Space RACE Act Creates New NASA Institute to Coordinate $50M in Private Space Research Funding

The Space RACE Act—officially the Space Research And Continuing Exploration Act—is all about making sure the U.S. doesn't drop the ball on space research once the International Space Station (ISS) retires. What this bill does is create a powerful new coordinating body inside NASA called the National Institute for Space Research (Institute). This Institute is authorized to receive $10 million annually from fiscal years 2024 through 2028—a total of $50 million—to fund and coordinate microgravity research projects, which is just policy-speak for research done in orbit. Its main job is to coordinate all U.S. government space research and help non-governmental entities—think universities, startups, and established companies—access and use the next generation of private space platforms.

The New Gatekeeper for Orbit R&D

Think of the Institute as the new air traffic controller for U.S. research in space. Currently, getting a project to the ISS involves a lot of moving parts. This bill aims to simplify that by having the Institute serve as a central hub (SEC. 1). It will publish national priorities for microgravity research and maintain a public database of all government-funded projects, which is a huge win for transparency. If you’re a scientist at a university or a founder of a biotech startup needing to test materials in zero-G, the Institute is designed to be your one-stop shop, helping you navigate the process of getting your experiment approved and launched (SEC. 1).

The Institute will be governed by a 13-member Board of Directors, stacked with representatives from key agencies like the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation (SEC. 3). This interagency approach is critical because it means the research priorities won't just be NASA's; they'll reflect the needs of national security, health, and energy sectors. The bill specifically authorizes the Institute to award competitive grants and cooperative agreements to help fund these projects, though applicants must secure matching funds and demonstrate how their work aligns with national priorities (SEC. 3).

The Transition Plan: Life After the ISS

The biggest driver behind this bill is the eventual decommissioning of the ISS. The U.S. government needs a plan to keep its microgravity research capabilities running, and that plan involves transitioning to privately owned and operated 'next-generation microgravity platforms.' The Institute is tasked with managing this transition (SEC. 3). For example, if the Department of Energy needs to test a new battery component in space, the Institute will help them plan, budget, and integrate their payload onto a commercial space station. This is a massive boost for the private space industry, ensuring a steady stream of government and government-supported customers.

One specific detail in the bill that could raise an eyebrow is how it handles certain projects. The Institute’s Board can designate projects as “sensitive to the U.S. national interest,” which allows those projects to secure platform time without the standard public application process (SEC. 3). While this is understandable for national security projects, it gives the Board significant power to fast-track certain entities or research areas, potentially bypassing the competitive process designed for transparency. The bill also explicitly requires NASA to terminate the existing ISS National Laboratory and its cooperative agreement within 180 days after the ISS research operations end (SEC. 4). This signals a clear end to the current structure in favor of this new, centralized Institute.

In short, the Space RACE Act is a major structural overhaul of how the U.S. manages its in-space research. It centralizes coordination, puts $50 million toward the effort over five years, and ensures that the U.S. research pipeline doesn't dry up when the ISS retires. For anyone in the business of science, technology, or aerospace, this bill creates a clear, albeit highly centralized, path to getting your experiments into orbit.