S. 933 — NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025

This section authorizes appropriations for NASA for FY2025 totaling $25,507,540,000, allocated as follows: (1) $7,648,200,000 for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate; (2) $4,473,500,000 for the Space Operations Mission Directorate; (3) $1,181,800,000 for the Space Technology Mission Directorate; (4) $7,575,700,000 for the Science Mission Directorate; (5) $965,800,000 for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate; (6) $143,500,000 for the Office of STEM Engagement; (7) $3,044,440,000 for Safety, Security, and Mission Services; (8) $424,100,000 for Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration; and (9) $50,500,000 for the Inspector General.

This section makes congressional findings regarding NASA's progress on developing the Space Launch System, Orion, and associated ground systems—including the successful Artemis I mission in November 2022 and preparations for the Artemis II crewed mission—increasing international space exploration activities, the importance of U.S. leadership through partnerships with international and commercial entities, and the need for clear mission objectives to ensure accountability and support. It directs the NASA Administrator, as part of human exploration activities including Artemis missions, to (1) continue development of space exploration elements (i.e., a sustained human presence in cis-lunar space or on the Moon as a precursor to Mars) pursuant to 51 U.S.C. 20302; (2) leverage the private sector for logistical services to the extent practicable, consistent with Moon to Mars architecture requirements and 51 U.S.C. 50131; and (3) maintain continuity of purpose as described in section 201 of the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-10).

This section states congressional findings on the benefits of lunar and cislunar exploration, the strategic importance of lunar polar volatiles, competition from other countries, and U.S. leadership in space norms. The section directs the NASA Administrator, in carrying out Artemis missions under the Moon to Mars Program established by the 2022 NASA Authorization Act, to (1) use relevant elements specified in that Act; (2) ensure those elements enable human exploration of Mars; (3) engage international partners to increase redundancy, efficiency, and cost savings; and (4) leverage U.S. commercial providers as appropriate. The section further authorizes the Administrator to enter agreements or public-private partnerships with U.S. commercial providers for lunar and cislunar exploration capabilities and services.

This section reaffirms congressional support for the full development of Space Launch System (SLS) capabilities specified in 42 U.S.C. 18322(c)—including an initial core-element lift capacity of 70 to 100 tons to low-Earth orbit (LEO), a total capacity of 130 tons or more with an upper stage, and the ability to launch the Orion multipurpose crew vehicle—and commitment to the SLS and Orion mission flight rate established in section 10812(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-167). This section further directs the NASA Administrator to brief the appropriate congressional committees, not later than 180 days after enactment, on progress toward that flight rate and the expected launch mission after which the targeted cadence will be achieved.

This section reaffirms that NASA's Moon to Mars program includes human-rated lunar landing systems and directs the NASA Administrator to support the development, demonstration, and acquisition of such capabilities—which must meet all relevant Moon to Mars program requirements and human-rating and certification standards—from at least two U.S. commercial providers, subject to appropriations. (Thus, NASA may also procure uncrewed lunar landing services.)

This section directs the NASA Administrator to obtain advanced spacesuit capabilities from U.S. commercial providers to meet human spaceflight exploration goals, including maintaining NASA's internal expertise in spacesuit design, development, manufacture, and operation at the Johnson Space Center. It further requires a briefing to congressional committees within 180 days of enactment on NASA's plans for (1) in-space testing of advanced spacesuits on the International Space Station before its decommissioning; (2) transitioning from existing Extravehicular Mobility Units; (3) future use of advanced spacesuits by government astronauts on certified nongovernmental low-Earth orbit platforms; (4) disposition of retired Space Shuttle and International Space Station spacesuits; and (5) compliance with restrictions on anchor tenancies in new commercial space hardware (51 U.S.C. § 30301) and commercial space transportation development policy (51 U.S.C. § 50503).

This section states the sense of Congress on the importance of maintaining a continuous U.S. presence in low-Earth orbit (LEO)—including crewed and uncrewed capabilities to advance human space exploration, scientific discoveries, economic competitiveness, and commercial participation—and on supporting the International Space Station (ISS) until commercial LEO destinations achieve initial operating capability. It requires the NASA Administrator to maintain continuous human presence in LEO through and beyond the ISS's useful life; authorizes a Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Development Program to procure LEO services from U.S. commercial providers; and directs NASA to (1) maintain current ISS operational tempo—including average number and frequency of commercial crew and cargo flights, crew size, and research throughput—until commercial space stations can provide services, (2) then conduct a managed transition preserving those levels across the ISS and commercial stations, and (3) develop an ISS de-orbit vehicle while including annual reports on its costs and cost-sharing among partners in budget justification materials submitted pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1105(a). It further authorizes the Administrator to waive these requirements for safety reasons, with notification to specified congressional committees.

