(2) Develop a strategy to implement a coordi-
nated lunar time that would support future oper-
ations and infrastructure on and around the Moon. 
(3) In carrying out paragraphs (1) and (2)— 
(A) coordinate with relevant Federal enti-
ties, including the Department of Commerce, the 
Department of Defense, the Department of State, 
and the Department of Transportation; and 
(B) consult with— 
(i) relevant private sector entities; 
(ii) relevant academic entities; and 
(iii) relevant international standards 
setting bodies. 
(4) Incorporate the following features of a coordi-
nated lunar time, to the extent practicable, in the de-
velopment of the strategy developed pursuant to para-
graph (2): 
(A) Traceability to Coordinated Universal 
Time. 
(B) Accuracy sufficient to support precision 
navigation and science. 
(C) Resilience to loss of contact with Earth. 
(D) Scalability to space environments be-
yond the Earth-Moon system. 
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(c) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of NASA 
shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
a report describing the strategy developed pursuant to sub-
section (b)(2), including relevant plans, timelines, and re-
sources required for the implementation of a coordinated 
lunar time pursuant to such strategy. 
TITLE V—AERONAUTICS 
SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY; AAM.—The terms 
‘‘advanced air mobility’’ and ‘‘AAM’’ mean a trans-
portation system that is comprised of urban air mo-
bility and regional air mobility using manned or un-
manned aircraft. 
(2) REGIONAL
AIR
MOBILITY.—The term ‘‘re-
gional air mobility’’ means the movement of pas-
sengers or property by air between 2 points using an 
airworthy aircraft that— 
(A) has advanced technologies, such as dis-
tributed propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, 
powered lift, nontraditional power systems, or 
autonomous technologies; 
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(B) has a maximum takeoff weight of great-
er than 1,320 pounds; and 
(C) is not urban air mobility. 
(3) UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT
SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ has the meanings given 
such term in section 44801 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(4) URBAN AIR MOBILITY.—The term ‘‘urban air 
mobility’’ means the movement of passengers or prop-
erty by air between 2 points in different cities or 2 
points within the same city using an airworthy air-
craft that— 
(A) has advanced technologies, such as dis-
tributed propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, 
powered lift, nontraditional power systems, or 
autonomous technologies; and 
(B) has a maximum takeoff weight of great-
er than 1,320 pounds. 
(5) UTM.—The term ‘‘UTM’’ means an un-
manned aircraft system traffic management system or 
service. 
SEC. 502. EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT DEMONSTRATIONS. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consulta-
tion with industry and academia, shall conduct a study of 
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past and future administration of the experimental aircraft 
demonstrator projects. 
(b) FUTURE DEMONSTRATIONS.—The study under 
subsection (a) shall identify systems, capabilities, and tech-
nologies that could be viable candidates for maturation and 
demonstration through the development of an experimental 
aircraft demonstrator. Such systems, capabilities, and tech-
nologies may include technological advancements related to 
structures, aerodynamics, propulsion, controls, and autono-
mous capabilities. The study shall include a description of 
criteria and performance metrics used to determine the 
readiness of a system, capability, or technology to be dem-
onstrated on a future experimental aircraft demonstrator. 
(c) LESSONS LEARNED.—The study under subsection 
(a) also shall include an assessment of lessons learned from 
the Administration’s previous experimental aircraft dem-
onstration projects over the last decade, including the 
projects set forth under section 10831 of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
2022 (Public Law 117–167). This assessment shall in-
clude— 
(1) a quantitative assessment of each experi-
mental aircraft demonstration project’s ability to 
meet cost, schedule and performance goals, as defined 
at the time of project confirmation; 
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(2) the extent to which the project’s objectives or 
performance goals were changed or descoped; 
(3) the extent to which the system, capability, or 
technology that was the subject of the project was ma-
tured as a result of its demonstration on an experi-
mental aircraft demonstrator; and 
(4) the extent to which the project has contrib-
uted to advancing the capabilities of and innovation 
in the United States aircraft and aviation industries. 
