A legendary group of space explorers is coming together to defend American democracy, forming a new organization called “Astronauts For America.”
The Press Democrat reports founding member and Apollo 9 veteran Rusty Schweickart says the group—which includes over 100 retired astronauts—is speaking out because they believe the nation’s core constitutional values are under assault.
The nonpartisan coalition, made up of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, aims to restore trust in government by supporting leaders who respect science and work across the aisle. Schweickart, a former Sonoma resident, says that seeing Earth from space taught him that we are all one crew on a small planet and that democracy requires active protection.
The group launched its mission just days after the historic Artemis II return, emphasizing that while they’ve retired from NASA, their oath to protect the Constitution never expires.