This section establishes the Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Development Program to provide a commercially supported follow-on capability to the International Space Station (ISS) and directs the NASA Administrator to use commercial low-Earth orbit destinations for continuous U.S. government crew presence to advance human space exploration, scientific discoveries, and U.S. economic competitiveness. The Administrator must issue a full and open competition solicitation for commercial low-Earth orbit destinations—including a requirements document by April 30, 2025, and a final request for proposals by September 30, 2025—and, by March 31, 2026, select two or more such destinations (subject to meritorious proposals and appropriations) with the goal of at least one achieving initial operational capability by December 31, 2030, capable of safe, efficient, reliable human presence and NASA services. (Thus, program funds support destination development.) The Administrator may not de-orbit the ISS until a selected commercial destination reaches initial operational capability per the managed transition in section 301(d)(2), unless waived due to ISS technical issues precluding safe operations or a commercial system demonstrating capacity for NASA missions including at least two mission-related flights.

This section declares the sense of Congress that transitioning from the International Space Station (ISS) to commercial low-Earth orbit (LEO) destinations serves U.S. national and economic security interests and directs the NASA Administrator to facilitate federal, international, and commercial partnerships—including through purchases of commercial LEO services—to build a private-sector-led LEO economy in which NASA is one of many customers. It authorizes the Administrator to support ISS and NASA activities that develop infrastructure, hardware, processes, capabilities, technologies, and personnel for commercial LEO destinations and a U.S.-led LEO economy. It permits ISS use, consistent with NASA's policies under 51 U.S.C. 20102, for such activities and for (1) science and technology research with commercial applications and (2) cost-reimbursable marketing and sponsorship of services and products. It revises the low-Earth orbit transition plan in 51 U.S.C. 50111(c) by striking the existing subsection and inserting new requirements for the Administrator, in coordination with the ISS management entity, commercial LEO and crew entities, ISS partners, and the scientific community, to develop a plan transitioning from NASA-sponsored operations to a model where the U.S. government is one of many customers of a nongovernmental LEO human spaceflight enterprise. Not later than April 1, 2025, and annually thereafter until ISS de-orbit and at least one commercial destination supports continuous human presence in LEO, the Administrator must brief the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on: (1) ISS service life evaluation through 2030, including extension costs, technical limits, and benefits; (2) barriers to LEO commercialization (e.g., policy, regulations, research security, intellectual property); (3) NASA steps to address those barriers; (4) de-orbit actions, costs, and status; (5) impacts on the Commercial LEO Development Program, Moon to Mars, and other exploration programs from any ISS extension beyond 2030; and (6) transition status, including procurement strategies, timelines for commercial destination capacity, milestones tied to ISS de-orbit, National Academies research objectives, and Commercial LEO Development Program management.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that nongovernmental missions involving crew or spaceflight participants on the International Space Station (ISS)—conducted pursuant to NASA policies and federal laws and regulations—can provide lessons learned to advance commercial human spaceflight, promote safety of future commercial low-Earth orbit platforms, and inform related policies. This section authorizes the NASA Administrator to enter into one or more agreements with U.S. commercial providers to conduct such missions on the ISS. In this section, the terms "crew" and "spaceflight participant" have the meanings given those terms in 51 U.S.C. §50902.

This section directs the Administrator to provide the appropriate congressional committees with a briefing, not later than 180 days after enactment, on the costs, benefits, risks, training requirements, and policy or legal implications—including liability—of launching U.S. government personnel on commercial suborbital vehicles.