SEC. 503. HYPERSONIC RESEARCH. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) basic and applied hypersonic research— 
(A) is critical for enabling the development 
of advanced high-speed aeronautical and space 
systems; and 
(B) can improve understanding of technical 
challenges related to high-speed and reusable ve-
hicle technologies, including those related to pro-
pulsion, noise, advanced materials, and entry, 
descent, and landing operations; 
(2) investments in hypersonic research are crit-
ical to sustaining United States global leadership in 
space and aeronautics; and 
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(3) NASA efforts to study hypersonic research 
should complement research supported by the Depart-
ment of Defense and, when appropriate, be conducted 
in partnership with universities and industry. 
(b) HYPERSONIC RESEARCH.—The Administrator, in 
coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration and the Secretary of the Department 
of Defense, and in consultation with industry and aca-
demia, shall continue to carry out basic and applied 
hypersonic research. 
(c) HYPERSONIC RESEARCH ROADMAP.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Secretary 
of the Department of Defense, and with industry and aca-
demic institutions, shall update the hypersonic research 
roadmap required under section 603 of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Transition Authoriza-
tion Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–10; 51 U.S.C. 20302 
note). In updating the research roadmap, the Administrator 
may consider advancements in— 
(1) system level design, analysis, and validation 
of hypersonic aircraft technologies; 
(2) propulsion capabilities and technologies; 
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(3) vehicle technologies to include vehicle flow 
physics and vehicle thermal management associated 
with aerodynamic heating; 
(4) advanced materials, including materials ca-
pable of withstanding high temperatures and dem-
onstrating durable materials, and efforts to create 
models and simulate use of such materials; and 
(5) other areas of hypersonic research as deter-
mined appropriate by the Administrator. 
(d) REPORT AND BRIEFING.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall— 
(1) transmit the updated research roadmap 
under subsection (c) to the appropriate committees of 
Congress; and 
(2) provide a briefing on the research conducted 
under subsection (b), including how such research 
aligns with the updated research roadmap under sub-
section (c). 
SEC. 504. ADVANCED MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING 
TECHNOLOGY. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a report to 
the appropriate committees of Congress on the status of 
NASA activities relating to section 10831(e), the Advanced 
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Materials and Manufacturing Technology Program, and 
section 10831(f), regarding relevant Research Partnerships, 
as set forth in the National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117–167). 
SEC. 505. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM AND ADVANCED 
AIR MOBILITY. 
(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that research and devel-
opment related to autonomous aviation is vital to ensure 
United States competitiveness as the National Airspace 
System evolves from trajectory-based operations to collabo-
rative and highly automated operations. 
(b) COLLABORATION.—The Administrator shall, in col-
laboration with the Administrator of Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration, the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, 
and appropriate representatives of academia and industry, 
continue its research on unmanned aircraft systems and ad-
vanced air mobility, including research related to UTM and 
autonomous capabilities, as practicable. 
(c) BRIEF.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief 
the appropriate committees of Congress on the progress of 
the research under subsection (b). 
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SEC. 506. ADVANCED CAPABILITIES FOR EMERGENCY RE-
SPONSE OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall leverage 
NASA-developed tools and technologies to conduct research 
and development activities under the Advanced Capabilities 
for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project, or 
appropriate successor project or projects, to improve aerial 
responses to wildfires. 
(b) GOALS.—The research and development activities 
conducted under subsection (a) may include the following: 
(1) Advanced aircraft technologies and airspace 
management efforts to assist in the management, 
deconfliction, and coordination of aerial assets during 
wildfire response efforts. 
(2) Information sharing and real-time data ex-
change for wildfire response teams. 
(3) Development of an interoperable platform to 
provide situational awareness of aerial assets during 
wildfire response. 
