Astronauts for Hire
Encyclopedia
Astronauts for Hire is a non-profit corporation whose mission is, "to increase the competitiveness of commercial astronaut
candidates by providing skills training, facilitating forums for candidate communication, engaging with potential employers, and inspiring the next generation."
The organization was established with the intent of training groups of scientist-astronauts and making them available for hire. Research institutions, principal investigators and private spaceflight companies would engage these individuals to conduct experiments in suborbital and eventually orbital space, as opposed to sending their own personnel on these missions.
The organization has received significant national and international press coverage in 2010 due to its role in testing the first beer
specifically intended to be consumed in space, targeted at the emerging space tourist market.
flight, for commercial company Vostok Pty Ltd, which is a joint venture between Saber Astronautics Australia and the 4-Pines Brewery. The experiment consisted of measuring the physiologic and biometric responses of alcohol consumption under conditions of weightlessness.
and Mike Kronenberg.
Commercial Astronaut
A commercial astronaut is a person trained to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a privately funded spacecraft.-Criteria:The criteria for determining who has achieved human spaceflight vary. The FAI defines spaceflight as any flight over of altitude...
candidates by providing skills training, facilitating forums for candidate communication, engaging with potential employers, and inspiring the next generation."
Background
Astronauts for Hire, Inc. (also known as "Astronauts4Hire" and "A4H") was incorporated as a non-profit in the state of Florida on April 12, 2010.The organization was established with the intent of training groups of scientist-astronauts and making them available for hire. Research institutions, principal investigators and private spaceflight companies would engage these individuals to conduct experiments in suborbital and eventually orbital space, as opposed to sending their own personnel on these missions.
The organization has received significant national and international press coverage in 2010 due to its role in testing the first beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
specifically intended to be consumed in space, targeted at the emerging space tourist market.
Flight Members
The organization currently has 22 Flight Members, who are considered commercial astronauts for hire. These flight members are:- Christopher Altman
- Ben Corbin
- Jim Crowell
- Jon-Erik Dahlin
- Kristine Ferrone
- Amnon Govrin
- Melania Guerra
- Mindy Howard
- José Miguel Hurtado, Jr.
- Kris Lehnhardt
- Joseph E. Palaia, IV
- Jason Reimuller
- Luís M. R. Saraiva
- Erik Seedhouse
- Brian Shiro
- Laura A. Stiles
- Alli Taylor
- Abhishek Tripathi
- Cosan Unuvar
- Veronica Ann Zabala-Aliberto
- Pavel Zagadailov
- Luis Zea
Development of Training Standards
With the assistance of a board of advisers composed of former astronauts, training specialists, and space operations professionals, A4H is currently developing a comprehensive set of training standards for use in training commercial astronauts.Past Projects
Participation in 2011 NSRC
A4H was an official sponsor of the 2011 Next Generation Sub-orbital Researchers Conference (NSRC). A4H personnel assisted in the planning and execution of the event.Contract with Vostok Pty Ltd
A4H was awarded a contract to provide flight research services on a Zero-GZero Gravity Corporation
Zero Gravity Corporation is an American company based in Vienna, Virginia, formerly of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which operates weightless flights from United States airports...
flight, for commercial company Vostok Pty Ltd, which is a joint venture between Saber Astronautics Australia and the 4-Pines Brewery. The experiment consisted of measuring the physiologic and biometric responses of alcohol consumption under conditions of weightlessness.
Sponsors & Donors
The organization has received support from a number of individuals and organizations including Optify, Target Process, Bob Page, Tony Webb, Doug Drexler, 4Frontiers Corporation4Frontiers Corporation
- Organization :The company is presently headquartered in New Port Richey, Florida, and has three employees. The majority of work is completed by contractors, consultants, and interns...
and Mike Kronenberg.
See also
- Commercial astronautCommercial AstronautA commercial astronaut is a person trained to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a privately funded spacecraft.-Criteria:The criteria for determining who has achieved human spaceflight vary. The FAI defines spaceflight as any flight over of altitude...
- AstronautAstronautAn astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
- NewSpaceNewSpaceNewSpace, alt.space, and entrepreneurial space are umbrella terms for a movement and philosophy often affiliated with, but not synonymous with, an emergent private spaceflight industry...
- List of private spaceflight companies
- Private spaceflightPrivate spaceflightPrivate spaceflight is flight above Earth altitude conducted by and paid for by an entity other than a government. In the early decades of the Space Age, the government space agencies of the Soviet Union and United States pioneered space technology augmented by collaboration with affiliated design...
- Commercialization of spaceCommercialization of spaceCommercialization of space is the use of equipment sent into or through outer space to provide goods or services of commercial value, either by a corporation or state. Examples of the commercial use of space include satellite navigation systems, satellite television and satellite radio...
- Commercial Spaceflight FederationCommercial Spaceflight FederationThe Commercial Spaceflight Federation is a private spaceflight industry group, incorporated as an industry association for the purposes of establishing ever higher levels of safety for the commercial human spaceflight industry, sharing best practices and expertise, and promoting the growth of the...