This section authorizes the NASA Administrator to develop a robust and resilient architecture for lunar communications and navigation to support NASA's human and robotic lunar exploration activities. The section further directs the Administrator to conduct a study and develop a plan to inform that development that (1) enables interoperable communications and navigation services for cislunar missions (i.e., between Earth and the Moon); (2) establishes, with the private sector, other federal agencies, and international partners as appropriate, technical standards consistent with the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995, protocols, and interface requirements for such services and systems; (3) supports NASA lunar activities; (4) leverages NASA's space technology research, development, and demonstration activities related to space communications and navigation; and (5) evaluates opportunities, benefits, feasibility, and challenges of using commercial cislunar communication and navigation services provided by U.S. entities.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that U.S. leadership in developing celestial time standardization (i.e., a time scale for the Moon and other celestial bodies to address challenges with Coordinated Universal Time due to relativistic effects) is necessary to support NASA Artemis and Moon to Mars programs, interoperability among governmental, commercial, academic, and international partners, and U.S. global competitiveness. The section directs the NASA Administrator, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, to (1) lead the study and development of a definition for coordinated lunar time; (2) develop a strategy for its implementation to support lunar operations and infrastructure, incorporating features such as traceability to Coordinated Universal Time, sufficient accuracy for precision navigation and science, resilience to loss of Earth contact, and scalability beyond the Earth-Moon system; and (3) coordinate with specified federal agencies (Commerce, Defense, State, and Transportation) and consult relevant private sector, academic, and international entities. Finally, the section requires the Administrator to brief the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on the strategy, including plans, timelines, and resources, not later than two years after enactment of this Act.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that an independent Space Technology Mission Directorate is critical to developing technologies for NASA missions across science, aeronautics, and human exploration. The section directs the NASA Administrator to maintain such a directorate consistent with section 702 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-10; 51 U.S.C. 20301 note).

This section expands Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) phase II flexibility to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in addition to the Department of Education. (As background, SBIR phase II awards fund prototype development by small businesses; the flexibility in subsection (cc) permits specified agencies to issue sequential phase II awards or award phase II without an initial phase I from that agency.)

This section expresses the sense of Congress that advancing cryogenic fluid valve technology would support the Administration’s efforts to improve cryogenic fluid management and space vehicle reliability and efficiency.

This section establishes definitions for purposes of this title, including (1) advanced air mobility and AAM as a transportation system comprised of urban air mobility and regional air mobility using manned or unmanned aircraft; (2) regional air mobility as the movement of passengers or property by air between two points using an airworthy aircraft that has advanced technologies (e.g., distributed propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, powered lift, nontraditional power systems, or autonomous technologies), a maximum takeoff weight greater than 1,320 pounds, and is not urban air mobility; (3) unmanned aircraft system as having the meaning given the term in 49 U.S.C. §44801; and (4) urban air mobility as the movement of passengers or property by air between two points in different cities or within the same city using an airworthy aircraft that has advanced technologies (e.g., distributed propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, powered lift, nontraditional power systems, or autonomous technologies) and a maximum takeoff weight greater than 1,320 pounds.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that basic and applied hypersonic research is critical to advanced aeronautical and space systems, U.S. leadership in space and aeronautics, and should complement Department of Defense efforts while partnering with universities and industry. The section directs the NASA Administrator, in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and Secretary of Defense as appropriate and in consultation with industry and academia, to continue basic and applied hypersonic research. The section further requires the Administrator, not later than 180 days after enactment, to update the hypersonic research roadmap required under section 603 of the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-10); and, not later than one year after enactment, to submit the updated roadmap to the appropriate congressional committees and provide those committees a briefing on the research conducted, including its alignment with the roadmap.

This section directs the NASA Administrator to submit to the appropriate congressional committees (1) a report, not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, on the status of NASA activities relating to subsections (e) and (f) of section 10831 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167; 51 U.S.C. 40102 note); and (2) an update to that report, along with a briefing on the update, not later than two years after submission of the initial report.

This section directs the Administrator to continue research, as appropriate and necessary, on unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration Administrator, heads of other relevant federal agencies, and representatives of academia and industry.

This section authorizes the Administrator to continue research and development activities under the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project, or appropriate successor projects, to improve aerial responses to wildfires. It also directs the Administrator to brief the appropriate congressional committees on such activities within 180 days of enactment, including (1) topics needing further research, (2) collaboration with other federal agencies, (3) continuing efforts, and (4) other relevant information.

