The International Space Station is aging, and the U.S. does not yet have a single, dedicated hub for long-term space research. This cause backs creating a National Institute for Space Research (NISR) to coordinate experiments, partners, and funding as the ISS winds down. Winning means Congress advances and funds the Space RACE Act so U.S. researchers keep reliable access to research in orbit.
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Create a national space research institute
19
DAYS LEFT28,124
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$60,076
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$87,083
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A post-ISS plan for U.S. space science
Why this matters now
When the ISS retires, U.S. researchers could lose a steady place to run experiments in low Earth orbit. That could slow work on new medicines, materials, and life science research that depends on microgravity.
Other countries are moving fast. China’s Tiangong station is already operating and inviting international science projects. A national institute could help the U.S. stay competitive by keeping research organized, funded, and ready to use new commercial space stations as they come online.
What's blocking progress
The biggest blockers are getting new federal funding approved and deciding where the institute should sit (inside NASA or as an independent organization). Delays also raise the risk of a research gap as the ISS approaches the end of its life.
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