Old Astronauts4Hire Website

Hot on the heels of NSRC 2013 , A4H members came together to participate in several training activities throughout the month of June.  First, Flight Members Ben Corbin and Jim Crowell completed Basic Suborbital Space Training at the NASTAR Center , where they built up their personal G-tolerance on simulated spaceflights in the PHOENIX Centrifuge , learned about high altitude physiology through an hypobaric chamber ride, and participated in several other academic lectures related to the aerospace environment in order to maximize their preparation for spaceflight. Associate Member David Attig joined Ben and Jim to complete high altitude training.   Then, Flight Members Dr. Mindy Howard and Kristine Ferrone completed Sensorimotor Human Factors Training at SIRIUS Astronaut Training . The 2-day " Protocol A " program focuses on preparing for the inevitable spatial disorientation, sensory illusions, movement errors, and motion sickness most people will experience on space flig...

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...

Adding to his recent high altitude and G-tolerance training , A4H member Dr. Erik Seedhouse completed unusual attitude training in a BAE Hawk 115 at 15 Wing of the Canadian Forces Base in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The training allowed him to develop aerobatic skills to track and control aircraft motion paths during unusual attitudes  and high G-forces .  His first-hand account of the exciting activity follows. At 0700 on 17th May I went to the Aviation Life Support Equipment (ALSE) office for my G-suit fitting which took about 30 minutes. After being fitted, the G-suit was tested on a rig to make sure the thing inflated properly.  Once that was done I moved on to the helmet fit.  Then, it was time for a review of how the parachute works – how to steer, when to release the survival pack (that's the yellow pack you can under my backside), and what to do if you have 'twists'. Next, it was time to visit the ejection seat trainer and take an ALSE exam on what to do ...

Less than a week after completing his High Altitude Indoctrination training , Astronauts4Hire member Dr. Erik Seedhouse underwent Gravity-Tolerance training at the Defence Research and Development Canada, Toronto  (DRDC) centrifuge facility. The $25 million DRDC centrifuge has a 20-foot swing arm and is capable of safely spinning humans up to 9G (9 times normal gravity). Erik performed 3 runs in the centrifuge that included gradual onset to 4G, gradual onset to 5G, and rapid onset to 5G.  He practiced the  Anti-G Straining Maneuver (AGSM) for 10 seconds while at the maximum acceleration on each of the three runs.  This nearly completes Dr. Seedhouse's qualification as a Research Specialist Astronaut according to the A4H training standards, which Erik will present next week at the Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference in Orlando, Florida. A video of Erik's centrifuge training is available here: Passengers on suborbital flights will encounter differen...

A4H Flight Member Dr. Erik Seedhouse recently completed High Altitude Indoctrination (HAI) training at Defence Research and Development Canada, Toronto , which has a hypobaric chamber capable of simulating conditions up to 100,000 feet altitude. The HAI Erik completed included a rapid decompression to 10,000 feet while he was breathing a Combined Altitude Depleted Oxygen (CADO) mix of 10%, which allowed him to reach an equivalent altitude pressure of 25,000 feet. While at 25,000 feet Erik completed various mathematical tests to experience the effects of hypoxia . Then he connected his air mask back to the regular air supply and descended. HAI is an important exercise because it prepares one for emergency situations when an air or space craft might lose cabin pressure, such as when the vehicle must be abandoned during flight. The resulting rapid and explosive decompression doesn't give passengers and crew much time to react. Thus, they must be able to recognize the signs of hypox...