This section authorizes the Administrator, subject to the availability of appropriations, to carry out research on emerging technologies related to hydrogen aviation. The section also requires the Administrator to brief the appropriate congressional committees within 180 days of enactment on such ongoing research, including (1) any agencies with which NASA has partnered and (2) anticipated further actions and activities related to hydrogen aviation.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that NASA programs benefit from and rely on high-performance chase aircraft for research and mission support and that NASA faces maintenance challenges with its aging high-performance aircraft fleet resulting in increased program costs. It directs the NASA Administrator to provide briefings to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than 60 days after enactment and biannually thereafter, on NASA's strategies relating to (1) collaboration with the Department of Defense on research and flight asset sharing to support NASA's research mission support and pilot training requirements; (2) efforts to obtain aircraft parts and engines, including potential use of 3D additive manufactured parts, to keep NASA's current chase aircraft fleet operational; and (3) acquiring or using, through loan, sharing, or other agreements, Department of Defense aircraft to support NASA's research and mission support activities.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that colleges and universities, as hubs of research and innovation, should collaborate with NASA to access cutting-edge expertise for aeronautics research and technology; that such collaboration can inspire STEM careers, including in aeronautics; and that student opportunities in NASA-supported projects—such as the University Leadership Initiative, University Students Research Challenge, and National Space Grant College and Fellowship Project—help train the aeronautics workforce to support U.S. leadership and economic growth in civil aeronautics and aviation.

This section reaffirms the sense of Congress that a balanced and adequately funded NASA science portfolio—including research and analysis grants, technology development, suborbital activities, and small, medium, and large space missions—supports innovation and discovery and that the NASA Administrator should prioritize missions based on National Academies decadal surveys. It further reaffirms U.S. policy to ensure, to the extent practicable, a steady cadence of large, medium, and small science missions.

This section states the sense of Congress that NASA science missions, prioritized by National Academies decadal surveys, should balance ambition with cost discipline to avoid growth that disrupts the Science Mission Directorate portfolio, noting that early cost estimates are often unreliable per audits. It requires the NASA Administrator, to the maximum extent practicable and unless overwhelmingly necessary, to minimize changes to requirements, capabilities, and mission objectives under fixed-price contracts with commercial providers for such missions. It further directs the Comptroller General to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees within one year of enactment assessing NASA practices for cost caps on competitively selected, principal investigator-led science missions—including their appropriateness by mission class, historical exceedances since January 1, 2000, and impacts on the mission portfolio.

This section directs the NASA Administrator to submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, a report on (1) agency efforts to comply with the Landsat private sector preference policy under 51 U.S.C. 60134 (i.e., favoring private development of successor systems to Landsat 7 that meet U.S. civilian, national security, commercial, and foreign policy needs while maintaining data continuity); (2) aspects of Landsat NEXT or other Landsat observations that could be provided via private sector data buys or service procurements while meeting science requirements, maintaining or exceeding Landsat data quality, integrity, and 50-year continuity, and complying with nondiscriminatory data availability and public archiving requirements under 51 U.S.C. 60141 and 60142; (3) potential tradeoffs from such requirements that could reduce Landsat data benefits for scientific and applied uses or the federal government's ability to provide widest possible data access; and (4) recommendations to mitigate identified tradeoffs or facilitate private sector procurements.

This section establishes the Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program within NASA's Earth Science Division (adding new section 60307 to chapter 603 of title 51, U.S. Code), under which the Administrator shall acquire and disseminate cost-effective commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery—procured from U.S. vendors to the maximum extent practicable—to satisfy NASA's operational and scientific requirements and, as appropriate, those of other federal agencies and researchers, augmenting existing Earth observations. The program requires acquisition terms to consider data publication for scientific purposes or derived products; authorizes procurement from commercial vendors and license modifications for widest possible use beyond NASA-funded users; and mandates reports to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology not later than 180 days after enactment and annually thereafter, detailing agreements, end-use licenses, research advancements (including per National Academies decadal surveys), and permissions for use by federal employees, contractors, or non-federal users. (As background, the program formalizes NASA's successful 2017 Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Pilot Program, building on existing authority under 51 U.S.C. §50115 to acquire commercial data where cost-effective.)

This section expresses the sense of Congress that planetary science missions advance scientific understanding of the solar system and robotic spacecraft engineering and that maintaining balance across NASA's Discovery (small-cost), New Frontiers (medium-cost), and Flagship (large-cost) mission classes enables broad discoveries. It reaffirms prior statutory direction requiring NASA, to the greatest extent practicable and per the most recent Planetary Science Decadal Survey (i.e., National Academies priorities for planetary science), to complete such missions at the recommended cadence, with possible adjustments to priorities, schedule, or scope for budget changes while ensuring data continuity and technology development.

