Space Research Innovation Act
Space Research Innovation Act would authorize NASA to create a university-affiliated research center (UARC) focused on deep-space and interplanetary research, including cis-lunar and other exploration missions. The center would be used to fund analyses and engineering support for these missions and to bolster private-public research partnerships. The bill requires that the center maintain high technical quality and have a track record or capacity to convene academic and private-sector groups to advance research. It also lays out governance provisions, including how participants are selected, how awards are made (competitive vs. sole-source), and the technical capabilities that the center must have. Eligible participants include universities, operators of federally funded research and development centers, and nonprofit research institutions. The act signals an intention to leverage university and nonprofit research ecosystems to support NASA’s deep-space program, through a structured, accountable UARC-like model.
Key Points
- 1Establishment of a university-affiliated research center to support NASA deep-space, cis-lunar, and interplanetary research and missions.
- 2The center would fund analyses and engineering support related to deep-space programs and would promote private-public partnerships and collaboration.
- 3The center must ensure technical quality of its work and possess expertise to convene academic and private-sector groups for research and collaboration.
- 4NASA must develop policies governing participant selection, award types (cooperative agreements or other contracts), use of competitive vs. sole-source awards, and the required technical capabilities.
- 5Eligible participants: institutions of higher education, operators of federally funded research and development centers, and nonprofit or not-for-profit research institutions.