Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Image credit: White House

That nearly 900-page “One Big Beautiful Bill” has passed the House and Senate and now heads to President Trump’s desk for signing.

Brian Babin, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman, has saluted the Big Beautiful Bill, explaining that it marks “a bold step forward for America’s space program and science enterprise.”

The bill provides critical support to advance deep space exploration, land Americans back on the Moon, and continue laying the groundwork for future missions to Mars, Babin said in a statement.

Image credit: Watch U.S. Fly

“It also restores the R&D tax credit for domestic research, which will strengthen U.S. competitiveness and help fuel private-sector investment in innovation, the fastest-growing source of research funding in the country,” Babin adds. “These measures not only reaffirm our leadership in space but also reinforce America’s broader scientific and technological edge. I look forward to seeing this bill signed into law.”

The Gateway space station will operate in a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit supporting crewed Artemis missions to the moon.
Image credit: NASA/Alberto Bertolin, Bradley Reynolds

Space Station, Moon and Mars

NASA and space investments in the bill include:

• $9.9 billion for NASA to support Artemis IV and V lunar missions
• Advances Mars mission development.
• Maintains U.S. leadership in low Earth orbit, and bolster center operations—including $300 million for Johnson Space Center in Houston. This total also includes funding for the continued operation and safe deorbit of the International Space Station, including support for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle.
• Restoration of the R&D tax credit for domestic research expenses, allowing companies to fully deduct these costs and significantly boosting private-sector investment in U.S.-based research and development.
• Keeps funding the Gateway space station making $2.6 billion available through 2032.

Image credit: DIA

Golden Dome

Chairman Babin also raised concerns about the commercial launch excise tax, which could hinder the growth of the U.S. commercial space sector. “We intend to work closely with stakeholders to address these concerns in the forthcoming commercial space bill,” Babin said.

The bill also includes $25 billion for Golden Dome for America to support President Trump’s quest for a layered missile defense shield for America, including the development of space-based assets to support the system and rapidly accelerates defense against hypersonic threats to the homeland and deployed troops.

For a full account of space-related funding in the bill, go to “Trump Megabill Includes Billions for Artemis, ISS, Moving A Space Shuttle to Texas And More” by Marcia Smith at Spacepolicyonline:

https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/trump-megabill-includes-billions-for-artemis-iss-moving-a-space-shuttle-to-texas-and-more/

For a read of the bill, go to:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1

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