logistical, and operational responsibilities asso-
ciated with the deorbit capability. 
(B) FURTHER
REPORTS.—The Adminis-
trator shall annually submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report, to accompany 
the President’s budget request, containing a de-
scription of the annual and cumulative lifecycle 
expenditures for the preceding year on activities 
related to the deorbit of the ISS and how such 
costs are shared among the ISS partners. 
Subtitle C—Future Activities and 
Other Provisions 
SEC. 321. COMMERCIAL LOW-EARTH ORBIT DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator is authorized 
to enter into agreements with one or more United States 
commercial providers to enable the development and cer-
tification of, and procure capabilities related to, a United 
States private, low-Earth orbit platform or platforms, and 
to use such platform or platforms and related capabilities 
to— 
(1) further the strategy under section 302(a); 
(2) sustain the priorities described in section 
10816 of the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 
117–167; 51 U.S.C. 70901 note) and the activities 
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under the Human Exploration Roadmap pursuant to 
section 432(b)(2)(J) of the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration Transition Authorization 
Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–10); and 
(3) satisfy the requirements described in section 
302(b). 
(b) ANCHOR TENANCY.—Not later than November 
15, 2026, the Administrator shall provide to the appro-
priate committees of Congress the following: 
(1) The results of a survey and assessment of 
the market for capabilities and services that may be 
provided through future United States commercial 
low-Earth orbit platforms that shall be prepared by 
an independent entity with appropriate expertise. 
(2) A detailed justification of compliance with 
section 30301 of title 51, United States Code. 
(3) A detailed certification and justification of 
compliance with section 50503 of title 51, United 
States Code. 
(c) USE OF UNITED STATES LAUNCH AND REENTRY 
SERVICES.—As a term of an agreement entered into under 
to subsection (a), the Administrator shall include a re-
quirement for the use of United States commercially-pro-
vided launch and reentry services to support all Adminis-
tration activities under the agreement, in accordance with 
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section 50131 of title 51, United States Code, as applica-
ble. 
(d) SAFETY.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the appropriate Committees of Congress a deter-
mination on the applicability of Administration human 
rating processes, certification, and requirements for plat-
forms used for services under this section and the cir-
cumstances and arrangements under which such proc-
esses, certification, and requirements would apply. 
SEC. 322. REPORT ON SUBORBITAL CREW MISSIONS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report on the costs, 
benefits, risks, training requirements, and policy or legal 
implications, including liability matters, of launching 
United States Government personnel on commercial sub-
orbital vehicles. 
SEC. 323. ORBITAL DEBRIS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that NASA’s research and development activities re-
lated to understanding and mitigating the hazards posed 
by orbital debris are critical to ensuring the continued safe 
operation of NASA missions, including the safety of hu-
mans living and working in space, and such activities fur-
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ther enable scientific and technological advances that can 
be leveraged by the broader space operations community 
to foster a sustainable space environment. 
(b) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.—The Adminis-
trator shall, to the extent practicable, conduct research 
and development to advance scientific understanding and 
technological capabilities related to orbital debris charac-
terization and mitigation. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the research 
and development described in subsection (b), the Adminis-
trator may consider activities that— 
(1) improve the characterization and modeling 
of the space environment, including the characteriza-
tion and modeling of objects of both natural and an-
thropogenic origins that cannot be directly charac-
terized by ground-based measurements; 
(2) leverage space weather research and devel-
opment elements within NASA’s Heliophysics pro-
gram, to the extent appropriate and in accordance 
with the priorities established in the most recent 
solar and space physics decadal survey; 
(3) support the application of relevant research, 
tools, and technologies to advance orbital debris 
characterization and mitigation and the transfer of 
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such research, tools, and technologies to stake-
holders, as appropriate and practicable; and 
(4) involve coordination with other relevant 
Federal entities that have a shared interest in tech-
nologies and research advanced under this section. 
