Senate Commerce Committee advances NASA authorization bill
Posted: Sun, Mar 8, 2026, 9:35 AM ET (1335 GMT)
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced a NASA authorization bill that would implement some of NASA's proposed changes to Artemis. The committee approved by a voice vote Wednesday a bill allowing NASA to replace the Exploration Upper Stage planned for future versions of the Space Launch System with an alternative. NASA announced last week it planned to do this to "standardize" on an SLS design similar to the current Block 1. The bill would also authorize NASA to develop a lunar base, but with few details on cost and schedule. Other provisions of the bill include a two-year extension of the International Space Station's life to 2032 and a restructuring of the Mars Sample Return program. The bill did not include a rumored provision that would have limited any single launch company to no more than 50% of NASA launch contracts in any year.
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced a NASA authorization bill that would implement some of NASA's proposed changes to Artemis. The committee approved by a voice vote Wednesday a bill allowing NASA to replace the Exploration Upper Stage planned for future versions of the Space Launch System with an alternative. NASA announced last week it planned to do this to "standardize" on an SLS design similar to the current Block 1. The bill would also authorize NASA to develop a lunar base, but with few details on cost and schedule. Other provisions of the bill include a two-year extension of the International Space Station's life to 2032 and a restructuring of the Mars Sample Return program. The bill did not include a rumored provision that would have limited any single launch company to no more than 50% of NASA launch contracts in any year.
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