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HR 966 101th Congress House Science, Technology, Communications Energy policy International control of nuclear power Launch vehicles Lunar flight Negotiations Nuclear fuels Nuclear power Space agreements Space exploration Space policy Space sciences Spacecraft U.S.S.R.

Ban Nuclear Power in Earth Orbit Act

Introduced: February 9, 1989 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 3, 1989
Executive Comment Requested from DOE.
Apr 3, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Procurement and Military Nuclear Systems.
Feb 21, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East.
Feb 21, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Arms Control, International Security and Science.
Feb 16, 1989
Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
Feb 14, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications.
Feb 9, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Feb 9, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
Feb 9, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Feb 9, 1989
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ban Nuclear Power in Earth Orbit Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress encouraging the President to call on the Soviet Union to abandon the use of nuclear power sources in Earth orbit and to join the United States in negotiation to establish a permanent ban on such use.

Directs the President to certify to the Congress at least 90 days after this Act's enactment whether the Soviet Union has indicated an official policy to abandon the use of nuclear power sources in Earth orbit. Prohibits the launch into Earth orbit of any U.S. owned or funded spacecraft if the President certifies the Soviet Union's policy to abandon the use in question. Terminates the prohibition if the Soviet Union places a nuclear power source into Earth orbit after indicating its official policy not to do so.

Declares that this Act does not prohibit the use of nuclear power sources for a Moon base or for deep space scientific and exploration missions.

What's happening now April 3, 1989

Executive Comment Requested from DOE.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 7
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Feb 9, 1989
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 966: Ban Nuclear Power in Earth Orbit Act. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-966/
MLA
"H.R. 966: Ban Nuclear Power in Earth Orbit Act." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-966/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 966, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-966/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 966: Ban Nuclear Power in Earth Orbit Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-966/)
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