Advanced Nuclear Fission and Fusion Propulsion Systems Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10750 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                               H. R. 10750

 To direct the Secretary of the Air Force to establish a pilot program 
   to conduct in-space technology demonstrations regarding advanced 
    nuclear fission propulsion systems and advanced nuclear fusion 
                          propulsion systems.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 5, 2026

Mr. Whitesides introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To direct the Secretary of the Air Force to establish a pilot program 
   to conduct in-space technology demonstrations regarding advanced 
    nuclear fission propulsion systems and advanced nuclear fusion 
                          propulsion systems.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Advanced Nuclear Fission and Fusion 
Propulsion Systems Act''.

SEC. 2. SPACE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION OF ADVANCED NUCLEAR PROPULSION 
              TECHNOLOGIES.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force, acting through 
the Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, may establish a 
pilot program to conduct in-space technology demonstrations, and 
related risk reduction technology development activities, with respect 
to both advanced nuclear fission propulsion systems and advanced 
nuclear fusion propulsion systems.
    (b) Purpose.--If the Secretary carries out the pilot program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall carry out the pilot program in a 
manner that reduces technical risk and informs future development 
requirements relating to nuclear propulsion for national security 
missions in space, including potential operations beyond geosynchronous 
orbit, including in cislunar orbit.
    (c) Selection.--If the Secretary carries out the pilot program 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall select entities to carry out 
activities under the pilot program. In determining the criteria for 
making such selection, the Secretary shall emphasize previous 
subcomponent and prototype development and the ability to demonstrate 
within reasonable timeframes.
    (d) Demonstration Required.--If the Secretary carries out the pilot 
program under subsection (a), not later than three years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct in-space 
demonstrations described in subsection (a), with oversight by the Air 
Force Research Laboratory Rocket Propulsion Division at Edwards Air 
Force Base, California.
    (e) Activities.--In carrying out the pilot program under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall, at a minimum--
            (1) establish technical objectives and success criteria for 
        the in-space demonstrations described in subsection (a);
            (2) develop a concept of operations and test and evaluation 
        approach for the demonstrations;
            (3) conduct ground test activities necessary to support the 
        demonstrations;
            (4) assist in the acquisition of launch services;
            (5) plan for collection and analysis of on-orbit data 
        sufficient to assess propulsion performance, operability, and 
        reliability; and
            (6) assess potential use cases for applications in cislunar 
        operations pending the conclusion of the demonstrations.
    (f) Plan.--Before commencing the pilot program under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
(as defined in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code) a 
plan on the pilot program.
    (g) Report.--If the Secretary carries out the pilot program under 
subsection (a), not later than one year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report on the pilot program. The report shall include--
            (1) a description of the activities carried out under the 
        pilot program, including the planned demonstration concept of 
        operations and the associated timeline;
            (2) the technical objectives and success criteria 
        established under subsection (e)(1);
            (3) an assessment of major technical risks and planned 
        risk-mitigation activities; and
            (4) an assessment of parallel efforts by the People's 
        Republic of China to develop and deploy advanced space 
        propulsion technologies for strategic purposes.
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