This bill authorizes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator to establish a university-affiliated research center focused on deep space and interplanetary research. This center would facilitate capabilities and fund analyses and engineering support for cis-lunar and deep-space missions . The legislation requires the center to be accountable for the technical quality of its work and to possess expertise in convening academic and private sector groups to foster research and private-public partnerships . The Administrator must develop policies for participant selection, award types (cooperative agreements, contracts), and required technical capabilities. Eligible participants include institutions of higher education, federally funded research and development centers, and nonprofit research institutions.