— A group of more than 100 retired NASA astronauts will land at college campuses and town halls this summer to promote their their next mission — getting Americans out to the polls.

The nonpartisan "Vote For Freedom" campaign by Astronauts For America will see the space travelers meet with "young and first time voters to emphasize the importance of exercising their democratic right to vote" in the upcoming midterm elections. The aim is to increase turn out, which recently has averaged around 40 percent of the eligible voter base.

"Going to the polls is a small step for each American, but a giant leap for our country," said Danny Olivas, Astronauts For America steering committee member, in a statement released on the 57th anniversary of the Apollo 11 first moon landing on Monday (July 20). "We are excited to launch this nationwide campaign to engage a critical U.S. voting bloc: our youth."

"Young voters are the stewards of our shared future," said Olivas, who flew as a mission specialist on two space shuttle flights. "By working across generations, we can contribute to a more robust and deliberative democracy where elected officials are held accountable and constitutional rights are respected and upheld for the long term."

Launched in April, the non-profit Astronauts For America was founded with the goals of "upholding constitutional values; restoring public trust in American democracy; and supporting leaders who respect science, use data to make decisions and work across political differences for the good of the American people."

To date, the organization has issued statements in response to Supreme Court rulings on birthright citizenship and mail-in voting and have begun work on a series of papers examining pressures affecting constitutional norms and how a focus on root causes, lessons learned, and recommendations for action can ensure that "failure is not an option."

On Monday, 19 of organization's members gathered at the California Science Center to announce the "Vote For Freedom" campaign in the shadow of the space shuttle Endeavour (opening to the public on Nov. 13).

Among those in attendance were Olivas, Cady Coleman, Charlie Bolden, Dan Tani, Ellen Ochoa, Gene Trinh, John Grunsfeld, John Herrington, Jose Hernandez, Josh Cassada, Karen Nyberg, Kenneth Cockrell, Linda Godwin, Loren Acton, Nicole Stott, Ron Garan, Rusty Schweickart, Steve Frick, and Steve Smith. A full list of Astronauts For America members is available on the organization's website.

"Our goal at Astronauts For America is to strengthen democracy for our children, grandchildren and every American. We are thrilled to take the Astronauts For America mission on the road as we work to educate students and young adults on their constitutional rights and responsibilities," said Bolden, Astronauts For America steering committee member and former NASA Administrator. "Throughout my life, I've seen the power young voters possess to mobilize and engage others in the political process."

"When young people speak their minds, amazing things can happen, and our democracy is stronger for it," said Bolden, who commanded two of his four shuttle missions.

Over the coming months, Astronauts For America plans to dispatch its members to community colleges, state colleges county fairs and town halls across the country to speak directly with youth and first-time voters and engage them in "Vote For Freedom" campaign. The tour stops and dates will be announced soon.

"Our country is our mission; the people are what is important; and the rights and freedoms that they have," said Ochoa, a former director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and a mission specialist on four space shuttle missions. "This is something I can do right now, take this step, to help protect our democracy and encourage people to support that."