ASCEND Act

Sponsored bySen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]CO· Introduced 10 April 2025

Open on Congress.gov

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Latest action

Held at the desk.

10 December 2025·7 months ago

Summary

Passed Senate · Updated 20 April 2026

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.

Timeline

11 actions

Received in the House.
10 December 2025 · Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
10 December 2025 · Floor
Held at the desk.
10 December 2025 · Floor
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
9 December 2025 · Floor
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8581; text: CR S8581)
9 December 2025 · Floor
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 173.
29 September 2025 · Calendars
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-68.
29 September 2025 · Committee
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-68.
29 September 2025 · Committee
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
30 April 2025 · Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
10 April 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in Senate
10 April 2025 · IntroReferral