Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act

The bill would add a new section to title 51 of the U.S. Code authorizing NASA's Administrator to use government-owned passenger carriers — including motor vehicles, aircraft, boats, and other similar conveyances — to transport eligible astronauts and space flight participants between their residences and post-mission medical locations. The transportation would be limited to "official purposes," defined as medical research, monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment before a crew member receives post-mission medical clearance to operate a motor vehicle. The Chief of the Astronaut Office would have to provide written approval for the program. NASA would also be authorized to maintain, operate, and repair the vehicles used for this purpose.

Eligibility would extend to government astronauts, certain international partner astronauts, and other individuals who flew aboard a space support vehicle. However, transportation costs for international partner astronauts and space flight participants who are not U.S. government employees would have to be reimbursed to the Treasury. The Administrator would be required to issue regulations to implement the new authority.

NASA astronauts employed by the U.S. government, international partner astronauts, and private space flight participants returning from missions who are temporarily prohibited from driving during post-mission medical recovery. NASA's Administrator and the Chief of the Astronaut Office would have new administrative responsibilities, and the Department of the Treasury would receive reimbursements for non-government travelers.

After spaceflight, crew members often undergo mandatory medical recovery and may be medically barred from operating a motor vehicle for days or weeks. Without this authority, NASA lacks a clear legal basis to use government vehicles for that ground transportation. The bill would close that gap, ensuring eligible crew members can reliably reach required medical appointments without relying on personal or commercial transport.

The NASA Administrator would promulgate regulations to implement the new authority. Before any transportation is provided, the Chief of the Astronaut Office must issue written approval of the post-mission transportation program. Transportation of non-U.S.-government individuals — international partner astronauts and commercial space flight participants — would trigger a reimbursement obligation to the Treasury, requiring NASA to establish accounting procedures. The bill also explicitly overrides a general prohibition in 31 U.S.C. § 1344(a) on expending appropriated funds for passenger carrier use, allowing NASA to draw on its available appropriations for this purpose.