Yesterday the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee Senator Ted Cruz released his “legislative directives for Senate Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill” which would add $9.995 billion in funding to NASA including the Lunar Gateway.
The Lunar Gateway would see $2.6 billion in funding restored “to fully fund the lunar space station known as Gateway, which is critical for establishing a sustained human presence at the Moon, as required by statute.”
The bill would also provide funding for the Space Launch System and Orion Crew Vehicle for two more missions, Artemis IV and V.
The International Space Station would also receive funding to “provide necessary funding for space operations to, from, and on the ISS to ensure an orderly transition from ISS to commercial platforms after 2030 and ensure there is no gap in American leadership in low-Earth orbit.”
Funding for science and other technology programs is not included.
There likely will be bipartisan support in the Senate for the bill which once agreed to would be sent back to the House.
The budget battle to restore some of NASA’s funding continues. And with the feud ongoing between Elon Musk and President Trump and the “big beautiful bill” running into more opposition, there could be room for compromise on the NASA budget front.
In Section _0005. Mars missions, Artemis missions, and Moon to Mars program of the reconciliation bill outlines funding the NASA funding as follows:
This section would provide $9.995 billion for fiscal year 2025 as supplemental funds for critical Mars-forward infrastructure, broader Moon-to-Mars program, and NASA’s Artemis missions. Of the amount appropriated under this section:
- Mars Telecommunications Orbiter – $700 million for the commercial procurement of a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter. This orbiter is dual-use for both a Mars Sample Return mission, to return core samples of Mars to Earth, and future manned Mars missions.
- Gateway – $2.6 billion to fully fund the lunar space station known as Gateway, which is critical for establishing a sustained human presence at the Moon, as required by statute.
- Space Launch System Rockets – $4.1 billion to fund two Space Launch System (SLS) rockets for the Artemis IV and V missions. The SLS is the only human-rated rocket available that can get humans to the Moon. Importantly, this funding would not preclude integrating new, commercial options if and when they become available.
- Orion Crew Vehicle – $20 million to fund the continued procurement of the fourth Orion multi-purpose crew vehicle for use with SLS for Artemis IV and reuse with subsequent Artemis Missions. Orion is the vehicle which will take astronauts to Gateway and return them safely to Earth.
- ISS – $1.25 billion for the International Space Station (ISS) operations over five years. This would provide necessary funding for space operations to, from, and on the ISS to ensure an orderly transition from ISS to commercial platforms after 2030 and ensure there is no gap in American leadership in low-Earth orbit.
- NASA Center Improvements – $1 billion for infrastructure improvements at manned spaceflight centers. Between deferred maintenance and delayed construction of new facilities, NASA’s infrastructure backlog across all centers is above $5 billion. The funds in this subsection would focus only on the manned spaceflight centers and on the infrastructure needed to beat China to Mars and the Moon. Specifically:
- John C. Stennis Space Center – $120 million for infrastructure repairs and upgrades. Stennis is the home of NASA’s rocket engine testing for the heavy-lift rocket engines necessary to get to deep space.
▪ John F. Kennedy Space Center – $250 million for infrastructure repairs. The Kennedy Space Center is NASA’s premier launch complex and from which every American astronaut has been sent to space.
▪ Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center – $300 million for infrastructure repairs and upgrades. JSC is home to mission control, the astronaut corps, and overall space operations.
▪ George C. Marshall Space Flight Center – $100 million for infrastructure repairs and upgrades. Marshall is NASA’s home for propulsion.
▪ Michoud Assembly Facility – $30 million for infrastructure repairs and upgrades.- U.S. Deorbit Vehicle – $325 million to fund the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to safely deorbit the ISS. This vehicle is necessary to safely deorbit the ISS once it has reached the end of its useful life, and without which the odds of re-entry over a population center are roughly one in ten.
This section would also require that not less than 50 percent of the funds shall be obligated not later than September 30, 2028, 100 percent of the funds shall be obligated not later than September 30, 2029, and all associated outlays shall occur not later than September 30, 2034.
The CBO preliminarily estimates $9.96 billion will be obligated and expended within the ten year window.