(4) Establishment of a multi-agency concept of 
operations, which may involve Federal, State, and 
local government agencies, to enable coordination of 
aerial activities for wildfire response. 
(c) COLLABORATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
Administrator— 
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(1) may coordinate and collaborate with other 
Federal, State, and local government agencies, re-
gional organizations, and commercial partners and 
academic institutions involved in wildfire manage-
ment; and 
(2) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 
consult with the heads of other Federal departments 
and agencies to avoid duplication of activities. 
(d) PROHIBITION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in this 
subsection, the Administrator may not procure an un-
manned aircraft system to conduct activities described 
in this section if such unmanned aircraft system is 
manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign enti-
ty. 
(2) EXEMPTION.—The Administrator may waive 
the prohibition under paragraph (1) on a case-by-case 
basis if the Administrator— 
(A) determines that the procurement of an 
unmanned aircraft system is— 
(i) in the national interest of the 
United States; and 
(ii) necessary for the sole purpose of 
improving aerial responses to wildfires; and 
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(B) notifies the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate not 
later than 30 days after a determination in the 
affirmative under subparagraph (A). 
(e) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter 
until December 31, 2029, the Administrator shall submit 
to the Committee on Science, Space and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report describ-
ing the activities, including results, carried out pursuant 
to this section 2. Each such report, at minimum, shall con-
tain the following: 
(1) A description of any research and develop-
ment activities. 
(2) A description of the Administrator’s activi-
ties pursuant to subsection (c). 
(3) An identification of any topics related to im-
provement of aerial responses to wildfires that could 
benefit from further research. 
(4) A description of any continuing efforts under 
this section. 
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(5) Any other information determined appro-
priate by the Administrator. 
(f) DEFINITION.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED FOREIGN ENTITY.—The term ‘‘cov-
ered foreign entity’’ has the meaning given such term 
in section 1832 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31). 
(2) UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT
SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 44801 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 507. HYDROGEN AVIATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations for such purpose, and taking into consideration 
the strategy developed under and research conducted pursu-
ant to section 1019 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 
(Public Law 118–63), the Administrator may carry out re-
search on emerging technologies related to hydrogen avia-
tion. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
findings of the research under subsection (a). 
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SEC. 508. HIGH-PERFORMANCE CHASE AIRCRAFT. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) NASA programs benefit from and rely upon 
high-performance chase aircraft for providing re-
search and mission support; and 
(2) NASA currently faces maintenance challenges 
related to its aging high-performance aircraft fleet, 
which is resulting in increased program costs. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act and biannually thereafter, the 
Administrator shall provide to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a briefing on the strategy of NASA relating to 
the following: 
(1) Collaboration with the Department of De-
fense on efforts for research and flight asset sharing 
to support NASA’s research mission support and pilot 
training requirements. 
(2) Efforts to seek aircraft parts and engines to 
keep NASA’s current fleet of chase aircraft oper-
ational, including potential use of 3D additive manu-
factured parts. 
(3) Strategies for acquiring or using through 
loan, sharing, or other agreements, as appropriate, 
Department of Defense aircraft to support NASA’s re-
search and mission support activities, as required. 
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SEC. 509. COLLABORATION WITH ACADEMIA. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) colleges and universities are hubs of research 
and innovation, with expertise in various fields of 
science and aeronautics; 
(2) collaborating with academia allows NASA to 
access cutting-edge research and expertise that can 
further enable advancements in aeronautics research 
and technology and address complex aeronautical 
challenges; 
(3) a cutting-edge civil aeronautics research and 
development program can inspire the next generation 
to pursue education and careers in science, tech-
nology, engineering, and mathematics, including aer-
onautics; and 
(4) opportunities for students to participate in 
NASA-supported academic research and development 
projects, such as the University Leadership Initiative, 
the University Students Research Challenge, and re-
lated aeronautic projects and competitions, contrib-
utes to training the next generation and developing 
the aeronautics workforce to support continued 
United States leadership and economic growth in 
civil aeronautics and aviation. 
