100+ NASA Astronauts Unite for Constitutional Values

When you've seen Earth from space, you understand how much more unites us than divides us.

That perspective is driving more than 100 retired NASA astronauts to speak up about protecting American democracy. They've formed Astronauts for America, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting constitutional principles like the rule of law, checks and balances, and peaceful transitions of power.

"I think we've all been getting concerned for quite a number of years about not being comfortable with the way some things are going," says co-founder Linda Godwin, who flew four space shuttle missions between 1991 and 2001. "It was powerful to find out that a lot of us felt the same way, and there's a stronger voice together."

The group released an open letter Tuesday expressing their shared concern about declining public trust in government and science, along with rising political polarization. Their message isn't about taking sides but about reinforcing the values that made American space exploration possible in the first place.

The astronaut coalition includes legends from multiple generations. Apollo 9's Rusty Schweickart signed on, along with Ellen Ochoa, former deputy director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, and Scott Kelly, who spent nearly a year aboard the International Space Station.

"Civil discourse is not working well right now, and it's enough of a concern that we just wanted to speak up now," Godwin explains. "In our time as astronauts, we learned that when you see something, you speak up."

The Ripple Effect

The group's impact extends beyond symbolic statements. Astronauts for America plans to release scorecards rating political candidates on their commitment to constitutional principles and the rule of law. They'll also meet directly with policymakers to advocate for evidence-based leadership.

Their open letter emphasized how cooperation across political beliefs proved essential to NASA's success. Whether docking with the International Space Station or conducting critical repairs in orbit, astronauts couldn't afford partisan divisions when lives hung in the balance.

"We see the same core values of respecting our Constitution and rule of law as extending across all parties," Godwin says. The group deliberately assembled a diverse, nonpartisan coalition because protecting democracy isn't a one-party issue.

These space explorers bring unique credibility to conversations about American values. They've literally worked together in the most extreme conditions imaginable, where teamwork and trust mean the difference between mission success and catastrophe. Now they're applying those same principles to healing divisions on Earth.

When astronauts who've orbited our planet hundreds of miles up decide democracy is worth fighting for, that's a message worth hearing.