May 13, 2025
Mr. Cornyn introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
To fund human spaceflight infrastructure and commercialization of space support at Johnson Space Center.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Mission to Modernize Astronautic Resources for Space
or Mission to MARS Act
.
Sec. 2. Human spaceflight infrastructure and commercialization of space support at Johnson Space Center
(a) Appropriations
In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (referred to in this section as the Administrator
), out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $1,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2034, to carry out at the Johnson Space Center the following projects:
(1)
Preparation of the Neutral Buoyancy Lab for commercial space station training, lunar-suited operations, and collaborations with the Department of Defense, and general building repairs and maintenance.
(2)
Upgrades and repairs to the Astromaterials Curation and Research facility for samples from the Moon and Mars.
(3)
Modernization of the Mission Control Center and preparation for crewed missions beyond low-Earth orbit, repair or replacement of utilities, and all general building repairs and maintenance.
(4)
Upgrades and repairs to Ellington Field astronaut flight training facilities.
(5)
Electrical substation switchgear upgrades.
(6)
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and mechanical systems renewal for tier 1 and tier 2 facilities.
(7)
Replacement of steam chillers in building 24 (combined heat and power plant).
(8)
Deferred maintenance on fire alarm components and panels.
(9)
Foundation repairs.
(10)
Full modernization and construction of the space food systems laboratory.
(11)
Asbestos mitigation.
(12)
Upgrades to the space environment simulation laboratory located in chambers A and B in building 32.
(13)
Repair or replacement of chilled water pipe cross ties.
(14)
Roof repairs and replacements.
(15)
Modernization of the imagery laboratory in building 8.
(16)
Repair and replacement of chilled water lines to the Mission Control Center.
(17)
Repair and refurbishment of astronaut training aircraft.
(18)
Repair, refurbishment, or replacement of large volume cargo transportation aircraft.
(b) Remaining funds
Any funds remaining after the projects described in subsection (a) are completed shall be used to upgrade facilities or infrastructure that would enable the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and commercial entities to develop advanced spacesuits, hardware, food systems, vacuum chambers, and simulations to train for missions to low-Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars, as determined by the Administrator.