The Space RACE Act would allow the Administrator of NASA to establish a National Institute for Space Research (the Institute) operated by a non-Federal entity under contract. The Institute would support use of next-generation microgravity platforms for in-space research, national security-related in-space research, the U.S. microgravity ecosystem as the International Space Station (ISS) is retired, education and workforce development, and the transition of microgravity research from the ISS to new platforms. The bill sets up a Board of Directors with members from NASA and several other Federal science and technology agencies, plus outside experts. The Board would set priorities, policies, and budgets, hire an Executive Director, and supervise Institute operations. The Institute may award competitive grants or cooperative agreements, coordinate projects and flight opportunities, maintain a list of next-generation microgravity platforms, and partner with Federal agencies. The bill also requires that the ISS National Laboratory and its cooperative agreement be terminated within 180 days after ISS research operations have ceased.
If enacted, the bill would create a new Institute focused on microgravity research and the move from the ISS to private or next-generation platforms. The Institute could make competitive grants to public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit entities for in-space research using next-generation microgravity platforms. The Board would include agency staff and outside experts who set research priorities and oversee Institute work. The Institute could coordinate flight opportunities for projects that are sensitive to national interests. The ISS National Laboratory and its cooperative agreement would be ended after ISS research operations stop.
The bill authorizes the NASA Administrator to provide funds for the Institute, but only subject to future appropriations. The Board must begin submitting budget requests for the Institute starting in fiscal year 2028. Not more than 5 percent of amounts provided to the Institute may be used for administrative expenses, including staff salaries. No specific dollar amounts or total costs are included in the bill text.
The bill text states that the Institute is intended to support use of next-generation microgravity platforms, support national-security related in-space research, sustain the U.S. microgravity ecosystem as the ISS is decommissioned, promote education and workforce development in space research, and help transition U.S. microgravity research and development from the ISS to new platforms.
No publicly available information.