[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7273 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7273
To reauthorize the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 30, 2026
Mr. Babin (for himself, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Haridopolos, and Mrs. Foushee)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``NASA
Reauthorization Act of 2026''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
Sec. 101. Fiscal year 2026.
TITLE II--EXPLORATION
Sec. 201. Continuity of purpose for space exploration.
Sec. 202. Artemis program.
Sec. 203. Reaffirmation of the Space Launch System.
Sec. 204. Human-rated lunar landing capabilities.
Sec. 205. Advanced spacesuit capabilities.
TITLE III--SPACE OPERATIONS
Subtitle A--Policy
Sec. 301. Report on continued United States presence in low-Earth
orbit.
Sec. 302. United States strategy for low-Earth orbit.
Sec. 303. Risk of losing access to low-Earth orbit.
Subtitle B--International Space Station
Sec. 311. International Space Station.
Sec. 312. Maintenance of service for International Space Station.
Sec. 313. Nongovernmental human missions on the International Space
Station.
Sec. 314. United States deorbit capabilities.
Subtitle C--Future Activities and Other Provisions
Sec. 321. Commercial low-Earth orbit development.
Sec. 322. Report on suborbital crew missions.
Sec. 323. Orbital debris research and development.
Sec. 324. Lunar communications and navigation.
Sec. 325. Celestial time standardization.
TITLE IV--SPACE TECHNOLOGY
Sec. 401. SBIR phase II flexibility.
Sec. 402. Lunar power purchase agreement feasibility study.
Sec. 403. Cryogenic fluid valve technology review.
TITLE V--AERONAUTICS
Sec. 501. Definitions.
Sec. 502. Experimental aircraft demonstrations.
Sec. 503. Hypersonics research.
Sec. 504. Advanced materials and manufacturing technology.
Sec. 505. Unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility.
Sec. 506. Advanced capabilities for emergency response operations.
Sec. 507. Hydrogen aviation.
Sec. 508. High-performance chase aircraft.
Sec. 509. Collaboration with academia.
Sec. 510. Decadal survey for national aeronautics research.
Sec. 511. Making advancements in commercial hypersonics.
TITLE VI--SCIENCE
Sec. 601. Maintaining a balanced science portfolio.
Sec. 602. Implementation of science mission cost-caps.
Sec. 603. Reexamination of decadal surveys.
Sec. 604. Landsat.
Sec. 605. Private earth observation data.
Sec. 606. Commercial satellite data.
Sec. 607. NASA data for agricultural applications.
Sec. 608. Planetary science portfolio.
Sec. 609. Planetary defense.
Sec. 610. Lunar discovery and exploration.
Sec. 611. Commercial lunar payload services.
Sec. 612. Planetary and lunar operations.
Sec. 613. Mars sample return.
Sec. 614. Hubble space telescope servicing.
Sec. 615. Great observatories mission and technology maturation.
Sec. 616. Nancy Grace Roman space telescope.
Sec. 617. Heliophysics research.
Sec. 618. Study on commercial space weather data.
Sec. 619. Geospace dynamics constellation.
Sec. 620. Technology development for wildland fire science, management,
and mitigation.
Sec. 621. Implementation of recommendations by the National Wildland
Fire Management and Mitigation Commission.
TITLE VII--STEM EDUCATION
Sec. 701. National space grant college and fellowship program.
Sec. 702. Skilled technical workforce education outreach.
TITLE VIII--POLICY OF NASA
Sec. 801. Major programs.
Sec. 802. NASA advisory council.
Sec. 803. NASA assessment of early cost estimates.
Sec. 804. Independent cost estimate.
Sec. 805. Authorization for the transfer to NASA of funds from other
agencies for scientific or engineering
research or education.
Sec. 806. Report on merits and options for establishing an institute
relating to space resources.
Sec. 807. Reports to Congress.
Sec. 808. Contract flexibility.
Sec. 809. GAO report.
Sec. 810. NASA public-private talent program.
Sec. 811. Report on Space Act agreements.
Sec. 812. Mentoring.
Sec. 813. Restriction on Federal funds relating to certain space and
scientific activities of the People's
Republic of China.
Sec. 814. Rule of construction.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
of the House of Representatives.
(3) Cislunar space.--The term ``cislunar space'' means the
region of space beyond low-Earth orbit out to and including the
region around the surface of the Moon.
