51 U.S.C. § 70502: Exploration plan and programs

The Administrator shall—(1) construct an architecture and implementation plan for the Administration’s human exploration program that is not critically dependent on the achievement of milestones by fixed dates; (2) implement an exploration research and technology development program to enable human and robotic operations consistent with section 20302(b) of this title; (3) conduct an in-situ resource utilization technology program to develop the capability to use space resources to increase independence from Earth, and sustain exploration beyond low-Earth orbit; and (4) pursue aggressively automated rendezvous and docking capabilities that can support the International Space Station and other mission requirements.