable communications and navigation services for cislunar missions; (2) to work with the private sector, other Federal agencies, and, as appropriate, international partners to establish technical standards, consistent with section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (Public Law 104–113), protocols, and interface requirements for cislunar communications and navigation services and systems; (3) to support NASA lunar activities; (4) to leverage NASA’s space technology research, development, and demonstration activities related to space communications and navigation; and (5) to evaluate the opportunities, benefits, feasibility, and challenges of the potential use of commercial cislunar communication and navigation services, as appropriate, by United States commercial providers.