SEC. 324. LUNAR COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Reliable communication and navigation ca-
pabilities are essential for sustainable human and 
robotic exploration of the Moon, Mars, and other 
deep space destinations. 
(2) Fostering the development of commercial 
capabilities can accelerate the deployment of lunar 
communication and navigation services that could 
support the Artemis program, and the Moon to Mars 
program. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION.—The Administrator is author-
ized to ensure the availability of a robust and resilient 
lunar communications and navigation architecture that 
will support NASA’s human and robotic lunar exploration 
activities and requirements. 
(c) STUDY AND PLAN.—To inform the development 
in subsection (a), the Administrator shall develop a study 
and prepare a plan to— 
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(1) ensure the availability of interoperable com-
munication and navigation services for NASA mis-
sions on the lunar surface and in cislunar space; 
(2) coordinate with the private sector, other 
Federal agencies, and, as appropriate, international 
partners, to establish technical standards in accord-
ance with section 12(d) of the National Technology 
Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (Public Law 
104–113), protocols, and interface requirements for 
lunar communications and navigation services and 
systems, including relevant information technology 
and cybersecurity standards and practices; 
(3) support NASA lunar activities; 
(4) leverage NASA’s space technology research, 
development, and demonstration activities related to 
space communications and navigation; and 
(5) evaluate the opportunities, benefits, feasi-
bility, challenges, and possible risks of using com-
mercial cislunar communication and navigation serv-
ices, as appropriate, by United States commercial 
providers. 
SEC. 325. CELESTIAL TIME STANDARDIZATION. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
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(1) United States leadership of a sustained 
presence on the Moon and in deep space exploration 
is important for advancing science, exploration, com-
mercial growth, and international partnership; 
(2) the Artemis and Moon to Mars programs of 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA) will involve governmental, commercial, aca-
demic, and international partners where there is a 
need for interoperability between systems; 
(3) the use of Coordinated Universal Time has 
challenges when used beyond Earth at other celestial 
bodies, due to relativistic effects; 
(4) the United States should lead in developing 
time standardization for the Moon and other celes-
tial bodies other than Earth to support interoper-
ability and safe and sustainable operations; and 
(5) development of such standardization will ad-
vance United States leadership in standards setting 
for global competitiveness, and will benefit other 
spacefaring countries and entities. 
(b) DEVELOPMENT OF CELESTIAL TIME STANDARD-
IZATION.—The Administrator of NASA, in consultation 
with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy, shall carry out the following: 
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(1) Enable the development of celestial time 
standardization, including by leading the study and 
definition of a coordinated lunar time. 
(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 and international partners. 
(4) Incorporate the following features of a co-
ordinated lunar time, to the extent practicable, in 
the development of the strategy developed pursuant 
to paragraph (2): 
(A) Traceability to Coordinated Universal 
Time. 
(B) Accuracy sufficient to support preci-
sion navigation and science. 
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(C) Resilience to loss of contact with 
Earth. 
(D) Scalability to space environments be-
yond the Earth-Moon system. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of NASA 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
a report describing the strategy developed pursuant to 
subsection (b)(2), including relevant plans, timelines, and 
resources required for the implementation of a coordinated 
lunar time pursuant to such strategy. 
TITLE IV—SPACE TECHNOLOGY 
SEC. 401. SBIR PHASE II FLEXIBILITY. 
Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) 
is amended in subsection (cc) by striking ‘‘and the Depart-
ment of Education’’ and inserting ‘‘the Department of 
Education, and the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration’’. 
SEC. 402. LUNAR POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT FEASI-
BILITY STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator may enter into an 
arrangement with an independent entity with appropriate 
expertise to conduct a study evaluating the feasibility of 
using power purchase agreements to facilitate the private 
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sector development and deployment of lunar surface power 
capabilities. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study conducted under sub-
section (a) may include the following: 
(1) An identification of facilities and technical 
capabilities needed to support lunar surface power 
production. 
