Ted Cruz (R-TX)
NASA Authorization Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 689.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill authorizes programs and funding for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It sets funding levels for various NASA mission directorates, including exploration, space operations, space technology, science, and aeronautics. The legislation outlines policies and requirements for space exploration, such as the Artemis program, lunar missions, and human-rated landing capabilities. It addresses the transition from the International Space Station to commercial low-Earth-orbit destinations and extends operations for the space station. Additionally, the bill covers provisions related to STEM education, planetary defense, aeronautics research, and oversight of agency activities.
Yes· 3 of 15
- Scored +10
Does this put more into space exploration?
The bill provides extensive authorization for the Artemis program, lunar landings, and deep space exploration.
- Scored +8
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill authorizes billions of dollars for diverse science, space, and aeronautics research missions.
- Scored +7
Would students be better off under this?
The bill heavily invests in STEM education, space grants, and technical outreach for students.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
How the text last changed
Reported to Senate (11/9/2026), compared with Introduced in Senate. Each change is on the Text tab.
The newer version of the bill changes the short title from the Transition Authorization Act of 2025 to the NASA Authorization Act of 2026. It updates the overall funding authorizations for NASA, setting the total authorized appropriation for fiscal year 2026 at $24,670,515,000 and adding authorizations for fiscal year 2027 of $25,287,277,875 across various directorates and offices. The text also extends the required operational period of the International Space Station by moving its expiration date from September 30, 2030, to September 30, 2032. Additionally, the revised version adds numerous new sections concerning exploration programs, space operations, technology, aeronautics, science portfolios, and administrative policies, including provisions for commercial low-Earth orbit destination procurements and lunar infrastructure development.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
STEM Education and Workforce Development: Section 405 and Section 406 support the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program and authorized skilled technical workforce education outreach. These programs provide hands-on learning opportunities and career exposure for students, helping to build a skilled domestic workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
-
Planetary Defense: Section 607 maintains and supports the Planetary Defense Coordination Office to survey, identify, track, and characterize potentially hazardous near-Earth objects. This provision helps protect people in the United States and globally by providing warnings and investigating mitigation strategies for potential asteroid impacts.
-
Emergency Response Operations: Section 509 allows the continuation of research and development activities under the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations project. This research aims to improve aerial responses to natural disasters like wildfires, benefiting public safety and local communities.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Risks Associated with Commercial Transition: Section 303 and Section 304 manage the transition of operations from the International Space Station to commercial providers and extend the station's operations. If commercial low-Earth-orbit destinations experience delays or technical failures before the station is de-orbited, it could potentially introduce risks of a gap in continuous United States human presence in space.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — The bill heavily invests in STEM education, space grants, and technical outreach for students. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill facilitates significant growth opportunities for commercial space and aeronautics providers. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill provides STEM and technical workforce opportunities that benefit young adults entering the workforce. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill includes provisions to consider benefits for underserved and rural areas through space grant consortia.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill fosters a commercial low-Earth orbit economy and stimulates various high-tech aeronautics and space sectors. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill expands the STEM and technical workforce through educational outreach and space-related economic opportunities. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill includes flexibility for SBIR Phase II programs to support small business innovation. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill addresses science mission cost caps to manage potential cost growth and budgetary impacts.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more into space exploration? — The bill provides extensive authorization for the Artemis program, lunar landings, and deep space exploration. Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill authorizes billions of dollars for diverse science, space, and aeronautics research missions.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill funds research for advanced capabilities in emergency response operations, specifically for wildfires. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — The bill supports research into hydrogen aviation, which is a clean energy technology.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates various reports and briefings to Congress to ensure transparency in NASA operations. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands NASA's authority over commercial space activities and public-private talent programs.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — The bill emphasizes international cooperation for lunar and station operations while maintaining US leadership.
A committee approved it and sent it to the floor
What changed from Introduced in Senate
The newer version of the bill changes the short title from the Transition Authorization Act of 2025 to the NASA Authorization Act of 2026. It updates the overall funding authorizations for NASA, setting the total authorized appropriation for fiscal year 2026 at $24,670,515,000 and adding authorizations for fiscal year 2027 of $25,287,277,875 across various directorates and offices. The text also extends the required operational period of the International Space Station by moving its expiration date from September 30, 2030, to September 30, 2032. Additionally, the revised version adds numerous new sections concerning exploration programs, space operations, technology, aeronautics, science portfolios, and administrative policies, including provisions for commercial low-Earth orbit destination procurements and lunar infrastructure development.
Each change
- Section 1: The short title of the Act changed from the Transition Authorization Act of 2025 to the NASA Authorization Act of 2026.
- Section 2: Definitions were renumbered, and new definitions were added for terms including "commercial lunar payload services program", "institution of higher education", and "commercial market estimates".
- Section 101: Total appropriations for fiscal year 2025 were removed and replaced with specific funding authorizations for fiscal year 2026 totaling $24,670,515,000, and new authorizations for fiscal year 2027 totaling $25,287,277,875 were added across NASA directorates and offices.
- Section 201: Added provisions requiring space weather research for exploration and the establishment of a robust process for collaboration and coordination across NASA mission directorates and the Moon to Mars Program Office regarding Mars exploration.
- Section 202: Added requirements for the Administrator to coordinate lunar science opportunities, engage with international partners through the Artemis Accords, and certify contract provisions for mission continuity.
- Section 203: Replaced the reaffirmation of the Space Launch System with findings on its performance, added provisions allowing the Administrator to identify and fund alternative technologies to replace the Exploration Upper Stage, and updated briefing requirements.
- Section 204: Reorganized human-rated lunar landing capabilities provisions, requiring the Administrator to submit a report assessing development milestones and use existing Human Landing Systems technology for Mars and deep space.
