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This bill directs NASA to set up a university-affiliated research center focused on deep-space and interplanetary work. The center would support NASA by funding studies and engineering help for missions beyond low Earth orbit, including cis-lunar and other deep-space efforts. It must be accountable for the technical quality of its work and be able to bring together universities, private companies, and other research groups to cooperate. NASA must also create clear policies for how the center will operate, how partners are chosen, and how contracts and awards are made.
- Purpose and activities: fund analyses and engineering support for cis-lunar, deep-space, and interplanetary missions to help NASA plan and execute those missions.
- Accountability and partnerships: the center must ensure high technical quality and be experienced at convening academic and private-sector teams to foster research and public–private collaboration.
- Rules and oversight: NASA will set policies for selecting participants, awarding cooperative agreements or contracts, when to use competitive versus sole-source awards, and what technical capabilities are required.
- Who can participate: eligible members include colleges and universities, operators of federally funded research and development centers, and nonprofit or not-for-profit research institutions.
Official Summaries
Space Research Innovation Act
This bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a university-affiliated research center to fund analyses and engineering support related to cislunar and deep space missions and interplanetary research. Entities eligible to participate in the center include institutions of higher education, operators of federally funded research and development centers, and nonprofit research institutions.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 108 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 108
To allow the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration to establish a research center for deep space and
interplanetary research, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Mr. Biggs of Arizona introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To allow the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration to establish a research center for deep space and
interplanetary research, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Space Research Innovation Act''.
SEC. 2. RESEARCH CENTER FOR DEEP-SPACE AND INTERPLANETARY RESEARCH.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, using the authority under section 3204(a)(3)(B)
of title 10, United States Code, shall--
(1) establish a university-affiliated research center to
facilitate capabilities in support of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration;
(2) use such a university-affiliated research center to
fund analyses and engineering support related to cis-lunar and
deep-space missions and interplanetary research; and
(3) ensure such a university-affiliated research center--
(A) is held accountable for the technical quality
of the work product developed under this section; and
(B) has established expertise in convening academic
and private sector groups to facilitate research and
private-public partnerships.
(b) Policies and Procedures.--The Administrator shall develop and
implement policies and procedures to govern, with respect to the
establishment of the university-affiliated research center under
subsection (a)--
(1) the selection of participants;
(2) the award of cooperative agreements or other contracts;
(3) the appropriate use of competitive awards and sole
source awards; and
(4) the technical capabilities required.
(c) Eligibility.--The following entities shall be eligible to
participate in a university-affiliated research center established
under subsection (a):
(1) An institution of higher education (as such term is
defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1002)).
(2) An operator of a federally funded research and
development center.
(3) A nonprofit or not-for-profit research institution.
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