Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFormer NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine supported a reported proposal to cap the share of NASA launch funding going to any one provider at 50%. It was not established as law: the introduced text of the 2025 NASA Transition Authorization Act reviewed here does not contain that cap, and the available records do not establish what happened to the proposal afterward.
What the reported 50% cap would do
Ars Technica reported on March 2, 2026, that the proposed restriction would prevent NASA from spending more than half of its launch funding with any single provider. The report portrayed SpaceX as the apparent target, citing its Dragon crew and cargo flights and its role in a majority of NASA science missions. It said the restriction could affect SpaceX’s combined launch portfolio and future crewed lunar missions launched from Earth if adopted. These were reported potential effects, not confirmed procurement outcomes.
The report said the cap covered launch funding but excluded space-transportation services, including human lunar landers. That distinction matters: the proposal as described would not apply a single-provider limit to every NASA space contract.
What the bill text and legislative record establish
The proposal was linked in the reporting to the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025. Senator Ted Cruz introduced S. 933 on March 11, 2025; it was read twice and referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. The introduced bill text contains no match for “50 percent” or “launch funding.” That discrepancy means the reported proposal cannot be treated as language in the introduced bill; it does not establish whether similar wording was later considered, changed, or dropped.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- ADVANCED MODEL-ROCKET-BUILDING KIT: The Mercury Redstone rocket-building Kit offers kids ages 10+ and rocketeer enthusiasts to build a 1:34 scale replica of Mercury Redstone (MR-4) and Gus Grissom’s Liberty Bell 7. This kit includes the rocket parts, design decals, recovery streamer, and instructions. It requires mini rocket engines, Starters, Recovery Wadding, a launch pad system, and 4 high-quality 1.5-volt AA alkaline batteries for launch use (sold separately).
- SOARS UP TO 200 FT.: Our Mercury Redstone delivers an unforgettable experience from assembly to recovery with a projected altitude of 200 ft. (61 m) using a C6-3 Estes rocket engine (sold separately). It is also compatible with a C5-3 rocket engine.
- READY TO ASSEMBLE: Our advanced rocket kit presents a rewarding challenge that requires advanced building skills and 3+ hours of assembly time. air it with the Estes Porta Pad II Launch Pad with 3/16-Inch Launch Rod and Electron Beam Launch Controller (sold separately) for a successful and educational blastoff experience.
- SAFETY FIRST, FUN ALWAYS: Our rockets and rocket launch accessories are designed to be used with the NAR (National Association of Rocketry) model-rocket safety code. Always ensure you have an appropriate launch site, stand back at least 15 ft., insert the safety key, issue a countdown, and then you can let your rocket fly!
- WE IGNITE IMAGINATIONS: Since 1958, Estes has created educational rocket kits and displays designed for an unforgettable aerospace experience. As a family-owned company, we have grown to offer exciting STEM products that engage aspiring rocketeers and the future minds of aerospace.
The Senate committee’s Report 119-68, dated October 3, 2025, offers legislative-history context but does not settle the cap’s disposition. The records cited here do not establish what happened after committee markup. Accordingly, the cap should be described as a reported proposal, not as enacted law or as a measure confirmed to remain pending.
Bridenstine’s argument and the opposing view
Bridenstine, NASA administrator from April 2018 to January 2021 and later a ULA Government Operations executive, argued that limits could protect suppliers and build competition and redundancy in the industrial base. In a public post, he wrote: “America succeeds in space when American companies compete, innovate, and grow.” He also wrote: “Competition lowers costs, accelerates innovation and provides redundancy.” Those statements express his case for the proposal; they do not establish what its effects would be.
Rank #2
- READY TO LAUNCH: No assembly required - simply attach an engine (C5-3 recommended) blast off, reaching heights of up to 600 feet! The Estes Space Shuttle is the perfect model rocket for beginners.
- ICONIC DESIGN: This 1:200 scale model faithfully replicates the famous NASA space shuttle and stands at 10.9 inches tall. This iconic workhorse of the American space program soars like the real thing with detachable boosters and gliding orbiter!
- EXPAND YOUR FLEET: Proudly exhibit alongside other iconic Estes 1:200 model rockets such as the Saturn V and SLS models, building your own mini space history museum! Display stand included.
- AGES 10 & UP: NASA’s space shuttle fleet inspired generations, and the Estes Space Shuttle aims to do the same! From the captivating scale replica to the safe and easy flight experience, every element fuels the fire of curiosity and ignites a passion for space in enthusiasts of all ages.
- MODEL ONLY: This listing contains only the space shuttle replica model. For the optimal experience, be sure to purchase Estes C5-3 Engines, recovery wadding, and a launch pad. Enjoy space exploration from the comfort of home!
Former NASA commercial-space director Phil McAlister criticized the proposal as anti-competitive, arguing that it could favor a second- or third-place provider over the strongest bidder. He said: “Competition is a full and open match between companies where the best company wins.” The two positions reflect a policy trade-off, not a demonstrated outcome:
- Concentration and redundancy: Bridenstine’s case was that limiting one provider’s share could preserve a broader supplier base and reduce dependence on a single company.
- Procurement flexibility: McAlister’s objection was that a cap could constrain NASA from awarding more work to the provider it judged best, even when that provider offered the strongest bid.
- Scope: As reported, the proposal concerned launch funding, not excluded transportation services such as human lunar landers.
No independent cost estimate or performance analysis establishing the cap’s likely effects is available in the cited material.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallRank #3
- Replica of the tile structure
- Detailed cockpit
- Cockpit canopy optionally removable
- 2 crew figures
- Opening cargo bay doors
ULA payment reported for Bridenstine’s firm
Ars Technica reported, citing public records, that United Launch Alliance paid The Artemis Group $990,000 in 2025. The article said that payment represented nearly one-third of the firm’s $3,385,000 in reported lobbying revenue that year. The underlying disclosure filing was not independently reviewed for this account. The reported payment is relevant context for Bridenstine’s support of a proposal that could affect a competing launch provider, but the payment alone does not establish improper conduct or explain his position.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about the proposal’s status
The essential distinction is between the cap as Ars Technica described it and the bill language in the introduced version of S. 933. The reporting attributed a 50% launch-funding limit to the 2025 authorization effort, while the reviewed introduced text does not include it. The later status of any cap language is unresolved in the records cited here, so readers should not infer that it passed, became law, or was definitively removed.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- NASA Saturn V rocket holds records as the tallest, and heaviest payload launch rocket ever built, and is the starship that can be the perfect gift for adult fans
- With this space shuttle model were made thirteen missions: the twelve NASA Apollo Saturn missions and the launch of Skylab into low Earth orbit in outer space.
- Ugears Saturn 5 3d model ship kit adult is a 1:170 scale of the greatest mechanical wooden puzzles of space the world has seen
- This DIY model kit of the spaceship instantly becomes a treasured part of the Ugears NASA puzzle collection and the larger catalog of Ugears wooden 3d puzzles for adults
- It will be coveted by anyone interested in the Apollo board models, solar system wooden puzzle enthusiasts, who want to build their own rocket kits for adults or spaceship models.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
