Space Policy Edition: What a NASA Authorization bill actually does

What does a NASA authorization bill actually do, and why does it matter? In this episode of Space Policy Edition, we dig into one of the most misunderstood but powerful tools Congress uses to shape the future of U.S. space exploration.

Host Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, is joined by Jack Kiraly, the Society’s director of government relations, for a deep dive into how NASA authorization bills work, how they differ from appropriations, and why they can have decades-long consequences for science missions, human spaceflight, and planetary defense. The discussion also reflects on a major recent win for space advocates: Congress’s bipartisan decision to protect NASA science funding.

Related Reading and References

• The Space Review: Trends in NASA authorization legislation
• House Committee Approves New NASA Authorization Bill – SpacePolicyOnline.com
• 2025 Impact Report
• You just saved NASA's budget
• The Day of Action 
• 300 space advocates rally in D.C. to Save NASA Science 
• Save NASA Science Day of Action FAQ 
• Why we have the SLS 
• Europa Clipper, a mission to Jupiter's icy moon 
• Europa Clipper: A mission backed by advocates
• Defending the Earth from Impacts 
• NEO Surveyor, protecting Earth from dangerous asteroids