NASA Authorization Bill: What It Means For The Moon, Mars, And Beyond

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The NASA authorization bill will fund more Mars exploration and moon trips. The previous authorization, signed in 2017, allowed NASA to operate the International Space Station (ISS) until 2024. However, the gap between authorization bills passed through the House and Senate and signed by the president shows how wavering a commitment to space exploration has been. The NASA Authorization Act of 2022, titled the "Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act," passed in the House on July 28 and the Senate on July 29.

Support was necessary to continue the exploration of space and the many missions NASA has on its docket, especially following Russia's planned exit from the ISS. This long-awaited authorization follows the previous bill signed in 2017, which was the first one signed after a seven-year halt, giving new encouragement to NASA employees and space enthusiasts alike.

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In a statement reported by SpaceNews, the NASA administrator, Bill Nelson, expressed joy and excitement for the passing of the bill, stating that "[t]his act shows continued…support of NASA's many missions, including our moon to Mars approach, as well as extension of U.S. participation in the International Space Station." The Biden-Harris administration supports the bill because it will encourage more advanced scientific discoveries, create sustainable aviation methods and increase efforts in addressing climate change as it worsens. Congress initially wrote the bill to manufacture semiconductors domestically, but a portion was added, which extends NASA's participation in the ISS to 2030. The addition also provided a formal declaration of a "Moon