ASCEND Act

Summary

Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act or the ASCEND Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program run by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Through the CSDA program, NASA acquires remote sensing data and imagery from commercial satellites to support its Earth science research. ( Remote sensing generally refers to the collection of data by instruments in Earth’s orbit, such as satellites, that can be processed into imagery of Earth’s surface.) Under the bill, NASA may establish or modify end-use agreements to allow for broad use of data and imagery acquired under the program, including by individuals outside of NASA (e.g., other federal agencies). The terms of any data or imagery acquisition may not prevent the publication of such data or imagery for scientific purposes or the publication of information derived from it. To the extent practicable, NASA must acquire such data and imagery from U.S. vendors.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology · U.S. House of Representatives

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Cosponsors

Related bills

• H.R. 7273NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026Related bill
• S. 933NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025Related bill

As identified by Congress.gov.

Full history

1. Feb 24, 2026

   Introduced

   Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 344.

   U.S. House

2. Feb 24, 2026

   Sent to the executive

   Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 344.

   U.S. Senate

3. Feb 23, 2026

   Considered Under Suspension of the rules. (consideration: cr H2242-2244)

   Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2242-2244)

4. Feb 23, 2026

   Considered Under Suspension of the rules. (consideration: cr H2242-2244)

   Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2242-2244)

5. Feb 23, 2026

   Considered Under Suspension of the rules. (consideration: cr H2242-2244)

   Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2242-2244)

Read the record

• Read on Congress.gov (opens in a new tab) The official record on Congress.gov.