Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act

Summary#

This bill adds a new section to federal space law that lets the NASA Administrator authorize use of Federal passenger carriers to transport certain astronauts and space flight participants. The bill defines passenger carriers broadly to include motor vehicles, aircraft, boats, vessels, or similar transportation owned or leased by the United States. Transportation is allowed when it is for an "official purpose," which the bill says includes post-mission activities such as medical research, monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment before the individual is cleared to drive. The Chief of the Astronaut Office must approve post-mission transportation in writing. The bill also allows NASA to maintain, operate, and repair passenger carriers for this purpose. International partner astronauts and space flight participants who are not U.S. Government employees must reimburse the Treasury for such transportation. The Administrator must write regulations needed to carry out the section, and may expend available funds notwithstanding a cited provision of title 31.

What it means for you#

• If you are a government astronaut or a space flight participant, NASA may provide and operate ground or other passenger transportation between your residence and mission-related locations after a mission for medical or post-mission reasons, with written approval from the Chief of the Astronaut Office.
• If you are an international partner astronaut or a space flight participant who is not a U.S. Government employee, you would be required to reimburse the Treasury for transportation provided under this authority.
• For most members of the public, the bill does not create direct changes to services or routine obligations.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on estimated costs or budgetary effects is included in the bill text. The bill expressly permits the Administrator to maintain, operate, and repair passenger carriers and to expend funds available to the Administration to carry out the section, and it requires reimbursement to the Treasury from certain non‑employee passengers.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.