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SEC. 510. NATIONAL STUDENT UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYS-
TEMS COMPETITION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall lead a na-
tional pilot program to carry out unmanned aircraft sys-
tems technology competitions for students at the high school 
and undergraduate level (in this section referred to as ‘‘com-
petitions’’) in which students shall compete to design, cre-
ate, and demonstrate an unmanned aircraft system. 
(b) COMPETITION ADMINISTRATION.—The Adminis-
trator shall award, on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis, 
a grant to a nonprofit organization, an institution of high-
er education, or a consortium thereof, to administer the 
pilot program under subsection (a) (in this section referred 
to as the ‘‘competition administrator’’). 
(c) AWARD CRITERIA.—The Administrator shall en-
sure that the award decision made under subsection (b) take 
into account the extent to which the eligible entity— 
(1) identifies a plan for engaging eligible institu-
tions from diverse geographic areas, including poor, 
rural, and Tribal communities; and 
(2) identifies a plan for connecting science, tech-
nology, engineering, and medicine (STEM) activities 
to Administration missions and centers. 
(d) COMPETITION
ADMINISTRATOR
RESPONSIBIL-
ITIES.—In carrying out the pilot program, the competition 
administrator shall be responsible for the following: 
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(1) Awarding grants to institutions of higher 
education or nonprofit organizations (or a consortium 
thereof) on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis to host 
individual competitions. 
(2) Developing STEM curriculum to be utilized 
by the competition awardees to help students make the 
connection to the design, construction, and dem-
onstration of unmanned aircraft systems. 
(3) Developing curriculum to assist students in 
making real-world connections to STEM content and 
educate students on the relevance and significance of 
STEM careers. 
(4) Ensuring competition awardees are sup-
porting the activities specified in subsection (f). 
(5) Conducting performance evaluations of com-
petitions, including data collection, on the following: 
(A) The number of students engaged. 
(B) Geographic and institutional diversity 
of participating schools and institutions of high-
er education. 
(6) Any other activities the Administrator finds 
necessary to ensure the competitions are successful. 
(e) ADDITIONAL
CONSIDERATIONS.—In awarding 
grants in subsection (d), the competition administrator 
shall consider applications that include a partnership with 
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that State’s space grant program under chapter 403 of title 
51, United States Code. 
(f) PERMITTED ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out the pilot 
program under subsection (a), the competition adminis-
trator shall ensure competitions occurring at both the high 
school and undergraduate levels— 
(1) allow students to design, construct, and dem-
onstrate an unmanned aircraft system; 
(2) allow students to compete with other teams 
in the performance of the constructed unmanned air-
craft system; 
(3) connect to relevant missions and NASA Cen-
ter activities of the Administration; 
(4) connect relevant STEM curriculum to the de-
sign, construction, and demonstration of unmanned 
aircraft systems; 
(5) support activities designed to help students 
make real-world connections to STEM content and 
educate students on the relevance and significance of 
STEM careers; 
(6) are geographically dispersed in order to serve 
a broad student population, including those in rural 
and underserved communities; and 
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(7) encourage, to the greatest extent practicable, 
the participation of students from groups historically 
underrepresented in STEM. 
(g) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than six months 
after the end of the pilot program under subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report describing the accomplishments, lessons 
learned, any challenges in the implementation of the pilot 
program, and recommendations for whether to continue the 
pilot program. 
(h) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘eligible in-
stitution’’ means— 
(1) an institution of higher education; 
(2) a nonprofit research institution; 
(3) a high school; or 
(4) a consortium of 2 or more entities described 
in any of paragraphs (1) through (3). 
SEC. 511. DECADAL SURVEY FOR NATIONAL AERONAUTICS 
RESEARCH AND PRIORITIES REVIEW. 