- Section 205: Added findings and requirements regarding single-provider vulnerabilities for spacesuits, permitted NASA development if commercial options are unavailable, and removed specific in-space testing briefing requirements.
- Sections 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, and 211: Added new provisions requiring briefings and plans regarding the Gateway outpost, Lunar Terrain Vehicle element, exploration ground systems, the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, the establishment of a Lunar Surface Moon Base, and engine testing capabilities at the Stennis Space Center.
- Section 301: Modified the low-Earth orbit policy to include uncrewed commercial platforms and updated waiver notifications.
- Section 302: Established the Commercial Low-Earth-Orbit Development Program, designated the Johnson Space Center as the lead center, and updated solicitation requirements and deadlines for commercial destinations.
- Section 303: Added provisions governing the managed transition of operations from the International Space Station to commercial destinations, vehicle certification, and de-orbit requirements.
- Section 304: Added findings and sense of Congress regarding International Space Station extension risks, and amended section 501(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 to extend the International Space Station operation date from September 30, 2030, to September 30, 2032.
- Section 305: Amended section 50111 of title 51, United States Code, to require semiannual low-Earth orbit transition briefings.
- Section 306: Updated provisions for the transition to a commercially led low-Earth-orbit economy and removed the requirement for an annual low-Earth orbit transition plan report.
- Section 307: Clarified references to Federal law and NASA policies regarding nongovernmental missions on the International Space Station.
- Section 308: Added a requirement for a briefing on the costs, benefits, risks, and training requirements of launching United States Government personnel on commercial suborbital vehicles.
- Section 309: Added authority to develop an architecture for lunar communications and navigation, requiring a study and plan led by the Glenn Research Center.
- Sections 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, and 317: Added new reporting, planning, and program requirements regarding space communications upgrades, lunar time standardization, lunar surface power pilot programs, commercial lunar data acquisition, crew rescue capabilities, commercial launch services, executing the International Space Station science manifest, and cislunar human spaceflight safety standards.
- Title IV: The title heading was expanded to "SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND STEM EDUCATION", incorporating multiple sections previously housed under STEM education and adding provisions for Small Business Innovation Research reporting, space nuclear power and propulsion, the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, skilled technical workforce education outreach, active orbital debris remediation demonstrations, the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, and the Science, Space, and Technology Education Trust Fund.
- Section 501: Replaced definitions with findings and requirements regarding hypersonic research, including refurbishment of NASA hypersonic research tunnels.
- Section 502: Updated reporting requirements for advanced materials and manufacturing technology.
- Section 503: Moved and updated definitions for unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility.
- Section 504: Updated reporting requirements for hydrogen aviation research.
- Section 505: Updated briefing requirements for high-performance chase aircraft and Department of Defense asset sharing.
- Sections 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, and 511: Added new provisions concerning the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration project, a study on modernizing the T-38 flight trainer aircraft fleet, subsonic thin-wing flight technologies, advanced capabilities for airspace management, open-fan flight technologies, and authority regarding unmanned aircraft system identification and detection at NASA facilities.
- Section 601: Updated provisions on maintaining a balanced science portfolio in accordance with decadal surveys.
- Section 602: Updated requirements for the Comptroller General to report on NASA practices related to science mission cost caps.
- Section 603: Amended title 51, United States Code, to mandate decadal surveys every 10 years and require mid-decadal reviews.
- Sections 604 and 605: Updated reporting requirements for the Landsat mission and established the Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program within the Earth Science Division.
- Section 606: Reaffirmed planetary science mission priorities based on the 2023–2032 decadal survey.
- Section 607: Updated provisions regarding near-Earth object policies and codified the Planetary Defense Coordination Office within the Planetary Science Division.
- Section 608: Updated provisions for the Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program.
- Section 609: Replaced provisions on commercial lunar payload services with a new plan for planetary and lunar operations.
- Section 610: Terminated the existing Mars Sample Return program and established a new restructured program with an $8,000,000,000 total life-cycle cost cap and management plan requirements.
- Sections 611 through 623: Added and updated provisions regarding heliophysics research, the Geospace Dynamics Constellation mission, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, an Apophis science mission plan, a plan to launch the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, a dedicated science rideshare pilot program, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Great Observatories Mission and Technology Maturation project, flight opportunities, annual reports on the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes, Earth science data, astrophysical observatories and national high-energy astrophysics hubs, and studies on Mars-focused missions using commercial heavy-lift systems.
- Title VII (formerly Title VIII): Renamed to "POLICY", removed provisions concerning other transaction prototype project authorities for production contracts and drinking water well replacement for Chincoteague, Virginia, and added numerous new sections regarding the NASA Advisory Council, relationships and restrictions with the People's Republic of China, physical security modernization, NASA agreements with commercial entities and State governments, aerospace infrastructure modernization, enhanced use leases, NASA supplemental lease authority, redaction justifications, commercial activity at the Wallops Flight Facility, continuity of purpose for NASA activities, transmission of data and timely responses to Congress, contracting flexibility and transparency, the reinstatement of the Chief Scientist, Chief Economist, and Chief Technologist positions, reporting on indemnification frameworks for space nuclear technologies, confidentiality of medical quality assurance records, reports to Congress, Department of Defense collaboration, and space cooperation with Taiwan.
Written by an AI model from a comparison of this version’s text with the one before it, not by a person. .
- 11/9/2026
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-156.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 689.
- 3/4/2026
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 3/11/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Maria CantwellDemocrat · Washington
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Jerry MoranRepublican · Kansas
Gary PetersDemocrat · Michigan
Eric SchmittRepublican · Missouri