Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz has proposed adding $10 billion to the budget reconciliation bill to offset changes to NASA’s human spaceflight and exploration programs. The package includes funding for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rockets, the Orion spacecraft, and the Gateway. It also allocates funds for a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter, the International Space Station, and the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle.
The proposal provides $4.1 billion for SLS rocket production, with a focus on completing Artemis 4 and 5 missions. Another $2.6 billion would support the completion of the Gateway, which is currently slated to be canceled. The package also includes $700 million for the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter, a dual-use spacecraft designed to serve as a communications relay at Mars.
The proposal has gained support from industry groups, including the Aerospace Industries Association and the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration. However, its fate remains uncertain, as it may not make it into the Senate’s final version of the budget reconciliation bill due to potential opposition from lawmakers who disagree with the administration’s budget proposals.
Cruz’s statement accompanying the proposal emphasizes the need for the US to maintain its leadership in space exploration, citing competition with China. The proposal aims to secure funding for NASA’s manned spaceflight centers and infrastructure improvements, including a $1 billion investment in the Kennedy, Johnson, Marshall, and Stennis centers.
Source: https://spacenews.com/cruz-seeks-10-billion-for-nasa-programs-in-budget-reconciliation-bill