Space Research Innovation Act

This bill tells NASA to set up a university‑affiliated research center focused on deep space and interplanetary work. The center would fund studies and engineering support for missions near the Moon (cislunar space) and farther into space. NASA must also create clear rules for who can take part, how awards and contracts are given, and how the center is kept accountable for high‑quality work and for bringing together schools and private companies to partner on research .

Key points:

• Who is involved: colleges and universities, operators of federally funded research and development centers, and nonprofit research groups can participate .
• What changes: NASA would establish the center, fund analyses and engineering support for cislunar, deep‑space, and interplanetary missions, and set policies for selecting participants and awarding contracts, including when to use competitive vs. sole‑source awards.
• When: This would happen after the bill becomes law, with NASA responsible for putting the rules and center in place.