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Support for Astrophysical Observatories and National High-Energy Astrophysics Hubs Act of 2026
To require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to designate national high-energy astrophysics hubs.
Summary
The bill would require NASA to designate certain facilities as national high-energy astrophysics hubs. These hubs would be eligible facilities that have contracts with NASA and conduct X-ray and high-energy astrophysics missions supporting U.S. leadership in the field. Eligible facilities include universities, federal agencies, federally funded research centers, and nongovernmental organizations with expertise in advanced energy technology research. The designated hubs would support workforce development, scientific research, technology transfer, and serve as collaborative resources for academic, governmental, and commercial partners. The bill reflects Congress's sense that maintaining current high-energy astrophysics capabilities and workforce is critical for future U.S. space science leadership.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
1 cosponsor
Actions (2)
- Mar 10, 2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. · senate
- Mar 10, 2026 Introduced in Senate
Similar bills (6)
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Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 10, 2026
Mr. Markey (for himself and Ms. Warren) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to designate national high-energy astrophysics hubs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Support for Astrophysical Observatories and National High-Energy Astrophysics Hubs Act of 2026”.
SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORIES AND NATIONAL HIGH- ENERGY ASTROPHYSICS HUBS.
(a) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the United States should maintain its global leadership in high-energy astrophysics;
(2) in order to maintain such leadership, the United States should support X-ray flagship missions based on the recommendations of the most recent and future decadal Surveys in Astronomy and Astrophysics issued by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine;
(3) the workforce associated with high-energy astrophysics constitutes a national strategic asset that will be critical to the development and eventual operation of any such flagship mission; and
(4) proactive steps should be taken to ensure that the capabilities of current high-energy astrophysics facilities continue to serve the scientific, educational, and commercial interests of the United States long beyond the duration of the current high-energy astrophysics flagship mission.
(b) Designation.—
(1) In general.—The Administrator shall designate as a national high-energy astrophysics hub each eligible facility described in paragraph (2).
(2) Eligible facility described.—An eligible facility described in this paragraph is an entity that—
(A)(i) is party to a contract with NASA; and
(ii) plans and operates missions that conduct activities for purposes of—
(I) ensuring continued United States leadership in high-energy astrophysics and related space sciences;
(II) supporting training and workforce development in data-intensive high-energy astrophysics, aerospace engineering, and spacecraft operations;
(III) advancing United States capabilities in high-performance scientific software, spaceflight operations, and technology transfer;
(IV) enabling future high-energy astrophysics missions through mission design, planning, and scientific coordination; or
(V) serving as a collaborative national resource for academic, governmental, and commercial partners; and
(B)(i) is an institution of higher education;
(ii) is an appropriate State or Federal entity, including a federally funded research and development center; or
(iii) is a nongovernmental organization with expertise in advanced energy technology research, development, demonstration, or commercial application. <all>
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