# § 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.
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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3430; Pub. L. 115–10, title IV, § 415, Mar. 21, 2017, 131 Stat. 34.)
| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 70502 | 42 U.S.C. 16763. | Pub. L. 109–155, title V, § 503, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2929. |
## Editorial Notes
### Amendments
2017—Par. (2). amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “implement an exploration technology development program to enable lunar human and robotic operations consistent with , including surface power to use on the Moon and other locations;”.