ASTRONAUT TRAINING CENTER
TRAINING PROGRAMS
Aurora is the only civilian operated training facility in the world that offers such a wide variety of space training programs. These programs are available to the general public for the first time. No longer do you have to join NASA or travel to Russia to participate in astronaut training.
What type of person participates in these types of training regimes? Space tourism has existed since 2001 and is set to bring space travel to the general public in the next couple of years. All of these potential astronauts will have to undergo training to prepare them for the rigors of space travel. They will have to experience physical and academic training so that they can safely enjoy and understand what space travel is all about. Many others will train with us simply because they enjoy the challenge and want to learn more. We also contract with space companies that need to train their astronaut pilots and astronaut participants for their own space programs.
Our typical program is a two day intensive course that includes academic, physical, and flight training. Applicants receive a medical screening and certification by a board certified physician who is on staff at Aurora. This process is not to try and disqualify people, but to help them undergo the training and potential future spaceflight safely and comfortably.
Academic teaching includes physiologic aspects of space travel, orbital and suborbital physics, adaptation to high "g" and "zero g" environments and pre-flight briefings.
Flight training includes jet flights in our own L-39 Albatross military jet. This jet is used by the Russian cosmonauts for training, so it is perfect for our student astronauts as well. Students will get the opportunity to fly this exciting and responsive jet under the close supervision of our flight instructors. No flight experience is needed. High "g" maneuvers, basic acrobatics are part of this "top gun" flight. The aircraft is fully equipped with ejection seats for your safety.
Additional flight training includes "Zero-G" flights. This is done to simulate the exact sensations of flying in space. Traditionally, these were done in the "Vomit Comet" passenger jet flown by NASA, but we are able to perform these same maneuvers in our twin engine aircraft. The student will float in the cabin during the zero g maneuver and will be weightless. The duration of these maneuvers are apx. 10 seconds each compared to apx. 20 seconds with the airliner type jets. We will offer medication to prevent any motion sickness so you can enjoy the experience without having to worry about getting airsick. Typically, we do 10-12 of these maneuvers so you will have up to a couple of minutes of total weightless time during the flight. We start the maneuvers with a 1/3 gravity "Mars" gravity maneuver and a 1/6 "Moon" gravity maneuver before the zero gravity ones. We will film and photograph you during the flight. Per FAA regulations, all passengers will be seated and safely belted in for takeoff and landing.
Centrifuge training is essential to simulate the sustained g's that are developed during liftoff and re-entry during space travel. Until now, these types of sophisticated and expensive machines were only available to national space agencies, the military, and research institutions. Aurora has a centrifuge that can generate up to +9 g's. Typically, two runs are performed. One to simulate a vertical launch and landing with 3-4 g's on liftoff and 6 g's on re-entry. In this case, the g force pushes down on your chest as you are lying on your "back". This flight profile would simulate a Soyuz or Apollo capsule launch and re-entry. The second profile generates g's in the sitting upright position that would simulate a rocketplane type of launch into a suborbital trajectory such as Xcor's "Lynx". These g forces are similar to that experienced by a fighter pilot and are typically 3-4 g's sustained. The student is monitored by our staff during the run and has the ability to terminate it at anytime with a hand switch in the cabin. Additional physiologic training will occur in our "MAD" machine. This stands for "Multi-Axis Disorientation" and involves strapping into a rotating apparatus designed to train the student for the sensations of space travel.
Simulator training occurs in Aurora's custom-built Spacecraft Simulator. This sim is highly advanced and can be programmed for flights of many different spacecraft and aircraft. It accurately reproduces the physics of spaceflight and will offer the opportunity for the student to "fly" different missions and learn about "real rocket science". Typically, sessions include a suborbital, orbital, and possibly a moon landing mission. Our sim is also programmed for the L-39 and can accurately reproduce the same aircraft you will fly in while in our program. This advanced L-39 program is used by the Ukranian Air Force to train its students to fly their jets. Don't worry--you don't even have to speak Russian or Ukranian !
At the conclusion of your training, you will receive a certificate pre-qualifying you for spaceflight. You will have learned much about space flight and about your limits, and will probably have the best time you've ever experienced. Aurora will operate a suborbital space vehicle within the next 2-3 years when they become available, so whether you chose to fly with us or another provider, you will be ready when the opportunity arrives.
Please call us if you have any questions or would like to schedule your training. We plan to be fully operational Summer 2008. Currently, we offer the L-39 and Zero-G flights while we prepare for the installation of our centrifuge, MAD machine, and spacecraft/aircraft simulator. Class sizes range from 2 to 15 so you will get personalized training and attention. We can offer the full program to students as young as 15 and have flown students over 80 years of age. Students younger than 15 could participate in a specialized youth program that would not include the L-39 and Zero-G flights. The full program takes two full days. A flight only or ground only program could be done in one day. We can also offer parachute jumping and glider flights for those interested in these activities. We will customize your training so that you obtain the maximum enjoyment and education possible.
