**Sen. Ted Cruz Proposes $10 Billion Boost to NASA's Budget for Human Space Exploration**

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, has introduced a proposal to significantly increase NASA's budget by $10 billion. This proposal is set to be part of a budget reconciliation bill. The additional funds are intended to counteract the changes to NASA's human spaceflight and exploration programs proposed in the administration's budget.

The legislative package, released on June 5, outlines several allocations for NASA. The largest portion, $4.1 billion, would support the production of Space Launch System (SLS) rockets for the Artemis 4 and 5 missions. This comes in response to the current fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, which aims to conclude SLS and Orion spacecraft development with Artemis 3.

Another key component of the proposal allocates $2.6 billion for the completion of the Gateway. The current administration's budget proposal seeks to eliminate this project. Additionally, Cruz's package includes a modest $20 million for the continued development of the Orion spacecraft for Artemis 4.

In a bid to bolster future Mars missions, the proposal dedicates $700 million for the development of a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter. This spacecraft would work as a communications relay, supporting both the Mars Sample Return mission and potential future manned missions to Mars, despite the administration's budget planning to cancel Mars Sample Return.

The proposal further aims to provide $250 million annually from 2025 to 2029 to support the International Space Station (ISS), compensating for the cuts suggested in the current budget. An additional $325 million is designated for the development of a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle.

Additionally, many NASA centers would benefit from $1 billion earmarked for infrastructure improvements. These funds are intended to address the repair backlog at the Kennedy, Johnson, Marshall, and Stennis centers, as well as the Michoud Assembly Facility, focusing particularly on needs related to human spaceflight.

The legislative package also extends beyond NASA, proposing funds for Coast Guard projects and air traffic control improvements. It suggests rescinding previously allocated funds for certain climate change and environmental projects at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Another notable measure introduces license fees for commercial space launch and reentry licenses issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, projected to generate $100 million through 2034 to support the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation.

Cruz's proposal has garnered support from the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration. These organizations stress the importance of maintaining U.S. leadership in space exploration, particularly in light of competition from China.