US Congress Introduces NASA Reauthorization Act To Fund Programs And Review Key Projects

The leadership of the House Science Committee has unveiled the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024, a bipartisan effort aimed at formally authorizing and funding several ongoing NASA programs.

Introduced on July 9, the act also directs the agency to provide detailed reports on various aspects of its operations, ranging from the usage of the Space Launch System (SLS) to potential servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope.

The bill authorizes $25.225 billion in funding for NASA for the fiscal year 2025. This figure is a middle ground between the Biden administration’s request of $25.384 billion and the $25.179 billion allocated by the House Appropriations Committee in their recent bill passed on the same day. The primary goal of the bill is to offer comprehensive support for NASA’s myriad programs and policy initiatives.

“It provides comprehensive support for significant advancements in human space exploration, prioritizing our ambitious missions to the moon, Mars and beyond,...The bill also tackles near-term priorities, including the significant operations of the International Space Station and the continuous development of scientific research and innovative technology.” - Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), Chair of the House Science Committee.

Lucas introduced the bill alongside the committee’s ranking member, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), and the chair and ranking member of the space subcommittee, Reps. Brian Babin (R-Texas) and Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.). This bipartisan cooperation is expected to facilitate the bill’s passage, in contrast to a commercial space policy bill that passed the committee last November along party lines but has yet to be considered by the full House.

Key Provisions and Programs

The NASA Reauthorization Act would formally authorize several key NASA activities already in progress. These include:

• Development of new spacesuits for both the International Space Station (ISS) and Artemis missions.

• An ISS deorbit vehicle to safely decommission the station at the end of its operational life.

• The Commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Destinations program, supporting the development of commercial space stations.

• The Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, facilitating lunar exploration missions via commercial payload delivery.

Mandated Reports and Reviews

The bill calls for numerous reports from NASA and other entities, such as the Government Accountability Office (GAO), to ensure accountability and transparency. Notable reports include:

• An assessment of non-NASA demand for the SLS.

• Studies on the development of the Human Landing System and potential alternative approaches if current efforts face cost and schedule challenges.

• A GAO review of NASA’s plans for “uninterrupted capability for human space flight and operations” during the transition from the ISS to commercial stations.

• An examination of whether current cost caps on NASA science missions are appropriate and how NASA has managed missions that have exceeded these caps.

• A report from NASA on recent studies about reboosting or servicing the Hubble Space Telescope.

• A joint NASA and NOAA study on commercial procurement of space weather data.

Support for Ongoing Missions and Reconsideration of Canceled Projects

The bill expresses support for the Chandra X-ray Observatory, addressing concerns from astronomers regarding potential budget cuts that could jeopardize its operations. It directs NASA to avoid any actions that could reduce or discontinue the Chandra's science operations before completing the next triennial review of extended missions in the Astrophysics division.

Additionally, the bill directs NASA to reconsider the GeoCarb mission, an Earth science project canceled in 2022 due to cost overruns and challenges in finding a suitable commercial satellite. Under the bill, NASA would reevaluate the completed GeoCarb instrument and explore potential launch opportunities as part of a broader strategy for monitoring greenhouse gases.

As the bill moves forward, it signifies a strong bipartisan commitment to maintaining and advancing the United States' leadership in space exploration, scientific research, and technology innovation.