Key facts
- Over 100 retired Nasa astronauts have formed a nonpartisan advocacy group called Astronauts for America.
- The group launched the 'Vote for Freedom' campaign to encourage participation in democracy.
- Astronauts aim to restore faith in the US Constitution and its principles.
- The campaign will target college campuses, especially in swing states, to engage young and first-time voters.
- Members plan to assess congressional candidates' commitment to constitutional principles.
More than 100 retired Nasa astronauts have launched a nonpartisan advocacy group, Astronauts for America, with the goal of restoring faith in the nation's constitutional democracy. The group, which includes veterans of various space missions, believes that their unique perspective from orbit, seeing the US without borders, provides a valuable viewpoint on national unity.
The 'Vote for Freedom' campaign, timed to coincide with the 2026 semiquincentennial of the US, aims to encourage politicians and the public to recommit to constitutional principles. Cady Coleman, a veteran astronaut, stated that while members have diverse political views, their shared fight is for their country and its democracy.
Astronauts for America plans to tour approximately 60 college and university campuses, many in swing states, to engage young and first-time voters. They emphasize the importance of voting as both a right and a responsibility crucial for a functioning democracy. Notable members include Charles Bolden, former Nasa administrator, and Rusty Schweickart, an Apollo 9 astronaut.
Members express concern over the perceived deterioration of democratic norms and the increasing reliance on executive orders, which they argue can be contrary to the spirit of the Constitution. They believe that immediate action is necessary to preserve the nation's democratic future. The campaign launch event took place on July 20, 2026, at the California Science Center, marking the anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.