H.R. 8321 — Artemis Accords Authorization Act

This section states congressional findings on U.S. leadership in space exploration and technology development; the NASA-led Artemis program to return humans to the Moon and enable Mars missions; the 2020 introduction of the Artemis Accords with seven initial signatories; their expansion to 61 signatories; and their reinforcement of the Outer Space Treaty, Registration Convention, and Rescue and Return Agreement alongside norms for responsible civil space exploration.

This section states the policy of the United States (1) to promote the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, consistent with international law; (2) to strengthen international cooperation through the Artemis Accords as a framework for transparency, compatibility, and responsible behavior in space; (3) to maintain U.S. leadership in civil space exploration, scientific discovery, and commercial space development; (4) to support the development of norms and standards that ensure the safety, sustainability, and long-term viability of space activities; (5) to expand participation in the Artemis Accords among allies and partners, particularly in strategically significant regions; (6) to counter efforts by strategic competitors to shape space governance in ways that are inconsistent with democratic values, transparency, and the rule of law; and (7) to advance U.S. national security, economic competitiveness, and diplomatic engagement through sustained leadership in space exploration initiatives.

This section authorizes the Secretary of State to establish, carry out, and broaden the Artemis Accords, which set principles for safe, peaceful, transparent, and sustainable civil space exploration (as described in section 3). The section establishes a Special Coordinator for the Artemis Accords within the Department of State, appointed by the Secretary and reporting to the Assistant Secretary for Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. The Special Coordinator must (1) lead diplomatic efforts to expand participation in the Accords; (2) coordinate U.S. engagement with foreign governments, international organizations, and commercial partners on civil space cooperation; (3) support development of international norms for lunar activities, space resource extraction, and space traffic management; (4) coordinate with specified U.S. agencies, including NASA, the Departments of Commerce and Defense, and the Office of Space Commerce; (5) engage U.S. industry to advance public-private partnerships supporting NASA's Artemis program (i.e., human exploration of the Moon and Mars); and (6) advise the Department on aligning U.S. space leadership with foreign policy and national security objectives.

This section requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with the NASA Administrator, to submit to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations an annual report on the Artemis Accords (i.e., principles for international cooperation in civil space exploration with NASA) not later than 180 days after enactment and annually thereafter for four years, in unclassified form with a possible classified annex. The report must include (1) a list of participating countries and new signatories; (2) a description of U.S. diplomatic efforts to expand participation; (3) an assessment of participating countries' compliance with Artemis Accords principles; (4) a description of ongoing and planned cooperative activities for lunar exploration and other space missions; (5) an evaluation of the role of U.S. commercial entities in Artemis-related partnerships; (6) an assessment of challenges to international space cooperation, including geopolitical competition, regulatory barriers, and technological compatibility; (7) a description of efforts by China and Russia to influence global space governance and their impact on U.S. interests; and (8) recommendations to strengthen U.S. leadership in international space cooperation.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology is crucial for U.S. leadership in military and civil domains, serves as an anti-censorship and pro-free speech tool, has humanitarian potential to connect hundreds of millions to the internet and global economy, and should be promoted by U.S. government instruments. It directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and other agency heads as appropriate, to submit to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, within 180 days of enactment, a strategy for integrating LEO satellite technologies and high-altitude platform systems into U.S. foreign policy. The strategy must include plans to (1) use feasibility studies to promote LEO technology as connectivity; (2) offer loans, guarantees, insurance, or other financial products to help countries procure such technologies; (3) directly provide the technologies to countries when consistent with U.S. national interests; (4) regulate exports of controlled LEO technologies to maintain U.S. leadership and prevent misuse; and (5) impose restrictions on strategic competitors' alternatives. The strategy must be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.