Old Astronauts4Hire Website

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 1, 2015 Astronauts for Hire Joins the Global #GivingTuesday Movement on December 1 Titusville, Florida – Astronauts for Hire (A4H) is proud to join more than 30,000 other charitable organizations participating in #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Occurring this year on December 1, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday to kick-off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support. A4H accepts donations on #GivingTuesday and all other days at www.astronauts4hire.org . A4H is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides professional development opportunities for aspiring ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 18, 2015 A4H Members Complete PoSSUM Scientist-Astronaut Training Titusville, Florida – Astronauts for Hire (A4H) would like to congratulate six of its members for completing the inaugural PoSSUM Scientist-Astronaut Qualification Program that was held from February 7-10, 2015 at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Project PoSSUM announced today that all graduation requirements for these candidates have been met. These members include: Pete Freeland of Redondo Beach, CA Jamie Guined of Houston, TX Heidi Hammerstein of Pembroke, GA Dr. Paul McCall of Hollywood, FL Jonna Ocampo of Kapolei, HI Jeffrey Scallon of Tampa, FL “The A4H members who graduated from the program offered valuable operational insights that helped refine the curriculum for this new training program,” said Project PoSSUM Principal Investigator Dr. Jason Reimuller. “We are committed to provide opportunities where our graduates may conduct valuable scientific res...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 2, 2014 Astronauts for Hire Celebrates #GivingTuesday Titusville, Florida – Astronauts for Hire (A4H) is proud to join more than 18,000 other charitable organizations participating in #GivingTuesday, a movement to encourage personal philanthropy and smarter charitable giving during the holiday season. #GivingTuesday is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and follows shopping days Black Friday and Cyber Monday to mark the start of the giving season. The purpose is to create a movement dedicated to giving that inspires people to take collaborative action to support charities and causes that help create a better world. "The development of the space frontier is the ultimate humanitarian goal to ensure a sustainable future for our species and our planet," said A4H President and CEO Brian Shiro. "A4H is dedicated to providing professional development opportunities for aspiring astronauts in the era of commercial spaceflight. By supporting resea...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 23, 2014 Win a Free Trip to Space by Supporting Astronauts for Hire! Titusville, Florida – Astronauts for Hire is pleased to announce that it is a participating nonprofit organization in the Ticket to Rise campaign. Ticket to Rise is a 90-day fundraising initiative from the Urgency Network that gives anyone a chance to win a trip to space by donating to one of over 100 participating nonprofit organizations. For more details and to support Astronauts for Hire as the nonprofit of your choice, please visit: http://www.urgencynetwork.com/a4h A donation of $10 or more to a participating nonprofit enters you into a drawing to win a Founders Ticket from Space Expedition Corporation on the XCOR Lynx Mark II Spacecraft. In addition to spaceflight entries, entrants may also redeem rewards such as VIP concert tickets, gift cards, clothing and more, in exchange for donating. The more you give, the more entries you’ll receive and the better your chances of winning....

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 20, 2013 Astronauts for Hire Announces Youth Art Contest as part of World Space Week 2013 Tampa, Florida – To help inspire the next generation of space explorers, Astronauts for Hire (A4H) is proud to host an art contest in association with World Space Week 2013 . The future of space exploration and human spaceflight will be determined by the children of today, and it is never too early to spark their imaginations through creative self-expression. A4H welcome art submissions from youth age 17 and under that answer any of the following questions: "Where in space would you like to go?" "What will you do in space?" "How would you live on Mars?" Entries can be submitted at http:/forms.astronauts4hire.org/ArtContest from September 20, 2013 through October 20, 2013 (Deadline extended to October 31, 2013). Artwork can be any medium (pencil, crayon, marker, paint, sculpture, photo, video, etc.) but must be captured in a digital...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 3, 2013 Astronauts for Hire Adds Six New Commercial Astronaut Candidates Broomfield, Colorado – Astronauts for Hire (A4H) proudly announces the selection of its fourth group of commercial scientist-astronaut candidates. The six new recruits were selected through a rigorous process from a pool of 85 highly qualified applicants from 14 countries who responded to the nonprofit organization’s March 2013 call for applications. "The selection of the new class of A4H flight members marks our commitment to a future important role in the commercial spaceflight arena," said A4H Training Officer Dr. Erik Seedhouse. "The A4H selection committee was inspired by the outstanding talent we saw in the candidates who applied to become flight members, and we wish the new class well in their training. These flight members will continue to motivate and inspire those who want to reach for their dreams." The six new flight members chosen in this selection ca...