Overview
- The Commerce Committee approved the NASA Authorization Act of 2026 unanimously, authorizing $24.7 billion for FY2026 and $25.3 billion for FY2027 and restoring the Chief Scientist, Chief Technologist, and Chief Economist roles.
- For the first time, the bill authorizes development of a permanent lunar base capable of long‑duration habitation as well as robotic and industrial operations.
- The legislation extends NASA’s authority to operate the International Space Station through September 30, 2032 and conditions deorbit on a commercial station proving a year of readiness, with immediate solicitations and at least two providers targeted for the next phase.
- The measure endorses NASA’s revised Artemis approach, forgoing the Exploration Upper Stage for SLS and seeking cost and complexity reductions through standardized Block 1 operations.
- Lawmakers direct termination of the prior Mars Sample Return program and require a rebooted effort capped at $8 billion using existing flight‑proven technologies.