(4) Commercial provider.--The term ``commercial provider''
means any person providing space services or space-related
capabilities, primary control of which is held by persons other
than the Federal Government, a State or local government, or a
foreign government.
(5) Deep space.--The term ``deep space'' means the region
of space beyond low-Earth orbit, which includes cislunar space.
(6) ISS.--The term ``ISS'' means the International Space
Station.
(7) NASA.--The term ``NASA'' means the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration.
(8) Orion.--The term ``Orion'' means the multipurpose crew
vehicle described under section 303 of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C.
18323).
(9) Space launch system.--The term ``Space Launch System''
means the Space Launch System authorized under section 302 of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization
Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18322).
TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
SEC. 101. FISCAL YEAR 2026.
For fiscal year 2026, there are authorized to be appropriated to
NASA $24,438,336,000, as follows:
(1) For Exploration, $7,783,000,000.
(2) For Space Operations, $4,175,000,000.
(3) For Science, $7,250,000,000.
(4) For Aeronautics, $935,000,000.
(5) For Space Technology, $920,500,000.
(6) For Education, $143,000,000.
(7) For Safety, Security, and Mission Services,
$3,000,000,000.
(8) For Construction and Environmental Compliance and
Restoration, $185,336,000.
(9) For Inspector General, $46,500,000.
TITLE II--EXPLORATION
SEC. 201. CONTINUITY OF PURPOSE FOR SPACE EXPLORATION.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) NASA continues to make progress in developing and
testing the Space Launch System, Orion, and associated ground
systems, including through the successful completion of the
Artemis I mission in November 2022 and through continued
preparations for the Artemis II crewed flight demonstration
mission.
(2) The number of spacefaring countries is increasing, and
foreign countries have expanded activities for space
exploration efforts, including efforts to explore and utilize
the Moon through human and robotic missions.
(3) A strong and ambitious space exploration program
conducted with international and commercial partners is
important to maintaining United States leadership in space and
enhancing United States international competitiveness.
(4) Clear mission objectives that tie to concrete, long-
term programmatic goals provide a measure to ensure
accountability, enhance public support for exploration
missions, and provide a clear signal of commitment to both
international and domestic partners.
(b) Continuity of Existing Capabilities and Programs.--
(1) As part of the human exploration activities of the
Administration, including progress on Artemis missions and
activities, the Administrator shall continue development of
space exploration elements pursuant to section 10811 of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act
of 2022 (Public Law 117-167; 51 U.S.C. 20302).
(2) The Administrator shall leverage the private sector for
logistical services to the extent practical, consistent with
the Moon to Mars architecture requirements and in accordance
with section 50131 of title 51, United States Code.
(3) Congress reaffirms the sense of Congress to maintain
continuity of purpose as described in section 201 of the 2017
NASA Transition Authorization Act (Public Law 115-10; 131 Stat.
21).
SEC. 202. ARTEMIS PROGRAM.
(a) Sense of Congress.--The following is the sense of Congress:
(1) Exploration of outer space, including exploration of
the lunar surface and cislunar space, provides benefits and
economic opportunity, including by inspiring future generations
and expanding the science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics workforce needed to sustain United States
leadership in science, space, and technology.
(2) The lunar south pole is home to shadowed craters that
may contain water ice and other volatiles. Understanding the
nature of lunar polar volatiles, such as water ice, would
advance science related to the origin and evolution of
volatiles in the inner solar system and could facilitate the
long-term future of space exploration. Water ice lunar
resources have the potential to become an enabling component of
future space exploration missions throughout the solar system,
including crewed missions to Mars.
(3) Other countries have demonstrated technological
advances and successful robotic missions for lunar exploration
and have announced credible plans for long-term human
exploration of the Moon that include the intent to establish
lunar bases.
(4) United States leadership of and measurable progress on
the exploration of deep space is essential for guiding
development of norms related to operations on and around the
Moon and for other space destinations.
(5) It is in the national interest of the United States to
hold a leadership role in discussions of future norms governing
activities in space, including those on the lunar surface and
in cislunar space.
