Engine Testing for Exploration Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1457 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1457

To maintain the rocket propulsion system testing capabilities necessary 
 to achieve the goals of the human spaceflight exploration programs of 
   the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 10, 2025

  Mr. Wicker introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To maintain the rocket propulsion system testing capabilities necessary 
 to achieve the goals of the human spaceflight exploration programs of 
   the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 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 ``Engine Testing for Exploration 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration.
            (2) Government astronaut.--The term ``government 
        astronaut'' has the meaning given the term in section 50902 of 
        title 51, United States Code.
            (3) NASA.--The term ``NASA'' means the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Rocket propulsion system testing is critical for the 
        operation of the space launch system and of future rockets that 
        will embark on deep space exploration, including crewed 
        missions to the Moon.
            (2) The NASA Stennis Space Center is the primary and 
        largest rocket propulsion system testing and engineering 
        facility for NASA.
            (3) The NASA Stennis Engineering and Test Directorate 
        provides unique ground-testing services for rocket propulsion 
        systems.
            (4) The existing infrastructure at the Stennis Space Center 
        provides unique capabilities to test and evaluate rocket 
        propulsion systems for space launch vehicles.
            (5) Maintaining within NASA a strong core competency in the 
        testing and evaluation of rocket propulsion systems and related 
        technologies allows NASA to be an informed purchaser of 
        competitively awarded commercial rocket engines.
            (6) The commercial space industry is currently developing 
        rocket propulsion systems and other space launch capabilities.
            (7) Testing rocket propulsion systems reduces risk and 
        improves safety of space launch vehicles.

SEC. 4. ROCKET PROPULSION SYSTEM TESTING.

    (a) Maintaining Rocket Propulsion System Testing Capabilities.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall--
                    (A) maintain the rocket propulsion system testing 
                capabilities necessary to achieve the goals of the 
                human spaceflight exploration programs of NASA; and
                    (B) ensure the continuity within NASA of the 
                internal expertise necessary to test and evaluate 
                rocket propulsion systems, including through 
                partnerships with the private sector.
            (2) Role of stennis space center.--The rocket propulsion 
        system testing programs of NASA shall continue to be managed by 
        the Stennis Space Center.
    (b) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide the appropriate 
committees of Congress with a briefing on NASA plans for--
            (1) rocket propulsion system testing and evaluation for--
                    (A) missions in low-Earth orbit; and
                    (B) missions to be conducted in deep space; and
            (2) future programs for rocket propulsion system testing 
        for missions that use space launch vehicles certified for use 
        by NASA for government astronauts.
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