Space Exploration Research Act

Space Exploration Research Act would give NASA additional authority to lease its real property to eligible partners for up to 99 years to build and operate facilities dedicated to space-related activities. Eligible partners include states or their agencies, certain non-profit education/science organizations, and colleges or universities. The facilities could support aeronautical/space research, education and training for space careers, technology transfer between public and private sectors, and other scientific or space-related activities. NASA could renew such leases, lease back property, or sublease to eligible entities, and could enter related contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements. The bill also allows NASA to provide administrative, maintenance, and instructional support for these facilities, subject to appropriations, and it authorizes delegation to NASA staff. Importantly, it would override certain existing leasing constraints and related laws to enable this expanded leasing authority.