HR7273-119

What This Bill Does

The NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026 authorizes $24.438 billion for NASA for fiscal year 2026. The bill allocates funding across exploration, space operations, science, space technology, aeronautics, STEM engagement, safety and mission services, construction, and inspector general work. It then gives policy direction across NASA's major mission areas rather than simply setting a topline number.

For exploration, the bill reaffirms Artemis, Moon-to-Mars, Space Launch System, Orion, ground systems, commercial lunar landers, advanced spacesuits, and international and commercial partnerships. It requires NASA to maintain clear objectives, preserve SLS and Orion capabilities, use at least two human-rated lunar landing providers when practicable, and report on spacesuit and lunar lander progress. It also directs a low-Earth-orbit transition strategy, GAO reporting on U.S. objectives in low-Earth orbit, ISS service and crew transportation continuity, commercial low-Earth-orbit station development, and acquisition of ISS deorbit capabilities from U.S. commercial providers.

For technology and aeronautics, the bill supports lunar surface power purchase agreement analysis, cryogenic valve technology review, experimental aircraft demonstrations, hypersonics research, advanced materials and manufacturing, advanced air mobility, unmanned aircraft systems, NASA wildfire-response tools through ACERO, hydrogen aviation, high-performance chase aircraft, a civil aeronautics decadal survey, and a commercial hypersonics testing program. For science, it reaffirms balanced science portfolios, cost-cap discipline, Landsat continuity, commercial Earth observation data, commercial satellite data acquisition, agricultural applications of NASA data, planetary science, planetary defense, lunar science, Mars Sample Return, Hubble servicing studies, Great Observatories technology maturation, heliophysics, commercial space-weather data, wildland fire science, and National Wildland Fire Management Commission recommendations.

The bill also reforms the Space Grant program, supports skilled technical workforce outreach, requires GAO and independent cost-estimate oversight, allows transfers from other agencies for NASA research and education, requires reports on a space resources institute, standardizes NASA reports to Congress, creates a NASA public-private talent exchange program, requires Space Act agreement intellectual-property review, creates NASA-wide mentoring, and restricts NASA, OSTP, and the National Space Council from using funds for bilateral cooperation with the People's Republic of China or PRC-owned companies unless later law specifically authorizes it or required safety certification is made.

Who Benefits and How

NASA mission directorates benefit from a full-year authorization and detailed congressional support for exploration, operations, science, technology, aeronautics, STEM, and mission support. Artemis contractors benefit from continued SLS, Orion, ground systems, human lunar lander, and spacesuit direction. U.S. commercial space providers benefit from commercial low-Earth-orbit agreements, ISS deorbit capability acquisition, lunar payload services, lunar power studies, and commercial suborbital mission review. NASA science researchers benefit from balanced portfolios, decadal-survey alignment, cost-cap discipline, Landsat reporting, lunar science, planetary science, heliophysics, and Great Observatories technology maturation. Commercial Earth observation companies benefit from NASA and OSTP consideration of commercial data purchases. Wildfire response agencies benefit from ACERO technologies, Earth science projects, and wildfire-management implementation work. Space Grant consortia, students, and technical workforce trainees benefit from multi-year awards and STEM outreach. Congressional oversight committees benefit from more GAO reports, cost estimates, briefings, and NASA report routing.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Federal taxpayers bear the $24.438 billion authorization and any downstream contract, grant, and program costs. NASA program managers must produce strategies, studies, reports, cost estimates, acquisition plans, and coordination documents across exploration, low-Earth orbit, science, aeronautics, education, and oversight. GAO analysts must review low-Earth-orbit objectives, early cost estimates, fire and emergency services, Space Act agreement intellectual property, and other oversight topics. Non-U.S. commercial space providers lose opportunities where the bill requires United States commercial providers. PRC space agencies and PRC-owned companies are barred from NASA bilateral cooperation funded by the Act unless Congress later authorizes it or NASA, OSTP, or the National Space Council certifies no transfer or security risk. NASA procurement and legal staff must enforce domestic-provider requirements, China restrictions, reporting deadlines, and contract oversight.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes $24.438 billion for NASA for fiscal year 2026 across major mission accounts.
• Directs Artemis, Moon-to-Mars, Space Launch System, Orion, lunar landing, and spacesuit policy.
• Requires strategies and reports for continued U.S. presence in low-Earth orbit and ISS transition.
• Provides support for commercial low-Earth-orbit platforms and U.S. ISS deorbit capabilities.
• Authorizes studies and reviews on lunar power, cryogenic valves, suborbital crew missions, and orbital debris.
• Expands aeronautics work on experimental aircraft, hypersonics, advanced manufacturing, advanced air mobility, wildfire-response operations, hydrogen aviation, and chase aircraft.
• Establishes or strengthens commercial satellite data, agricultural data, planetary defense, lunar science, and wildland fire science activities.
• Provides Space Grant reforms and STEM technical workforce outreach.
• Requires GAO reviews, independent cost estimates, NASA report routing, Space Act agreement review, talent exchange, and mentoring.
• Restricts NASA-funded bilateral cooperation with PRC space entities unless later law or safety certification allows it.