(2) A description and assessment of the types 
and technical readiness of technologies that could be 
used to provide the United States with access to 
lunar surface power, and an estimated timeline of 
availability of such technologies. 
(3) A demand forecast for lunar surface power 
capabilities, including the following: 
(A) Forecasted demand of both govern-
mental and nongovernmental users. 
(B) To support the following: 
(i) Near-term exploration activities. 
(ii) Long-duration activities. 
(iii) Capabilities allowing activities 
throughout the lunar night. 
(4) An identification of lessons learned from 
Federal Government experience with power purchase 
agreements, including a description of any relevant 
Federal Government use of power purchase agree-
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ments, and a description of how such lessons learned 
could inform or be applied to future United States 
lunar power purchase agreements. 
(5) Potential policy and legal issues associated 
with lunar power purchase agreements between pro-
viders and the United States Government, inter-
national partners, and other private sector entities. 
(c) COORDINATION.—In conducting the study under 
this section, the Administrator may consult with the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium. 
(2) The Department of Energy, the Depart-
ment of Commerce, and other Federal agencies, as 
determined appropriate by the Administrator. 
(3) International partners. 
(4) Relevant private sector entities. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 24 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
that describes the results of the study conducted pursuant 
to subsection (a). 
SEC. 403. CRYOGENIC FLUID VALVE TECHNOLOGY REVIEW. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that advancing cryogenic fluid valve technology 
would support the Administration’s efforts to improve 
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cryogenic fluid management and improve space vehicle re-
liability and efficiency. 
(b) TECHNOLOGY
AND RESEARCH REVIEW.—Not 
later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, subject to the availability of appropriations, the Ad-
ministrator shall enter into an agreement with an inde-
pendent research and development center or other inde-
pendent nonprofit organization, as determined appropriate 
by the Administrator, to conduct a review of cryogenic 
fluid valve technology in accordance with this section. The 
organization shall review recent advances in technologies 
related to cryogenic fluid valve use in space applications 
and assess opportunities to improve cryogenic fluid valve 
technologies, including support for research and develop-
ment activities to advance materials engineering for cryo-
genic fluid valves. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the organization con-
ducting the review shall submit to the Administrator and 
the appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing 
the results of the review conducted under this section. 
TITLE V—AERONAUTICS 
SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
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(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 land-
ing, powered lift, nontraditional power systems, 
or autonomous technologies; 
(B) has a maximum takeoff weight of 
greater than 1,320 pounds; and 
(C) is not urban air mobility. 
(3) UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘‘un-
manned aircraft’’ means an aircraft that is operated 
without the possibility of direct human intervention 
from within or on the aircraft. 
(4) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ means an unmanned 
aircraft and associated elements (including commu-
nication links and the components that control the 
unmanned aircraft) that are required for the oper-
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ator to operate safely and efficiently in the national 
airspace system. 
(5) URBAN AIR MOBILITY.—The term ‘‘urban 
air mobility’’ means the movement of passengers or 
property by air between 2 points in different cities 
or 2 points within the same city using an airworthy 
aircraft that— 
(A) has advanced technologies, such as dis-
tributed propulsion, vertical takeoff and land-
ing, powered lift, nontraditional power systems, 
or autonomous technologies; and 
(B) has a maximum takeoff weight of 
greater than 1,320 pounds. 
(6) 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 one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in con-
sultation with industry and academia, shall conduct a 
study of NASA’s administration of past and ongoing 
NASA experimental aircraft demonstrator projects. 
(b) FUTURE DEMONSTRATIONS.—The study under 
subsection (a) shall include an identification of flight re-
search activities, systems, capabilities, and technologies 
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that could be viable candidates for experimental aircraft 
demonstrator projects. Such activities, systems, capabili-
ties, and technologies may include technological advance-
ments related to structures, aerodynamics, propulsion, 
controls, and autonomous capabilities. The study shall in-
clude a description of criteria and performance metrics 
used to determine the readiness of an activity, system, ca-
pability, or technology for incorporation into an experi-
mental aircraft demonstrator project. 
