S 933 NASA Transition Authorization Act 2025, Title V—Aeronautics

Summary

Define "advanced air mobility" (AAM) as transportation using manned or unmanned aircraft for urban and regional mobility, incorporating advanced technologies.

Require the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator to continue hypersonic research with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD), updating the hypersonic research roadmap in consultation with industry and academia.

Instruct the NASA Administrator to report on unmanned aircraft systems and AAM research, coordinating with the FAA, other agencies, academia, and industry.

Authorize NASA to research Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations, especially for improving aerial wildfire responses.

Permit NASA to conduct research on hydrogen aviation technologies, contingent on available appropriations.

Emphasize collaboration with academic institutions for cutting-edge research, leveraging expertise to address aeronautical challenges, and inspire STEM careers.

Defines terms related to advanced air mobility systems, including unmanned aircraft and urban air mobility.

TITLE V--AERONAUTICS

SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS.

In this title:

(1) Advanced air mobility; aam.--The terms ``advanced air mobility'' and ``AAM'' mean a transportation system that is comprised of urban air mobility and regional air mobility using manned or unmanned aircraft.

(2) Regional air mobility.--The term ``regional air mobility'' means the movement of passengers or property by air between 2 points using an airworthy aircraft that--

(A) has advanced technologies, such as distributed propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, powered lift, nontraditional power systems, or autonomous technologies;

(B) has a maximum takeoff weight of greater than 1,320 pounds; and

(C) is not urban air mobility.

(3) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``unmanned aircraft system'' has the meanings given such term in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.

(4) Urban air mobility.--The term ``urban air mobility'' means the movement of passengers or property by air between 2 points in different cities or 2 points within the same city using an airworthy aircraft that--

(A) has advanced technologies, such as distributed propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, powered lift, nontraditional power systems, or autonomous technologies; and

(B) has a maximum takeoff weight of greater than 1,320 pounds.

Requires NASA Administrator to update hypersonic research roadmap in consultation with FAA and other stakeholders.

SEC. 502. HYPERSONIC RESEARCH.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--

(1) basic and applied hypersonic research--

(A) is critical for enabling the development of advanced high-speed aeronautical and space systems; and

(B) can improve understanding of technical challenges related to high-speed and reusable vehicle technologies, including those related to propulsion, noise, advanced materials, and entry, descent, and landing operations;

(2) investments in hypersonic research are critical to sustaining United States global leadership in space and aeronautics; and

(3) NASA efforts to study hypersonic research--

(A) should not duplicate, and may complement, research supported by the Department of Defense; and

(B) should be conducted in partnership with universities and industry, as appropriate.

(b) Hypersonic Research.--The Administrator, in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Secretary of Defense, as appropriate, and in consultation with industry and academia, shall continue to carry out basic and applied hypersonic research.

(c) Hypersonic Research Roadmap.--

(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Secretary of Defense, industry, and academic institutions, shall update the hypersonic research roadmap required under section 603 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-10; 131 Stat. 55).

(2) Considerations.--In updating the research roadmap, the Administrator may consider--

(A) advancements in--

(i) system level design, analysis, and validation of hypersonic aircraft technologies;

(ii) propulsion capabilities and technologies;

(iii) vehicle technologies, including vehicle flow physics and vehicle thermal management associated with aerodynamic heating;

(iv)(I) advanced materials, including materials capable of withstanding high temperatures;

(II) demonstrating durable materials; and

(III) efforts to apply such materials; and

(v) other areas of hypersonic research as determined appropriate by the Administrator; and

(B) data trends regarding sonic boom overpressures associated with hypersonic aircraft.

(d) Report and Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall--

(1) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the updated research roadmap under subsection (c); and

(2) provide the appropriate committees of Congress with a briefing on the research conducted under subsection (b), including with respect to the manner in which such research aligns with such updated research roadmap.

Requires the NASA Administrator to report and update Congress on advanced materials and manufacturing activities.

SEC. 503. ADVANCED MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY.

(a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the status of NASA activities relating to subsections (e) and (f) of section 10831 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167; 51 U.S.C. 40102 note).

(b) Update and Briefing.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which the report required by subsection (a) is submitted, the Administrator shall--

(1) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress an update to the findings contained in such report; and

(2) provide the appropriate committees of Congress with a briefing on such update.

Requires the Administrator to research unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility with relevant stakeholders.

SEC. 504. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM AND ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY.

The Administrator shall continue research, as appropriate and necessary, in collaboration with the Administrator of Federal Aviation Administration, the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, and appropriate representatives of academia and industry, on unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility.

Permits the Administrator to conduct R&D on improving AI use in aerial wildfire response operations.

SEC. 505. ADVANCED CAPABILITIES FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE OPERATIONS.

(a) In General.--The Administrator may continue to conduct research and development activities under the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project, or appropriate successor project or projects, to improve aerial responses to wildfires. (b) Briefing.--

(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide the appropriate committees of Congress with a briefing on ongoing research and development activities related to improving aerial responses to wildfires.

(2) Elements.--The briefing required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) An identification of any topic related to improvement of aerial responses to wildfires that could benefit from further research.

(B) A description of collaboration with other relevant Federal agencies.

(C) A description of any continuing efforts under this section.

(D) Any other information the Administrator considers appropriate.

Authorizes the Administrator to research hydrogen aviation technologies and requires briefing Congress on this research.

SEC. 506. HYDROGEN AVIATION.

(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Administrator may carry out research on emerging technologies related to hydrogen aviation.

(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide the appropriate committees of Congress with a briefing on the ongoing research under subsection (a) that includes--

(1) an identification of any agency with which NASA has partnered on such research; and

(2) a description of anticipated further actions and activities related to the topic of hydrogen aviation.

SEC. 507. HIGH-PERFORMANCE CHASE AIRCRAFT.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--

(1) NASA programs benefit from and rely upon high- performance chase aircraft for providing research and mission support; and

(2) NASA currently faces maintenance challenges related to its aging high-performance aircraft fleet, which is resulting in increased program costs.

(b) Briefing.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and biannually thereafter, the Administrator shall provide the appropriate committees of Congress with a briefing on the strategy of NASA relating to the following:

(1) Collaboration with the Department of Defense on efforts for research and flight asset sharing to support NASA's

research mission support and pilot training requirements. (2) Efforts to seek aircraft parts and engines to keep NASA's current fleet of chase aircraft operational, including potential use of 3D additive manufactured parts.

(3) Strategies for acquiring or using through loan, sharing, or other agreements, as appropriate, Department of Defense aircraft to support NASA's research and mission support activities, as required.

Summarizes Congress's view that collaboration with academia advances research and workforce development in aeronautics.

SEC. 508. COLLABORATION WITH ACADEMIA.

It is the sense of Congress that--

(1) colleges and universities are hubs of research and innovation, with expertise in various fields of science and aeronautics;

(2) collaborating with academia allows NASA to access cutting-edge research and expertise that can further enable advancements in aeronautics research and technology and address complex aeronautical challenges;

(3) a cutting-edge civil aeronautics research and development program can inspire the next generation to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including aeronautics; and

(4) opportunities for students to participate in NASA- supported academic research and development projects, such as the University Leadership Initiative, the University Students Research Challenge, the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Project, and related aeronautic projects and competitions, contributes to training the next generation and developing the aeronautics workforce to support continued United States leadership and economic growth in civil aeronautics and aviation.