BOOST for Engines Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1479 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1479

  To require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
   Administration to continue modernization efforts with respect to 
 Federal rocket propulsion test infrastructure at National Aeronautics 
                   and Space Administration centers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   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 require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
   Administration to continue modernization efforts with respect to 
 Federal rocket propulsion test infrastructure at National Aeronautics 
                   and Space Administration centers.

    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 ``Building Out Optimized Space Testing 
for Engines Act'' or the ``BOOST for Engines Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration.
            (2) NASA.--The term ``NASA'' means the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration.

SEC. 3. ROCKET ENGINE TEST INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) Modernization Program.--The Administrator shall continue to 
carry out a program to modernize rocket propulsion test infrastructure 
at NASA facilities--
            (1) to increase capabilities;
            (2) to enhance safety;
            (3) to support propulsion development and testing; and
            (4) to foster the improvement of Government and commercial 
        space transportation and exploration.
    (b) Projects.--Projects funded under the program described in 
subsection (a) may include--
            (1) infrastructure and other facilities and systems 
        relating to rocket propulsion test stands and rocket propulsion 
        testing;
            (2) enhancements to test facility capacity and flexibility; 
        and
            (3) such other projects as the Administrator considers 
        appropriate to meet the goals described in that subsection.
    (c) Requirements.--In carrying out the program under subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall--
            (1) prioritize investments in projects that enhance test 
        and flight certification capabilities for large thrust-level 
        atmospheric and altitude engines and engine systems, and multi-
        engine integrated test capabilities;
            (2) continue to make underutilized test facilities 
        available for commercial use on a reimbursable basis;
            (3) evaluate NASA center-specific agreements with 
        commercial entities to ensure that costs reflect the impacted 
        location rather than the cost of the highest national 
        agreement; and
            (4) ensure that no project carried out under such program 
        adversely impacts, delays, or defers testing or other 
        activities associated with facilities used for Government 
        programs, including--
                    (A) the Space Launch System and the Exploration 
                Upper Stage of the Space Launch System;
                    (B) in-space propulsion to support exploration 
                missions; and
                    (C) nuclear propulsion testing.
    (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall preclude a 
NASA program, including the Space Launch System and the Exploration 
Upper Stage of the Space Launch System, from using the modernized test 
infrastructure developed under this section.
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