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 28, 2013 Astronauts for Hire at the 2013 Next-generation Suborbital Researchers Conference Broomfield, Colorado – Astronauts for Hire (A4H) is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the 2013 Next-generation Suborbital Researchers Conference (NSRC) to be held at the Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield, Colorado from June 3-5, 2013. The annual NSRC event brings together researchers from government, industry, and academia in the largest forum of its kind focused on the research and education capabilities of next-generation suborbital vehicles. "I am very happy that A4H is a sponsor of NSRC for the third year in a row," said A4H President and CEO Brian Shiro. "Our organization grew out of the need for trained research payload specialists that was conveyed at the first NSRC in 2010, so it is fitting that we give back to the suborbital research community that has given so much to us." Several members and partners of A4H will attend the confer...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2013 Astronauts4Hire Announces Commercial Astronaut Candidate Application Opportunity Tampa, Florida – Astronauts4Hire (A4H) is pleased to announce that it is seeking highly qualified candidates to expand its cadre of prospective commercial astronauts. Individuals interested in becoming Flight Members can submit applications via the Astronauts4Hire website at http://forms.astronauts4hire.org/FMapplication by April 20, 2013 . Selectees will be announced during the first week of June 2013 at the Next-generation Suborbital Researchers Conference in Broomfield, Colorado. A4H Flight Members must speak English fluently and hold at least a Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field of science or engineering. Exceptional applicants who are current students expecting to graduate within two years will also be considered. Those selected as A4H astronaut candidates should possess a unique combination of scientific expertise, broad technical and operat...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2013 Astronauts4Hire and NASTAR Center Announce Partnership Tampa, Florida – Astronauts4Hire and the National AeroSpace Training and Research (NASTAR®) Center are proud to announce that they have signed a services agreement for NASTAR Center Space Training and to collaborate on developing new A4H-branded training programs for A4H’s commercial astronaut candidates. A4H and the NASTAR Center will work together to develop A4H-specific training courses for astronaut candidates interested in aiding researchers, payload developers, and spaceflight providers with mission planning and operations support during spaceflight missions. "A4H is an ambitious organization that has demonstrated diverse interests in space applications," stated Brienna Henwood, Director of Space Training and Research at the NASTAR Center. "I look forward to their insight and am happy to support their training goals of conducting research operations in space." The ag...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 3, 2012 "Astronauts for Hire" Book Available Now Tampa, Florida – Human spaceflight is no longer the sole preserve of professional astronauts working on government-funded space programs. As private companies build and operate launch new vehicles, a new breed of astronaut is coming into being – the commercial astronaut. Astronauts4Hire (A4H) Training Officer Dr. Erik Seedhouse ’s ninth book titled Astronauts for Hire: The Emergence of the Commercial Astronaut Corps ( ISBN 978-1-4614-0519-1 ) explores how this new breed of astronaut will be selected and trained, providing a unique insight into the kinds of missions and tasks that commercial astronauts will perform. " Astronauts for Hire will serve as a handbook and reference guide for the nascent commercial spaceflight industry and as a guidebook for research institutions and academia seeking to employ commercial astronauts," said author Erik Seedhouse. "It will provide spaceflight ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 27, 2012 Astronauts4Hire Announces its Commercial Astronaut Training Programs Palo Alto, California – After more than a year of development, Astronauts for Hire (A4H) is proud to announce its proposed training programs for Research Specialist Astronauts and Operations Specialist Astronauts. These programs, which were developed by the nonprofit in close consultation with former NASA astronauts and astronaut instructors, are the most comprehensive commercial scientist-astronaut training guidelines available in the world. "Astronauts for Hire is proud to have integrated the expertise of experienced spaceflight professionals and top-notch training providers into a comprehensive, yet cost-effective, training program that will produce the world’s best-prepared commercial scientist-astronauts," remarked A4H Chief Operating Officer Dr. Jason Reimuller . "We will publish a full description of the training qualifications in a peer-reviewed journal ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 22, 2012 Astronauts4Hire and Vital Space Team Up for Biometric Monitoring Flights Tampa, Florida – Astronauts4Hire and partner company Vital Space will test a new biometric monitoring system designed for use by spaceflight participants on a May 2012 reduced gravity parabolic flight campaign in Houston, Texas. They will undergo up to four flights with 40 parabolas each granting 25 seconds of near zero-gravity. The project is facilitated by NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program , to which Vital Space and Astronauts4Hire submitted a successful joint proposal chosen by NASA in October 2011 titled, "A demonstrated application of a cost effective and novel platform for non-invasive acquisition of physiologic variables from spaceflight participant candidates." "The growth of suborbital spaceflight reflects a unique opportunity to capture and quantify the physiologic variables related to human performance in demanding environments," said Vita...