(c) LESSONS LEARNED.—The study under subsection 
(a) also shall include an assessment of lessons learned 
from NASA’s administration of past and ongoing experi-
mental aircraft demonstration projects over the last dec-
ade, including the projects set forth under section 10831 
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Au-
thorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117–167). Such as-
sessment shall include— 
(1) a quantitative assessment of each experi-
mental aircraft demonstration project’s ability to 
meet cost, schedule and performance goals, as de-
fined at the time of project confirmation; 
(2) the extent to which each project’s objectives 
or performance goals were changed or descoped, and 
the rationale for such change or descoping; 
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(3) the extent to which the system, capability, 
or technology that was the subject of each project 
was matured as a result of its demonstration on an 
experimental aircraft demonstrator; and 
(4) the extent to which each project has con-
tributed, or is likely to contribute in the future, to 
advancing the capabilities of and innovation in the 
United States aircraft and aviation industries. 
SEC. 503. HYPERSONICS RESEARCH. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) basic and applied hypersonics research— 
(A) is critical for enabling the development 
of advanced high-speed aeronautical and space 
systems; and 
(B) can improve understanding of tech-
nical challenges related to high-speed and reus-
able vehicle technologies, including those related 
to propulsion, noise, advanced materials, and 
entry, descent, and landing operations; 
(2) investments in hypersonics research are 
critical to sustaining United States global leadership 
in space and aeronautics; and 
(3) NASA efforts to study hypersonics research 
should complement research supported by the De-
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partment of Defense and, when appropriate, be con-
ducted in partnership with universities and industry. 
(b) HYPERSONICS RESEARCH.—The Administrator, 
in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration and the Secretary of the Depart-
ment of Defense, and in consultation with industry and 
academia, shall continue to carry out basic and applied 
hypersonics research. 
(c) HYPERSONICS 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 hypersonics 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 Adminis-
trator may consider advancements in— 
(1) system level design, analysis, and validation 
of hypersonics aircraft technologies; 
(2) propulsion capabilities and technologies; 
(3) vehicle technologies, including vehicle flow 
physics and vehicle thermal management associated 
with aerodynamic heating; 
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(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 hypersonics research as de-
termined appropriate by the Administrator. 
(d) REPORT AND BRIEFING.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator 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 
subsection (c). 
SEC. 504. ADVANCED MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING 
TECHNOLOGY. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Adminis-
trator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress a report on the status of NASA activities pursuant 
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; re-
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lating to the advanced materials and manufacturing tech-
nology program and research partnerships, respectively), 
as well as other NASA activities. 
SEC. 505. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND ADVANCED 
AIR MOBILITY. 
(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that research and de-
velopment related to autonomous aviation is vital to en-
sure United States competitiveness as the National Air-
space System evolves from trajectory-based operations to 
collaborative and highly automated operations. 
(b) COLLABORATION.—The Administrator shall, in 
collaboration with the Administrator of Federal Aviation 
Administration, the heads of other relevant Federal agen-
cies, and appropriate representatives of academia and in-
dustry, continue its research on unmanned aircraft sys-
tems and advanced 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). 
SEC. 506. ADVANCED CAPABILITIES FOR EMERGENCY RE-
SPONSE OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall leverage 
NASA-developed tools and technologies to conduct re-
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search and development activities under the Advanced Ca-
pabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) 
project, or appropriate successor project or projects, to im-
prove 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 dur-
ing 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— 
(1) may coordinate and collaborate with other 
Federal, State, and local government agencies, re-
gional organizations, and commercial partners and 
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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 
unmanned aircraft system to conduct activities de-
scribed in this section if such unmanned aircraft sys-
tem is manufactured or assembled by a covered for-
eign entity. 
(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 
(B) notifies the appropriate committees of 
Congress not later than 30 days after a deter-
mination in the affirmative under subparagraph 
(A). 
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