NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026
Summary
The NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026 would provide authorization and direction for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration across multiple areas. The bill would strengthen human space exploration by supporting the Artemis program and continued development of the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft to return astronauts to the Moon and prepare for future Mars missions. It would also support the development of human-rated lunar landing capabilities and advanced spacesuit technologies. The bill passed committee on a 37-0 vote and is now eligible for a full House floor vote. If enacted, it would require presidential signature to become law. The bill would grow the commercial space economy by enabling NASA's transition to commercial low-Earth orbit platforms and supporting private sector space activities. Additionally, the legislation would invest in breakthrough technologies including advanced propulsion systems, deep-space communications, hypersonics, and next-generation flight systems. The bill would support scientific discovery missions, expand education programs to develop the next generation of space explorers, and direct NASA to conduct research on emerging aeronautics technologies and modernize aviation standards.