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2012 Astronauts4Hire Sponsors 2012 Next-generation Suborbital Researchers Conference Tampa, Florida – Astronauts4Hire is pleased to announce that it has become a sponsor of the 2012 Next-generation Suborbital Researchers Conference (NSRC) to be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Resort in Palo Alto, California from February 27-29, 2012. The NSRC will bring together researchers from government, industry, and academia in the largest forum of its kind focused on the research and education capabilities of new suborbital vehicles. "Astronauts4Hire grew out of NSRC-2010 and was a NSRC-2011 sponsor," said Brian Shiro, President and CEO of Astronauts4Hire, "so it is fitting that we will once again support the suborbital research community by sponsoring the NSRC-2012. This will be a prime opportunity for A4H to demonstrate how far it's come in its second year and where it's going in the future." Several members and partners of Ast...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 12, 2011 Astronauts4Hire Announces FuzeBox Support and Public Webinar for Astronaut Applicants Tampa, Florida – Astronauts4Hire is pleased to welcome Fuzebox, Inc. to its growing list of supporters helping to further its mission to develop the next generation of astronauts. FuzeBox has granted the non-profit organization a professional-level license for its Fuze Meeting video conferencing and collaboration product. "Fuze Meeting provides a facet of communication essential for Astronauts4Hire," remarked Astronauts4Hire CTO Amnon Govrin. "It enables productive high-quality voice and video meetings among members within the organization." FuzeBox is a personal telepresence and visual collaboration SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) company whose vision is to empower global professionals with visual collaboration, real-time communication, community, and presence on any platform. Its flagship product is Fuze Meeting, which enables cloud-based mu...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 12, 2011 Astronauts4Hire Granted 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Status Tampa, Florida – Astronauts4Hire is proud to announce it is now officially a public charity with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Contributions donated to Astronauts4Hire are fully tax-deductible retroactive to the founding of the organization on April 12, 2010. Astronauts4Hire is also now eligible to apply for government and foundation grants, which will further broaden its access to resources and strengthen its ability to serve the commercial spaceflight industry. "Obtaining 501(c)(3) status is a major milestone for Astronauts4Hire," remarked President and Co-founder Brian Shiro. "This opens many doors for us to expand fundraising activities and fully realize our goals as a charitable educational organization facilitating the training and professional development needs of astronaut candidates. In doing so, we will create a...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2011 Astronauts4Hire, Ashton Graybiel Spatial Orientation Lab Partnership Tampa, Florida – Astronauts4Hire is pleased to announce it has entered into a research and training partnership with the Ashton Graybiel Spatial Orientation Laboratory (AGSOL). The two organizations recently signed a memorandum of understanding agreement focused on addressing the goals, challenges, and issues of astronaut training for private spaceflight. A particular emphasis of the collaboration between Astronauts4Hire and AGSOL will be improving task performance under modified gravity conditions and mitigating space motion sickness, which has plagued almost three quarters of all astronauts. Representatives from Astronauts4Hire toured the AGSOL on July 14 and gained a firsthand perspective of the lab’s capabilities to support human sensorimotor control in unusual force environments. Located at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, AGSOL researchers have spent the last ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 20, 2011 Astronauts4Hire Members Complete Suborbital Scientist Training Southampton, Pennsylvania – The era of private astronauts conducting commercial space research missions is almost here!  Eight Astronauts4Hire members have successfully completed the Suborbital Scientist Training Program at the National AeroSpace Training and Research ( NASTAR ) Center in Southampton, Pennsylvania.  Flight Members Christopher Altman, Kristine Ferrone, Jose Hurtado, Jason Reimuller, Brian Shiro, and Alli Taylor, along with Associate Member Jules Shiohira Ung, comprised the inaugural Astronauts4Hire class to undergo suborbital scientist training and certification.  Flight Member Mindy Howard also completed the course previously. "Centrifuge and high altitude training are core training elements that NASTAR provided to our members," remarked Astronauts4Hire Chief Operating Officer Dr. Jason Reimuller .  "The very realistic mission simulation in NASTAR’s ce...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 11, 2011 Astronauts4Hire Members Complete Emergency & Sea Survival Training Groton, Connecticut – Astronauts4Hire members have successfully completed Dunker, Emergency Egress, and Sea Survival training at Survival Systems USA in Groton, Connecticut.  These courses have prepared them with the knowledge and skills to safely cope with physical and psychological stresses encountered during emergency situations at sea. Flight Members Christopher Altman, Jason Reimuller, and Brian Shiro, along with Associate Member Jules Shiohira Ung, comprised the first Astronauts4Hire class to undergo these training certifications. "We have learned how to appropriately prepare for and respond to onboard emergencies that require forced water landing, inverted underwater escape, and sustained survival at sea," said Flight Member Christopher Altman . Astronauts4Hire President Brian Shiro added, "I was extremely impressed by the expert capabilities of Survival Sy...