Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act

Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act would authorize NASA to use government-owned or leased passenger vehicles to transport certain astronauts during post-mission activities. Specifically, the bill creates a new authority (Sec. 20150) allowing the Administrator to authorize the use of a passenger carrier to move government astronauts or space flight participants between their residences and mission-related locations for official post-mission purposes, such as medical monitoring, research, and treatment prior to medical clearance to drive. Written approval from the Chief of the Astronaut Office would be required, and NASA could maintain and operate the vehicles used. Reimbursement would be required for international partner astronauts or space flight participants who are not U.S. government employees. The bill also directs the Administrator to issue necessary regulations and provides funding flexibility, including a provision that allows use of certain funds notwithstanding existing procurement restrictions. A clerical amendment to the table of contents would accompany the change. The bill defines key terms (government astronaut, international partner astronaut, space flight participant, space support vehicle, mission, official purpose, passenger carrier) and limits the new authority to transportation tied to official post-mission activities. It clarifies that the reimbursement requirement applies to non-U.S. government or international participants, while U.S. government astronauts and participants would be covered under the authority without such reimbursement in the same way as official government personnel.