---
type: entity
entity_type: policy
name: NASA Authorization Act of 2026
domain: space-development
status: pending
---

# NASA Authorization Act of 2026

**Type:** Congressional legislation  
**Status:** Passed Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee (March 2026), awaiting full Senate vote  
**Sponsors:** Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), bipartisan support  

## Overview

The NASA Authorization Act of 2026 extends ISS operational life to September 30, 2032 and introduces a mandatory overlap requirement: ISS must operate alongside at least one "fully operational" commercial space station for at least one full year, with full crews in space concurrently for at least 180 days.

## Key Provisions

1. **ISS Extension:** Extends ISS operational life from 2030 to September 30, 2032
2. **Overlap Mandate:** Requires ISS to operate alongside at least one fully operational commercial station for minimum one year
3. **Crew Continuity Requirement:** During overlap year, full crews must be in space concurrently for at least 180 days
4. **Commercial Acceleration:** Directs NASA to accelerate commercial LEO destinations development
5. **Strategic Rationale:** Cites "Tiangong scenario" (China's station as world's only inhabited station) as national security justification

## Legislative Status

- **March 5, 2026:** Passed Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee with bipartisan support
- **Pending:** Full Senate vote, House passage, Presidential signature
- **Status:** Not yet law

## Significance

This bill is qualitatively different from prior ISS extension proposals. Previous extensions simply deferred the deadline. The overlap mandate creates a TRANSITION CONDITION: a commercial station must be operational and crewed before ISS can deorbit. This guarantees a government anchor tenant relationship during a defined operational window, creating a policy-engineered Gate 2 mechanism for commercial space stations.

The 180-day concurrent crew requirement is operationally specific, requiring full crew capability, life support, docking, and communication systems — not just minimal presence.

## Timeline

- **2026-03-05** — Passed Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee with bipartisan support