This section revises near-Earth object (NEO) policies under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18387(b)) to require the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), in coordination with the NASA Administrator, to maintain and regularly update a notification policy for federal agencies and emergency responders on NEO threats to public safety and to assign responsible agencies for U.S. protection and international coordination (previously, implement such a policy before September 30, 2012). It rewrites 51 U.S.C. 71103 to require the OSTP Director, in coordination with the NASA Administrator, to maintain and regularly update the NEO notification policy and recommend federal agencies responsible for (1) protecting the United States from an expected NEO-Earth collision and (2) implementing a deflection campaign with international consultation. The section codifies NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) within the Planetary Science Division (51 U.S.C. 71105)—previously directed by the NASA Authorization Act of 2022—to (1) survey NEO threats 140 meters or greater in diameter, (2) identify, track, and characterize potentially hazardous NEOs; issue impact warnings; and investigate mitigation strategies, and (3) assist government response planning; and it makes conforming changes to the table of contents for 51 U.S.C. chapter 711. (As background, NEO survey and deflection efforts aim to detect and mitigate asteroids or comets that could impact Earth and cause significant damage.)

This section establishes a lunar science program within NASA's Science Mission Directorate to accomplish Moon science objectives, with an organizational structure aligning responsibility, authority, and accountability as recommended by the most recent decadal survey for planetary science and astrobiology. The section directs the Science Mission Directorate, in consultation with the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate and Space Technology Mission Directorate, to define high-priority lunar science objectives—informed by decadal surveys and other scientific consensus—and related requirements for an integrated Artemis science strategy encompassing human and robotic Moon missions. The program must assess the need for and facilitate development of instrumentation supporting lunar scientific exploration.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that NASA's support for commercial lunar surface delivery services serves the national interest and that commercial providers benefit from an incremental approach using low-cost, noncritical instruments on small- and medium-size landers before larger landers. It authorizes NASA to continue the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to procure delivery services for NASA science payloads—and payloads from other mission directorates, as appropriate—from U.S. commercial providers. The section requires other mission directorates to fund their payloads and related delivery costs; directs the NASA Administrator to (1) conduct updated market research on the commercial lunar economy, (2) assess NASA's needs, role, and contributions in that market, (3) evaluate the task order approach's effectiveness in advancing commercial lunar delivery—including the appropriate number of providers—and recommend improvements, and (4) strengthen payload selection and related procedures to minimize post-contract changes; and requires coordination between mission directorates and the Moon to Mars Program.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that NASA's existing lunar and Martian orbital missions are operating beyond their planned lifespans, are relied upon for critical observations and communications, and that U.S. activities on and around the Moon and Mars will increase. It directs the NASA Administrator to develop a plan to ensure continuity of operations and sufficient observational and operational capabilities on and around the Moon and Mars to support science and human exploration programs, considering opportunities to engage private and international partners.

This section directs the NASA Administrator, subject to the availability of appropriations, to lead a Mars Sample Return program to enable the return to Earth of scientifically selected samples from the Mars surface for study in terrestrial laboratories, consistent with National Academies decadal surveys for planetary science. The section requires pursuit of the program on a timeline and in a manner that (1) sustains U.S. leadership in Mars scientific exploration, (2) capitalizes on U.S. industry and NASA capabilities to land and operate robotic spacecraft on Mars, and (3) maintains a balanced planetary science division portfolio without significant NASA budget increases. As soon as practicable and not later than 90 days after enactment, the Administrator must (1) transmit to appropriate congressional committees an acquisition plan and timeline—including a mission design and architecture, plus realistic cost and schedule estimates—to maximize scientific return; and (2) determine a path forward aligned with the NASA Mars Sample Return Strategy Review Team findings that considers alternative mission concepts, lower-cost methods, and an earlier sample return. Not later than one year after enactment, the Administrator must enter into firm fixed-price agreements with one or more U.S. industry partners to carry out the program.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that NASA heliophysics research advances understanding of the Sun and space weather, supports national security assets, energy infrastructure resilience, and human health in space, and requires the Heliophysics Division to maintain a balanced portfolio of research, technology development, missions, and suborbital projects informed by the most recent decadal survey in solar and space physics. The section directs the NASA Administrator to maintain a regular Explorer Announcement of Opportunity cadence alternating between small- and mid-sized missions and to enable regular selections of Missions of Opportunity.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that the Geospace Dynamics Constellation mission could enable scientific discoveries transforming understanding of the processes governing Earth's upper atmospheric dynamics and that commercial partnerships could benefit U.S. industry and citizens. It directs the NASA Administrator to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than 180 days after enactment, a report on the schedule and budget profile to launch the mission by the end of the decade in fulfillment of the heliophysics decadal survey recommendations.

