HR 9193 Introduced – Space Nuclear Power

Earlier this month, Rep Kennedy (R,UT) introduced HR 9193, the Powering the Future of American Space Dominance Act. The bill would require NASA to prepare reports to Congress on space nuclear propulsion, radioisotope heater and power units for lunar exploration, lunar exploration power demand requirements, and risk management approaches for commercial power partners. 

While nuclear propulsion is a subject for one for the NASA power reports, the main focus of this bill is power generation for long term lunar operations. With the first lunar base being planned for the next semi-decade, it seems just a little bit late for much of this, but NASA has (hopefully) been working on these topics for some time. This is more of an effort to have NASA comprehensively update Congress on what NASA will be requesting funding for in the next five to ten years.