(b) In General.--In carrying out activities to enable Artemis
missions under the Moon to Mars Program set forth in section 10811 of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of
2022 (Public Law 117-167), the Administrator shall--
(1) use relevant elements set forth in section
10811(b)(2)(B) of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167);
(2) continue to ensure that the elements under paragraph
(1) enable the human exploration of Mars, consistent with
section 10811(b)(2)(C)(i) of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167);
(3) engage with international partners, as appropriate, in
a manner that is consistent with section 10811(b)(2)(C) the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act
of 2022 (Public Law 117-167), and that increases redundancy,
efficiency, and cost savings; and
(4) leverage capabilities provided by United States
commercial providers, as appropriate and practicable.
(c) United States Commercial Provider Capabilities in Support of
Lunar Exploration Efforts.--The Administrator may enter into agreements
with United States commercial providers or engage in public-private
partnerships to procure capabilities and services to support the human
exploration of the Moon or cislunar space.
SEC. 203. REAFFIRMATION OF THE SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM.
(a) Space Launch System.--
(1) Development and cadence objectives.--Congress
reaffirms--
(A) support for the full development of
capabilities of the Space Launch System as set forth in
section 302(c) of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C.
18322(c)); and
(B) its commitment to the flight rate of the
integrated Space Launch System and Orion crew vehicle
missions set forth in section 10812(b) of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act
of 2022 (Public Law 117-167; 51 U.S.C. 20301 note).
(2) Other uses.--The Administrator shall assess the demand
for the Space Launch System by entities other than NASA and
shall break out such demand according to the relevant Federal
agency or nongovernment sector. This assessment may--
(A) estimate cost and schedule savings from reduced
transit times and the potential for increased returns
enabled by the unique capabilities of the Space Launch
System;
(B) describe any barriers or challenges that could
impede use of the Space Launch System by entities other
than NASA; and
(C) identify potential actions and costs associated
with overcoming barriers and challenges described in
subparagraph (B).
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the following:
(1) NASA's progress towards achieving the flight rate
referred to in subsection (a)(1)(B) and the expected launch of
the integrated Space Launch System and Orion crew vehicle
missions after which such cadence shall be achieved.
(2) The results of the assessment conducted pursuant to
subsection (a)(2).
SEC. 204. HUMAN-RATED LUNAR LANDING CAPABILITIES.
(a) Reaffirmation.--Congress reaffirms that the Moon to Mars
program set forth in section 10811 of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167; 51
U.S.C. 20302 note.; 136 Stat. 1732) shall include human-rated lunar
landing systems.
(b) Human-Rated Lunar Landing Capabilities.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator shall carry out the
following:
(A) Support the development and demonstration of,
and shall obtain, human-rated lunar landing
capabilities, including lunar ascent capabilities, to
further the goals of the human exploration roadmap
under section 432 of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017
(Public Law 115-10; 51 U.S.C. 20302 note) and the Moon
to Mars Program set forth in section 10811 of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167).
(B) Ensure that such human-rated lunar landing
capabilities meet all relevant requirements, including
requirements of the Moon to Mars program, and for
human-rating and certification.
(C) Ensure any commercial provider from which the
Administrator obtains human-rated lunar landing
capabilities is a United States commercial provider.
(2) Implementation.--In carrying out paragraph (1)(A)--
(A) the Administrator may include uncrewed lunar
landing services; and
(B) the Administrator shall, subject to the
availability of appropriations for such purpose, seek
to obtain such capabilities from not fewer than two
commercial providers.
(c) Report.--The Administrator shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress the following:
(1) Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, a report--
(A) identifying the contribution over the past five
years, and the planned contribution for 2026 through
2030, of government personnel, expertise, technologies
and infrastructure utilized and to be utilized in
support of design, development, or operation of human
lunar landing capabilities under this section; and
(B) setting forth details and the associated costs
of such government support, broken out according to the
areas of contribution specified in subparagraph (A), as
part of any development initiative for obtaining human
lunar landing capabilities.
(2) Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, a report that sets forth, for any agreement with a
United States commercial provider for human lunar landing
capabilities, the following:
(A) The total value of the agreement when awarded.
(B) If different from the amount in subparagraph
(A), the total value of the agreement as of the date of
the enactment of this Act, and an explanation for any
change in value, as well as an identification of
whether NASA or the commercial partner is responsible
for meeting the change in value.
(C) The dollar amount invested and to be invested
by the Administration, and the dollar amount inves