House Passes Bill to Let Astronauts Keep Certain Artifacts From Their Spaceflights

House Passes Bill to Let Astronauts Keep Certain Artifacts From Their Spaceflights

The House passed H.R. 4158 today.  The bill would give astronauts full ownership rights to certain artifacts from their spaceflights.

Currently, anything of an official nature that flew on a NASA mission is the property of the U.S. Government.  This bill would allow astronauts to own their personal logs, checklists, and flight manuals, for example. Moon rocks or other lunar material are not included, though.  That remains government property.

The bill passed by voice vote under suspension of the rules.  Although there is little time left for legislative activity in the 112th Congress, this relatively noncontroversial bill actually has a chance of getting through the Senate and to the President’s desk.

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