NASA Reauthorization Bill Introduced in the U.S. Senate
Would Provide $25.4 Billion in Funding for Fiscal Year 2025
A bipartisan group of six U.S. Senators has introduced the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2024, which would provide the agency $25.4 billion in funding for Fiscal Year 2025. The legislation gives the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) clear guidance to keep aeronautics, space exploration, Earth and space science, and technology on a steady course to maintain American aerospace leadership.
"This bipartisan legislation brings stability and certainty to NASA and the entire U.S. space program."
Senator Ted Cruz, R-TX
The bill was brought to the senate by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Committee members Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
The NASA Reauthorization provides $25,477,540,000 in funding for FY25, including:
Exploration: $7,648,200,000
Space Operations: $4,473,500,000
Space Technology: $1,181,800,000
Science: $7,575,700,000
Aeronautics: $965,800,000
STEM Engagement: $143,500,000
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: $3,044,440,000
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: $424,100,000
Inspector General: $50,500,000
"This bipartisan legislation sets an ambitious course for America's space program, ensuring NASA's leadership from Earth's orbit to the Moon and Mars," said Sen. Cantwell. "With a $25.4 billion investment in exploration and innovation, we're creating extraordinary economic opportunities - Washington state alone has over 1,500 aerospace companies generating $4.6 billion in economic activity. Together with Ranking Member Cruz, Senators Sinema, Wicker, Luján, and Schmitt, we're charting a strong course for America's leadership in space exploration."
“The United States’ global leadership in space exploration and aeronautics innovation has brought extraordinary economic growth and job creation to Texas and elsewhere,” said Sen. Cruz. “Since its creation, NASA has been at the forefront of our national security, technological innovation, and economic prosperity. This bipartisan legislation brings stability and certainty to NASA and the entire U.S. space program, including NASA centers like Houston’s Johnson Space Center. I am proud to join Chairwoman Cantwell, Space Subcommittee Chairwoman Sinema, and Ranking Member Schmitt, and Senators Lujan and Wicker in introducing this important legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to advance a bold vision for our nation's science and space exploration efforts.”
The legislation directs NASA to continue the development of all space exploration elements under the Artemis Moon exploration program, to include use of private sector logistics support. The Artemis missions will bring American astronauts in orbit around the Moon in April 2026 and to the Moon’s lunar surface in mid-2027. It also supports maintaining safety and resiliency in lunar exploration through continued NASA support for at least two lunar landers. Lunar landers developed by commercial space companies will carry astronauts and cargo from the Moon’s orbit to the lunar surface and back.
In good news for the companies developing private space stations, the bill requires NASA to maintain a continuous U.S. human presence in Earth’s orbit through and beyond the life of the International Space Station, and directs the agency to use commercially-provided orbiting space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in orbit and transition to use of these commercial stations once the International Space Station reaches the end of its operational life.
The commercial space sector would also benefit from a requirement to continue the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to procure lunar payload delivery from commercial providers and to assess the agency’s future role in the commercial lunar delivery market. It also focuses on advanced communications, navigation capabilities and time synchronization standards to ensure well-coordinated activities on the lunar surface.