Bills
| 3.23.22

Congratulating NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly on His One-Year Space Mission (S. Res. 385)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is S. Res. 385?

(Updated March 15, 2018)

This resolution congratulates National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut Scott Kelly for the historic achievement in completing a one-year space mission, and on the successful return to Earth, the U.S., and his family. It applauds the contributions of his mission to U.S. scientific progress.

The resolution recognizes that Kelly’s one-year mission contributed to research on the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body and mind, as such studies into human health are critical to the future of human space exploration.

As a simple resolution, this legislation would not advance to the House if approved by the Senate.

Argument in favor

Astronaut Scott Kelly’s successful one-year space mission is a remarkable achievement for him personally and for NASA that merits congratulations from the Senate.

Argument opposed

While Scott Kelly and NASA both deserve recognition for their accomplishment, the Senate doesn’t need to go on record applauding them with a formal resolution.

Impact

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly; NASA; and the Senate.

Cost of S. Res. 385

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced this resolution to honor fellow New Jersey resident Scott Kelly — a NASA astronaut who completed a one-year mission in space on February 29, 2016:

“This is a proud moment for New Jersey and for our country as we celebrate Scott Kelly’s safe return home. This resolution honors his outstanding contribution to science and exploration in the name of international cooperation. I am extremely proud to welcome this fellow New Jerseyean and lover of science home and I congratulate him on his record-breaking voyage.”

This resolution currently has six cosponsors in the Senate, including five Democrats and one Republican.


Of Note: Scott Kelly is a NASA astronaut who had completed several missions into space before being selected to participate in a long duration spaceflight to study the effects of being in space for one-year on human physiology. Changes in his physical, mental, and genetic makeup will be compared to his own pre-departure data, and his identical twin brother Mark, who is a retired astronaut.


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Flickr user cwkarl)