(a) FINDING.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Engaging the science and engineering com-
munities, along with industry, through the develop-
ment of a National Academies of Science, Engineer-
ing, and Medicine decadal survey in aeronautics re-
search and development can provide a science and en-
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gineering community consensus on key research and 
development priorities in national civil aeronautics 
programs. 
(2) A decadal survey entails a comprehensive re-
view of and strategy and priorities for civil national 
aeronautics research and development and prioritizes 
for the next decade. 
(3) A decadal survey for civil aeronautics re-
search and development can serve as a guiding frame-
work for strategic planning and resource allocation in 
the field of civil aeronautics for the coming decade. 
(b) STUDY.—The Administrator in consultation with 
the heads of other relevant Federal Government agencies 
and in accordance with section 20305 of title 51. United 
States Code, shall seek to enter into an arrangement with 
the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Med-
icine (in this section referred to as the ‘‘National Acad-
emies’’) to conduct a decadal survey of civil aeronautics re-
search and development for the 2025—2035 decade. The 
survey shall recommend research priorities to sustain 
United States leadership in civil aeronautics research and 
development and support a safe and sustainable future for 
aviation. The survey may also include recommendations re-
lated to the dissemination and transition of such research 
and development to the United States commercial aviation 
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and aircraft industries, to enabling innovation, and to en-
suring a world-class workforce for aeronautics research and 
development and related United States commercial indus-
tries and activities. 
(c) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the results 
of such survey, including any recommendations. 
SEC. 
512. 
MAKING 
ADVANCEMENTS 
IN 
COMMERCIAL 
HYPERSONICS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In conducting the hypersonics re-
search in section 40112(d) of title 51, United States Code, 
the Administrator may establish the Making Advancements 
in Commercial Hypersonics Program (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Program’’), which shall facilitate opportu-
nities for testing of high-speed aircraft and other tech-
nologies that advance scientific research and technology de-
velopment related to hypersonic aircraft. 
(b) LIMITATION.—The Program under subsection (a) 
shall not fund the development of technologies that are sup-
ported by such testing opportunities. 
(c) PLAN.—Not later than 60 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, acting through 
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the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, shall develop 
a strategic plan for activities under subsection (a) that 
aligns with the research roadmap under section 503 of this 
Act. 
(d) COORDINATION, CONSULTATION AND COLLABORA-
TION.— 
(1) The Administrator shall ensure coordination 
between the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate 
and other Mission Directorates, as appropriate, to 
identify technologies eligible for testing opportunities 
under the Program. 
(2) The Administrator shall consult and seek to 
collaborate with, as appropriate, with the Secretary of 
Defense and the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration on activities related to the Pro-
gram, including development, testing, and evaluation 
of high-speed aircraft and related technologies. 
(e) REPORT.—The Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress, and the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate— 
(1) not later than 80 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, a report that— 
(A) describes activities of the program es-
tablished under subsection (a); and 
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(B) includes the strategic plan produced 
under subsection (c); and 
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, and annually thereafter, a report 
describing progress in carrying out the program, in-
cluding the number and type of testing opportunities 
executed in the previous fiscal year and planned for 
the upcoming fiscal year. 
(f) RESEARCH SECURITY.—Nothing under this section 
authorizes the Administrator to develop, implement, or exe-
cute an agreement related to technologies under this section 
with any entity of concern, a foreign business entity, or 
a foreign country of concern. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) ENTITY OF CONCERN.—the term ‘‘entity of 
concern’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
10114 of the Research and Development, Competition, 
and Innovation Act (Public Law 117–167; 42 U.S.C. 
18912). 
(2) FOREIGN BUSINESS ENTITY.—The term ‘‘for-
eign business entity’’ means an entity that is major-
ity-owned or majority-controlled (as such term is de-
fined in section 800.208 of title 31, Code of Federal 
Regulations, or a successor regulation), or minority 
owned greater than 25 percent by— 
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