119-s1457

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

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

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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