This section directs the NASA Administrator to continue development of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope as specified in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022.

This section directs the NASA Administrator, to the greatest extent practicable, to take no action to reduce or preclude continuation of science operations for the Chandra X-ray Observatory (i.e., a telescope launched in 1999 to study high-energy regions of the universe) prior to completion and consideration of (1) the next triennial review of mission extensions for the astrophysics division under 51 U.S.C. §30504 and (2) NASA's ongoing operations paradigm change review.

This section revises the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program (i.e., a NASA program that funds consortia of colleges and universities in designated states, the District of Columbia, and territories to support space-related education, research, training, and public service) by (1) striking subsections (d) and (e) of 51 U.S.C. §40303; (2) requiring NASA to solicit and award multi-year grants or contracts, disbursed annually, to the lead institutions of space grant consortia in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico at the end of the FY2020-FY2024 award cycle; and (3) establishing new annual funding allocations under §40304(e), including equal amounts to each awarded consortium, not more than 10% for program administration (covering all NASA direct and indirect costs), and not more than 5% for grants to consortium lead institutions for innovative science and education initiatives aligned with NASA's missions. This section further directs NASA to arrange a multi-year analysis of the program's independent external reviews—evaluating management, accomplishments, the new equal funding allocation, responsiveness to statutory goals, benefits of partnerships with local education agencies (especially in underserved and rural areas), and any needed statutory updates—and to submit a report on the review to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology within 270 days of enactment.

This section authorizes the NASA Administrator to conduct or support STEM engagement activities focused on expanding opportunities for students to pursue skilled technical workforce occupations in space and aeronautics. In doing so, the Administrator must leverage existing NASA programs and may consider other federal programs and interagency initiatives, such as the Manufacturing USA program (i.e., a network of institutes that supports advanced manufacturing research, innovation, and workforce development). Such activities may include outreach to secondary and post-secondary students (e.g., at institutions of higher education, 2-year colleges, high schools, and vocational or career and technical education programs); exposure to and encouragement of careers requiring career and technical education; and hands-on learning opportunities related to the manufacturing, assembly, and testing of NASA-funded space and aeronautical systems (subject to workplace safety, mission needs, and protection of sensitive or proprietary technologies). Not later than one year after enactment, the Administrator must brief the appropriate congressional committees on activities conducted and planned under this section. The section defines "institution of higher education" and "skilled technical workforce."

This section temporarily requires the NASA Advisory Council—which provides independent advice to the NASA Administrator on agency programs and policies—to also provide such advice to Congress through September 30, 2028 (from only the Administrator thereafter).

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, a review of NASA's development, application, and assessment of early cost estimates made prior to preliminary design review for NASA missions. The review must include (1) an assessment of NASA processes related to the formation and evaluation of proposed and early-stage cost estimates; (2) an evaluation of NASA's monitoring and management of cost estimates throughout mission development, in accordance with section 10861(b)(4) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167); and (3) any recommendations the Comptroller General determines appropriate.

This section amends NASA general authorities under 51 U.S.C. 20113(e) to authorize follow-on production or service contracts without competitive procedures, notwithstanding 10 U.S.C. 2304, for participants in other transaction prototype projects if (1) competitive procedures were used to select prototype participants and (2) those participants performed successfully. Such transactions are treated as agency procurements for procurement ethics purposes under chapter 21 of title 41. (As background, other transactions provide NASA flexibility for prototype projects outside traditional Federal Acquisition Regulation processes.)

