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119-s-4044119th CongressWALLET

Support for Astrophysical Observatories and National High-Energy Astrophysics Hubs Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

Introduced

Summary

National high-energy astrophysics hubs would be set up under a NASA framework to keep the United States leading in X-ray and high-energy space science. The bill would emphasize workforce training, mission design support, technology transfer, and keeping facility capabilities available beyond flagship missions.

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  • Eligible institutions: Entities that hold a contract with NASA could be designated. This includes institutions of higher education, appropriate State or Federal entities (including federally funded research and development centers), and nongovernmental organizations with advanced energy technology expertise.
  • Workforce and training: Designated hubs would support training in data-intensive high-energy astrophysics, aerospace engineering, and spacecraft operations to treat that workforce as a national strategic asset.
  • Mission and facility support: Hubs would back X-ray flagship missions guided by decadal surveys, advance mission planning and high-performance scientific software, enable technology transfer, and help ensure facilities continue serving scientific, educational, and commercial partners after flagship missions end.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New national astrophysics hub designations

If enacted, the bill would require NASA's Administrator to designate eligible facilities as national high-energy astrophysics hubs. To be eligible, a facility would need a contract with NASA and run missions with one or more listed purposes. Purposes include keeping U.S. leadership in high-energy astrophysics, enabling future mission design and coordination, workforce training in data-intensive astrophysics and spacecraft operations, and advancing scientific software and technology transfer. Facilities would need to be a college, a state or Federal entity (including federally funded research and development centers), or a nongovernmental organization with relevant energy technology expertise. The bill does not set specific funding amounts.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

MA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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