Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said:

“America’s astronauts take great risks in order to keep the United States the world’s leader in human space exploration, and we are thankful for their dedication to scientific advancement. Upon their return from missions, ensuring they have the ability to make it to and from necessary official and personal appointments until they are able to drive themselves is a simple, commonsense solution.”

Sen. Peters said:

“When NASA astronauts go on space missions, they literally sacrifice their time on Earth to conduct important research that benefits American citizens and businesses, as well as our partners around the world. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation, which would provide our astronauts with the transportation service they need to safely acclimate when returning home.”

Background:

NASA has made an investment in gathering and analyzing data associated with how human physiology changes during extended stays in a micro-gravity environment and how they reacclimate to gravity upon return to Earth.

Astronauts undergo a set of well-documented adaptive changes due to exposure to weightlessness that includes loss of blood volume and blood cells, muscle mass and strength, bone density, and neurosensory responses. Though adaptive in space, these changes become maladaptive upon return to Earth, with well-known degradation in strength and fitness, balance and motor control, and blood pressure regulation. NASA has dedicated considerable resources to understanding these physiological processes.

Upon return, crewmembers are involved in scientific experiments carried out at NASA facilities for post-flight baseline data collection. This data assists with addressing the medical challenges of future human spaceflight exploration initiatives to the Moon and Mars. The most critical data for this analysis is time-sensitive and needs to be gathered in the initial weeks after return to Earth. A deliberate rehabilitation program developed by the space medicine community is also implemented to a ensure timely and safe recovery from prolonged exposure to weightlessness and a gradual return to normal activities, to including driving a vehicle.

NASA has determined that returning long duration astronauts should not drive motor vehicles for two weeks, though more time may be required in individual cases and as the duration of space flight further increases. In order to guarantee that extensive collection, some of which requires specialized equipment, and to ensure the presence for other post-flight duties, it is essential that the crewmembers be transported to and from their home to NASA facilities and other local locations during the period of their incapacitation until they are medically cleared to safely drive themselves.

The full text of the bill is available HERE.

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