This section expresses the sense of Congress that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the commercial space sector complement each other in maintaining U.S. leadership in outer space activities, that NASA's role must be defined as private industry expands, and that NASA's human space flight expertise is vital for advancing commercial activities into Earth's orbit, to the lunar surface, and beyond. The section also directs the NASA Administrator to provide the appropriate congressional committees a briefing within 180 days of enactment on (1) NASA's current activities, including any personnel details, assisting the Departments of Commerce and Transportation, the Federal Communications Commission, or other agencies in regulating U.S. commercial space; (2) the NASA expertise most used in that support; and (3) expected future growth in NASA's related workload.

This section prohibits the obligation or expenditure of Federal funds authorized by this Act by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), or National Space Council (NSpC) (1) to develop, design, plan, promulgate, implement, or execute any bilateral policy, program, order, or contract to participate, collaborate, or coordinate with China or a Chinese-owned company unless specifically authorized by a law enacted after this Act, or (2) to host official Chinese visitors at NASA facilities or utilized facilities. The prohibition does not apply to activities certified by NASA, OSTP, or NSpC—after consultation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)—as posing no risk of transferring technology, data, or information with national security or economic security implications and involving no knowing interactions with U.S.-determined human rights violators. Such certifications, including the activity's purpose, agenda, major participants, location, and timing, must be submitted to the Senate Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Appropriations, the House Committees on Science, Space, and Technology and Appropriations, and the FBI at least 30 days prior to the activity.

This section finds that NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) clause 1852.242-72, Denied Access to NASA Facilities, authorizes contracting officers, during periods when such facilities are inaccessible to contractor employees, to (1) adjust contract performance or delivery schedules, (2) forego the work, (3) reschedule the work, or (4) consider requests for equitable adjustment.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, a report assessing fire and emergency services at NASA launch and reentry facilities as follows: (1) current capabilities and projected demands for NASA-provided fire and emergency services; (2) the impact on such demand from increased launch and reentry operations and increased leases with commercial providers for NASA property; (3) current fire and emergency services provided by commercial providers to support launch and reentry operations conducted to fulfill NASA contracts or for non-NASA purposes on NASA-leased property; and (4) whether NASA-provided and commercially provided services meet current and projected demands and support all fire response areas on NASA property.

This section establishes a public-private talent program for NASA (51 U.S.C. 20113(o)) that authorizes the temporary assignment of NASA employees to private sector entities, or private sector employees to NASA, for 90 days to two years (renewable up to a total of three years per NASA employee). Assignments require written agreements specifying a post-assignment NASA service obligation equal to twice the assignment length, repayment of assignment expenses for breach (absent good cause, subject to waiver), and prohibitions on improper use of predecisional NASA information; NASA must establish policies addressing agreements, criteria, oversight, inherently governmental functions, and ethics compliance. NASA employees on such assignments remain on detail as federal employees (with mission impact certification), while private sector employees receive no NASA pay but are deemed NASA employees for specified purposes (e.g., tort claims under 5 U.S.C. chs. 73 and 81; certain criminal statutes).

This section directs the NASA Administrator to provide the appropriate congressional committees with a briefing, not later than 180 days after enactment, on existing NASA-wide mentoring programs focused on ensuring a robust pipeline for the agency's civil servant workforce, including early-career, mid-level, and senior-level employees at all NASA centers and headquarters. As part of the briefing, the Administrator may consider consolidating such programs into a single unified employee development program.

This section authorizes the Administrator to enter into an agreement, for up to five years, with the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, to reimburse costs directly associated with developing a plan to remove drinking water wells on NASA-administered property—including three remaining wells—and to establish alternative wells on town-controlled property (via lease, ownership, or easement). The agreement must include, to the extent practicable, the wells' relocation site and estimated relocation costs (covering additional property acquisition or use, engineering, design, permitting, and construction); the Administrator must submit the agreement to the appropriate congressional committees within 18 months of enactment.

This section establishes authority for the NASA Administrator to use government-owned or leased passenger carriers (i.e., motor vehicles, aircraft, boats, or similar) to transport government astronauts and space flight participants between their residences and other locations for official post-mission purposes (i.e., medical research, monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment before medical clearance to drive a motor vehicle), notwithstanding the general prohibition in 31 U.S.C. 1344(a) on such residential transportation. The section requires written approval from the Chief of the Astronaut Office; permits NASA to maintain, operate, and repair the carriers; mandates reimbursement to the Treasury for international partner astronauts and non-government employee space flight participants; and directs NASA to issue implementing regulations.