The act makes into law, and establishes milestones for, the United States Vision for Space Exploration (VSE).

Specifically it directs the NASA Administrator to develop a sustained human presence on the Moon with a lunar precursor program, and authorizes international collaborations in pursuit of these goals.

The NASA Administrator is directed to "strive to achieve" the following milestones: The act requires establishment of a policy to guide U.S. aeronautics research and development programs through 2020.

The act reiterates the Federal Government's interest in conducting research and development programs that: The act directs the Administrator to "detect, track, catalogue, and characterize the physical characteristics of near-Earth objects equal to or greater than 140 meters in diameter in order to assess the threat of such near-Earth objects to the Earth.

The act specifically mentions the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission, SIM-Planet Quest, and the "Future Explorers Program".