Astronauts for Hire is a 501(c)(3) non-profit formed in April 2010 to recruit and train qualified scientists and engineers for the rigors of spaceflight. Commonly referred to as “Astronauts4Hire” or just “A4H,” the organization conducts a range of activities related to commercial astronaut workforce development. A4H’s principal service is to train its members as professional astronaut candidates who can assist researchers, payload developers, and spaceflight providers with mission planning and operations support. This presentation was given at the 2012 Next Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference (NSRC) in Palo Alto, California on February 28, 2012.

1. As tronauts 4Hire
Developing Astronauts4Hire:
The First Two Years
Brian Shiro and Jason Reimuller
2012 Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference
www.astronauts4hire.org 1

2. Putting the “Crew” in Commercial
Crew
Crew roles as research and operations
specialists to interface with researchers,
passengers, and flight operators

3. A4H Mis s ion
To Increase the competitiveness of
commercial astronaut candidates by:
 providing skills training,
 facilitating forums for candidate
communication,
 engaging the space research
community, and
 inspiring the next generation.

4. A4H Org anization
As a 501(c)(3), A4H is a volunteer-driven educational
and scientific public charity serving the needs of the
aspiring commercial astronaut community.

5. A4H Members
 Associate Members
– Join anytime, support the organization
 Flight Members
– Must apply and undergo selection based on
scientific expertise, broad technical skills,
background indicating adaptability

6. A4H Growth
80
# Total Members
# Associate Members
70
# Flight Members 80
60
61
50
40
Associate Members:
30
Number of Members 16+ doctorates,
30+ MS degrees
20
19
10
Flight Members: 10 doctorates, 19 MS degrees,
16 languages, 7 NASA Highly Qualified
0
03/10 05/10 07/10 09/10 11/10 01/11 03/11 05/11 07/11 09/11 11/11 01/12 03/12

7. A4H Miles tones
 2/2010: NSRC-2010
 4/2010: Incorporated as a Florida nonprofit
 6/2010: Expanded Team 1st time (again in 2/2011)
 7/2010: A4H joins the CSF as a REM
 9/2010: Hired for first research job
 2/2011: Completed first research flight
 2/2011: Co-sponsor of NSRC-2011
 3/2011: Survival Systems USA partnership
 6/2011: AGSOL partnership
 7/2011: Completed Survival Systems training
 7/2011: Completed NASTAR training
 9/2011: Granted federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
 10/2011: NASA Flight Opportunities proposal accepted
 2/2012: NASTAR partnership
 2/2012: Co-sponsor or NSRC-2012
 5/2012: Will complete second research flight

8. A4H S ervices
 Provides its members with professional
development opportunities to grow as
commercial astronaut candidates through
training and research.
 Provides its clients and partners with a
range of scientific and technical expertise
to advance human spaceflight.
– Payload integration, test, & validation
– Human test subjects
– Flight crew (mission ops)
– Product testing
– Education and outreach

9. A4H Training
Sea and Wilderness Survival Analog Training Hypoxia Awareness Training
Centrifuge and Mission Simulation Aviation Training
SMS Egress and Contingency
Adaptation Training Microgravity Training
www.astronauts4hire.org Preparation Training
9

10. A4H Training Elements
Research Specialist Training Operations Specialist Training
Type Requirement Type Requirement
Education Masters degree or equivalent Prerequisite all Research Specialist Training
requirements
Medical FAA Class III
Medical FAA Class II
Aviation hypoxia (altitude chamber) training
Aviation FAA Private Pilot Certificate
Acceleration at least 3.5 Gz and 6 Gx in a (Instrument Rating preferred)
centrifuge followed by unusual Acceleration unusual attitude aerobatic rating
attitude aerobatic flight
Microgravity same as Research Specialist
Microgravity at least one parabolic flight
consisting of 15 or more parabolic
zero-g maneuvers Emergency sea and wilderness survival training,
Emergency First Responder or
Emergency egress (dunker tank) training equivalent
Performance distraction factors and time Performance motion sickness desensitization
management training, motion training
sickness assessment Analog Master Diver SCUBA or equivalent
Analog Open Water SCUBA or equivalent
Academic crew management, mission planning
Academic human performance, life support & operations, science applications,
systems, spacecraft systems spacecraft subsystems, navigation
overview, and space environment

11. A4H Training Prog rams
RSA Training Manual
reviewer opportunities
being sought now.

12. A4H Partners
Vital Space

13. Res earch F lig ht Clients
 Vostok Pty Ltd (Feb 2011)
– Alcohol absorption
 Vital Space (May 2012)
– Biometric monitoring
– With NASA Flight
Opportunities Program

14. Outreach
News
Media
articles
CSF REM Recruiting
Inspiring Students
Newsletter
Public lectures
Webinars

15. Coming in April 2012!
ISBN 146140519X

16. Y our Ques tions
How can we
best help
prepare
tomorrow’s
astronauts for
spaceflight?
Contacts:
B
Brian Shiro - President / CEO
brian.shiro@astronauts4hire.org
Dr. Jason Reimuller - VP / COO jason
.reimuller@astronauts4hire.org
www.astronauts4hire.org