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S. 582 · Senate bill · 119th Congress
This bill permits the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use government-owned passenger vehicles to transport astronauts and other space flight participants to and from post-mission medical research and treatment activities. (After returning to earth, astronauts generally undergo a post-mission medical recovery program and may be prohibited from driving motor vehicles for varying periods of time.)
Under the bill, transportation may be provided to necessary post-mission activities including medical research and the monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of an astronaut or space flight participant before they receive post-mission clearance to operate a motor vehicle. Only astronauts employed by the U.S. government, certain international partner astronauts, and other individuals carried in launch or reentry vehicles are eligible for transportation.
The bill also permits NASA to maintain, operate, and repair one or more passenger vehicles, including motor vehicles, aircraft, and other means of transportation, for the purpose of providing such post-mission transportation.
The cost of transporting international partner astronauts and space flight participants not employed by the U.S. government must be reimbursed to the Department of the Treasury.
This Act may be cited as the “Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act”.
(a) In general.— Subchapter III of chapter 201 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“20150. Passenger carrier use for astronaut transportation.—
(a) Definitions.— In this section:
(1) Government astronaut; international partner astronaut; space flight participant; space support vehicle.— The terms government astronaut, international partner astronaut, space flight participant, and space support vehicle have the meanings given such terms in section 50902.
(2) Mission.— The term mission means an assignment to a space support vehicle of one or more—
(A) government astronauts in the course of their employment; or
(B) space flight participants.
(3) Official purpose.— With respect to transportation, the term official purpose means transportation necessary for post-mission activities, including medical research, monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of a government astronaut or space flight participant before receiving post-mission medical clearance to operate a motor vehicle.
(4) Passenger carrier.— The term passenger carrier means a passenger motor vehicle, aircraft, boat, vessel, or other similar means of transportation that is owned or leased by the United States Government.
(b) Authority.—
(1) In general.— The Administrator may authorize the use of a passenger carrier to transport a government astronaut or space flight participant between the residence of the individual and various locations if—
(A) such transportation is provided for an official purpose; and
(B) the Chief of the Astronaut Office has approved, in writing, post-mission transportation of government astronauts and space flight participants under this section.
(2) Maintenance, operation, and repair.— The Administrator may maintain, operate, and repair one or more passenger carriers for the purpose of providing transportation pursuant to the authority provided in paragraph (1).
(c) Reimbursement.— Transportation under subsection (b)(1) of an international partner astronaut or a space flight participant who is not an employee of the United States Government shall be subject to reimbursement to the Treasury.
(d) Regulations.— The Administrator shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.
(e) Applicability of section 1344 of title 31.— In carrying out subsection (b), the Administrator may expend funds available to the Administration, by appropriation or otherwise, notwithstanding section 1344(a) of title 31.”.
(b) Clerical amendment.— The table of contents for chapter 201 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 20149 the following: