Astronauts For America Newsletter – July 2026 Mission Status Report

MISSION STATUS REPORT

From the Flight Deck

On July 20, the 57th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, Astronauts For America launched the Vote For Freedom campaign, a nationwide initiative to encourage young Americans to register, vote, and become lifelong participants in our constitutional democracy.

The campaign was announced at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, where twenty former NASA astronauts gathered in front of Space Shuttle Endeavour. Several of the astronauts participating in the event had flown aboard Endeavour during their careers. Spectrum News anchor Alex Cohen moderated a panel discussion featuring Major General Charlie Bolden, USMC (Ret.), Dr. Ellen Ochoa, and Steve Smith. More than one hundred supporters, donors, community leaders, and members of the public joined us for the launch.

Young Americans remain the least likely age group to vote. According to USAFacts, fewer than half of eligible voters ages 18 to 24 cast ballots in the 2024 election, and fewer than 30 percent participated in the 2022 midterm elections.

Through the Vote For Freedom campaign, Astronauts For America members will visit colleges and universities across the country to encourage first-time and young voters to register, become informed, and exercise their right to vote.

We encourage every eligible American to vote, regardless of age, background, or political beliefs. This initiative begins on college campuses because that is where many Americans become eligible to vote for the first time. Our hope is to inspire a lifetime of informed civic participation. Voting is a private act. Our role is not to influence who Americans support, but to encourage every eligible citizen to cast a ballot and participate in our constitutional democracy.

The next generation will inherit the future we leave them. They deserve the opportunity to help shape it.

Our message to these students is simple:

“Going to the polls is one small step for you, and one giant leap for our country.”

This campaign would not be possible without the generous support of many individuals and organizations. We extend our sincere thanks to the California Science Center, Hawk Koch, Billy Ray, Liz Hart, Lanette Phillips, Rick Lynch, Brittany Grimm, and the teams at ID, Pinpoint, and SKDK for helping make this launch a success.

Here’s the link to watch this event.

On Our Radar

The Constitution assigns Congress and the President important but distinct responsibilities regarding the use of military force. How those responsibilities are exercised is one of the most consequential constitutional questions our nation faces.

Recent military operations involving Iran have renewed debate over the balance of these constitutional powers. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution grants Congress the authority to declare war. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing U.S. Armed Forces to hostilities and generally limits those engagements to 60 days without congressional authorization.

In recent months, the House and Senate have considered multiple War Powers resolutions addressing continued military operations involving Iran, with differing outcomes. Meanwhile, military activity has resumed following the apparent collapse of a ceasefire.

Astronauts For America is closely following these developments because they involve fundamental constitutional questions regarding the respective roles of Congress and the President in decisions involving the use of military force.

We the People – Ways to be Involved

In our first newsletter, we invited you to share how you are participating in your community and helping strengthen our constitutional democracy. Thank you to everyone who has written to us. Although we are not able to respond individually to every submission, please know that we read every one.

We’d like to share a few examples.

• Several of you told us that you’ve distributed pocket-sized copies of the Constitution in your communities, along with information about voter registration and upcoming election deadlines.
• Others serve as precinct committeepersons, helping connect voters with the electoral process, encouraging civic participation, and strengthening local communities. Regardless of political party, these volunteers play an important role in helping citizens become engaged in our democratic process.

Thank you for your commitment to public service. We hope you’ll continue sharing your stories with us through the Contact page on our website.

Our Civic Responsibility

From Steering Committee member John Herrington, the first Native American to fly in space:

“I was fortunate to attend the naturalization ceremony of the wife of one of my classmates from the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School. She had immigrated from Iran.

Watching her, along with nearly one hundred other immigrants, take the Oath of Allegiance was one of the most inspiring experiences of my life. Many were overcome with emotion. It reminded me how deeply people around the world value the freedoms and opportunities our nation offers.

As part of the naturalization process, every prospective citizen studies our nation’s history, learns about our system of government, and passes a civics examination.

We are fortunate to live in a country where the Constitution guarantees our right to choose our leaders. Many of the immigrants I met that day came from places where that freedom did not exist.

Being an informed citizen begins with understanding how our government is structured, the rights protected by the Constitution, and why exercising the right to vote is so important. Understanding our history is equally essential.

If you’d like to test your own knowledge, here’s a basic U.S. history and civics test. I hope you’ll give it a try.”

AFA Partner Spotlight

This month, we’re pleased to highlight the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization founded in 1920 that is dedicated to empowering voters and strengthening our democracy through civic education, voter registration, voter information, and public engagement.

Although Astronauts For America and the League of Women Voters are independent organizations, we share a commitment to informed citizenship, civic participation, and helping Americans engage thoughtfully in our constitutional democracy.

Learn more about the League of Women Voters here.

Our Country Is the Mission.