Howard N. Chipman III MD
Chief Flight Instructor, Aurora Aerospace
813-476-2321
howardchipman@sprintmail.com
Aurora is the only civilian operated training facility in the world that offers such a wide variety of space training programs. These programs are available to the general public for the first time. No longer do you have to join NASA or travel to Russia to participate in astronaut training.
What type of person participates in these types of training regimes? Space tourism has existed since 2001 and is set to bring space travel to the general public in the next couple of years. All of these potential astronauts will have to undergo training to prepare them for the rigors of space travel. They will have to experience physical and academic training so that they can safely enjoy and understand what space travel is all about. Many others will train with us simply because they enjoy the challenge and want to learn more. We also contract with space companies that need to train their astronaut pilots and astronaut participants for their own space programs.
Our typical program is a two day intensive course that includes academic, physical, and flight training. Applicants receive a medical screening and certification by a board certified physician who is on staff at Aurora. This process is not to try and disqualify people, but to help them undergo the training and potential future spaceflight safely and comfortably.
Academic teaching includes physiologic aspects of space travel, orbital and suborbital physics, adaptation to high "g" and "zero g" environments and pre-flight briefings.
Flight training includes jet flights in our own L-39 Albatross military jet. This jet is used by the Russian cosmonauts for training, so it is perfect for our student astronauts as well. Students will get the opportunity to fly this exciting and responsive jet under the close supervision of our flight instructors. No flight experience is needed. High "g" maneuvers, basic acrobatics are part of this "top gun" flight. The aircraft is fully equipped with ejection seats for your safety.
Additional flight training includes "Zero-G" flights. This is done to simulate the exact sensations of flying in space. Traditionally, these were done in the "Vomit Comet" passenger jet flown by NASA, but we are able to perform these same maneuvers in our twin engine aircraft. The student will float in the cabin during the zero g maneuver and will be weightless. The duration of these maneuvers are apx. 10 seconds each compared to apx. 20 seconds with the airliner type jets. We will offer medication to prevent any motion sickness so you can enjoy the experience without having to worry about getting airsick. Typically, we do 10-12 of these maneuvers so you will have up to a couple of minutes of total weightless time during the flight. We start the maneuvers with a 1/3 gravity "Mars" gravity maneuver and a 1/6 "Moon" gravity maneuver before the zero gravity ones. We will film and photograph you during the flight. Per FAA regulations, all passengers will be seated and safely belted in for takeoff and landing.
Centrifuge training is essential to simulate the sustained g's that are developed during liftoff and re-entry during space travel. Until now, these types of sophisticated and expensive machines were only available to national space agencies, the military, and research institutions. Aurora has a centrifuge that can generate up to +9 g's. Typically, two runs are performed. One to simulate a vertical launch and landing with 3-4 g's on liftoff and 6 g's on re-entry. In this case, the g force pushes down on your chest as you are lying on your "back". This flight profile would simulate a Soyuz or Apollo capsule launch and re-entry. The second profile generates g's in the sitting upright position that would simulate a rocketplane type of launch into a suborbital trajectory such as Xcor's "Lynx". These g forces are similar to that experienced by a fighter pilot and are typically 3-4 g's sustained. The student is monitored by our staff during the run and has the ability to terminate it at anytime with a hand switch in the cabin. Additional physiologic training will occur in our "MAD" machine. This stands for "Multi-Axis Disorientation" and involves strapping into a rotating apparatus designed to train the student for the sensations of space travel.
Simulator training occurs in Aurora's custom-built Spacecraft Simulator. This sim is highly advanced and can be programmed for flights of many different spacecraft and aircraft. It accurately reproduces the physics of spaceflight and will offer the opportunity for the student to "fly" different missions and learn about "real rocket science". Typically, sessions include a suborbital, orbital, and possibly a moon landing mission. Our sim is also programmed for the L-39 and can accurately reproduce the same aircraft you will fly in while in our program. This advanced L-39 program is used by the Ukranian Air Force to train its students to fly their jets. Don't worry--you don't even have to speak Russian or Ukranian !
At the conclusion of your training, you will receive a certificate pre-qualifying you for spaceflight. You will have learned much about space flight and about your limits, and will probably have the best time you've ever experienced. Aurora will operate a suborbital space vehicle within the next 2-3 years when they become available, so whether you chose to fly with us or another provider, you will be ready when the opportunity arrives.
Please call us if you have any questions or would like to schedule your training. We plan to be fully operational Summer 2008. Currently, we offer the L-39 and Zero-G flights while we prepare for the installation of our centrifuge, MAD machine, and spacecraft/aircraft simulator. Class sizes range from 2 to 15 so you will get personalized training and attention. We can offer the full program to students as young as 15 and have flown students over 80 years of age. Students younger than 15 could participate in a specialized youth program that would not include the L-39 and Zero-G flights. The full program takes two full days. A flight only or ground only program could be done in one day. We can also offer parachute jumping and glider flights for those interested in these activities. We will customize your training so that you obtain the maximum enjoyment and education possible.
Howard N. Chipman III MD
Chief Flight Instructor, Aurora Aerospace
813-476-2321
howardchipman@sprintmail.com