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.
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 to Mars" program, which will help create a transition point on the moon for spaceships heading to Mars.
Future Space Exploration
Nelson also referred to the current American generation as the "Artemis Generation," considering them one that will continue to seek sustainable ways to explore space and address climate change. The NASA Authorization Act of 2022 will allocate money to NASA to further scientific discoveries and American access to the unknowns waiting outside Earth. This can lead to normal individuals traveling beyond the Earth's atmosphere for personal exploration and fulfillment.
The Artemis Program, the current NASA program, aims to send the first woman and the first person of color to the moon. The CHIPS and Science Act will allow new opportunities to go to the moon and set up transportation and new space suits to explore Mars and beyond. There is much more to discover, and this bill is just the starting point.
Source: SpaceNews