117 S933 IS: NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025 U.S. Senate 2025-03-11 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II119th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 933IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 11 (legislative day, March 10), 2025Mr. Cruz (for himself, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Moran, Mr. Peters, Mr. Schmitt, Mr. Luján, and Ms. Duckworth) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationA BILLTo authorize programs for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for fiscal year 2025, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title; table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025.(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 AppropriationsSec. 101. Authorization of NASA for fiscal year 2025.TITLE II—ExplorationSec. 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 OperationsSec. 301. Maximizing United States presence in low-Earth orbit.Sec. 302. Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Development Program.Sec. 303. Transition to a commercially led low-Earth orbit economy.Sec. 304. Nongovernmental missions on the International Space Station.Sec. 305. Brief on suborbital crew missions.Sec. 306. Lunar communications.Sec. 307. Celestial time standardization.TITLE IV—Space technologySec. 401. Space Technology Mission Directorate.Sec. 402. SBIR phase II flexibility.Sec. 403. Sense of Congress on cryogenic fluid valve technology review.TITLE V—AeronauticsSec. 501. Definitions.Sec. 502. Hypersonic research.Sec. 503. Advanced materials and manufacturing technology.Sec. 504. Unmanned aircraft system and advanced air mobility.Sec. 505. Advanced capabilities for emergency response operations.Sec. 506. Hydrogen aviation.Sec. 507. High-performance chase aircraft.Sec. 508. Collaboration with academia.TITLE VI—ScienceSec. 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. Commercial satellite data.Sec. 606. Planetary science portfolio.Sec. 607. Planetary defense.Sec. 608. Lunar discovery and exploration.Sec. 609. Commercial lunar payload services.Sec. 610. Planetary and lunar operations.Sec. 611. Mars sample return.Sec. 612. Heliophysics research.Sec. 613. Geospace dynamics constellation.Sec. 614. Nancy Grace Roman Telescope.Sec. 615. Chandra X-ray Observatory.TITLE VII—STEM EducationSec. 701. National space grant college and fellowship program.Sec. 702. Skilled technical workforce education outreach.TITLE VIII—NASA policySec. 801. NASA advisory council.Sec. 802. NASA assessment of early cost estimates.Sec. 803. Authority for production contracts following other transaction prototype projects.Sec. 804. Role of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in commercial space activities.Sec. 805. Restriction on Federal funds relating to certain Chinese space and scientific activities.Sec. 806. Findings relating to contract flexibility.Sec. 807. GAO report.Sec. 808. NASA public-private talent program.Sec. 809. Mentoring.Sec. 810. Drinking water well replacement for Chincoteague, Virginia.Sec. 811. Passenger carrier use for astronaut transportation.Sec. 812. Rule of construction.

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)

Continuous human presence; continuous presence

The terms continuous human presence and continuous presence mean the maintenance by the United States of the presence, in low-Earth orbit on 1 or more space stations on a permanent, on-going basis, of not fewer than—(A)1 government astronaut; or(B)1 astronaut sponsored by the United States Government. (6)

Deep space

The term deep space means the region of space beyond low-Earth orbit that includes cislunar space.(7)

Government astronaut

The term government astronaut has the meaning given such term in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code.(8)

ISS

The term ISS means the International Space Station.(9)

Low-earth orbit

The term low-Earth orbit means the area encompassing Earth-centered orbits at an altitude not more than 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers).(10)

NASA

The term NASA means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.(11)

Orion

The term Orion means the multipurpose crew vehicle described in section 303 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18323).(12)

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).