Applied Astronautics Program

COVID-19 Update: As of 12 March 2020, all Spring PoSSUM courses have been postponed. This includes PoSSUM Scientist-Astronaut Class 2001, Advanced PoSSUM Academy, and the field components for BIO 102, BIO 104, EVA 102, and EVA 103. Please stay posted for updates.

The Professional Certificate in Applied Astronautics

The only program of its type in the world, the Professional Credential in Applied Astronautics is awarded by the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences involving components of both Project PoSSUM and Project OTTER. It is a 26-credit immersive professional education program currently under accreditation process enabling publishable, peer-reviewed scientific research in the fields of aeronomy, bioastronautics, EVA operations, space flight operations, and science education. Tuition, including textbooks and room and board for select courses, starts at $14,500.

Project PoSSUM members test Final Frontier space suits through unassisted top-hatch egress procedures in a test article approximating NASA's Orion spacecraft.
Spacesuit Readiness in Mission Control
PoSSUM team members testing seat ingress methods in microgravity using Final Frontier 3G IVA spacesuits (credit: Cinemaraven)

Applied Astronautics Curriculum

Students enrolled in the Applied Astronautics Program complete all core classes (8 credits), select two concentrations from the list below (12 credits), and select two Advanced Research Electives (6 credits).

Class TitleContinuing Education UnitsInstructor(s)
Core Classes
AST 101: Advanced PoSSUM Academy 2 creditsJ. Reimuller, E. Seedhouse
BIO 102: Spacecraft Egress and Rescue Operations3 creditsJ. Reimuller
EDU 101: Citizen Science Research Methods2 creditsS. Ritter
Aeronomy Concentration
AER 101: Suborbital Space Environment 2 creditsA. Kleinboehl
AER 102: Remote Sensing and Modeling of the Mesosphere3 creditsS. Mitchell, K. Foster
Bioastronautics Concentration
BIO 101: Spaceflight Physiology 2 creditsE. Seedhouse
BIO 103: Microgravity Spacesuit Evaluation 3 creditsA. Persad, L. Kennick
Extravehicular Activity Concentration
EVA 101: Life Support Systems2 creditsE. Seedhouse
EVA 103: Planetary Field Geology and EVA Tool Development3 creditsU. Horodyskyj, J. Hurtado
Space Flight Operations Concentration
OPS 101: System Engineering for Human Spaceflight2 creditsK. Trujillo
OPS 102: Orbital Mechanics and Mission Simulation3 creditsTBD
Advanced Research Electives
AER 103: Airborne Remote Sensing of Noctilucent Clouds 3 creditsJ. Reimuller
EDU 102: Space Suit Technician Qualification1 creditT. Southern, C. Lundeen
BIO 104: Post-Landing Space Suit Evaluation2 creditsK. Trujillo
EVA 102: Operational Space Medicine3 creditsS. Pandya, J. Saget
EVA 104: Gravity-Offset EVA Space Suit Evaluation2 creditsT. Southern, K. Trujillo
OPS 103: Flight Test Engineering - Performance3 creditsTBD
OPS 104: Flight Test Engineering - Stability and Control3 creditsTBD
AST 199: Thesis3-6 creditsTBD
Download Program Overview

2020 Course Offerings

DATESCOURSELOCATIONINSTRUCTOR
Feb 3 - Apr 10, 2020AER 101: Suborbital Space EnvironmentVirtualDr. Armin Kleinboehl
Feb 3 - Apr 10, 2020BIO 101: Space Flight PhysiologyVirtualDr. Erik Seedhouse
Feb 3 - Apr 10 (virtual)
(Campaign to be rescheduled)		EVA 102: Operational Space MedicineSan Francisco Volcanic Flats, AZ.Dr. Shawna Pandya, Dr. Jeremy Saget
Feb 3 - Apr 10 (virtual)
(Campaign to be rescheduled)		EVA 103: Planetary Field Geology and EVA Tool DevelopmentSan Francisco Volcanic Flats, AZ.Dr. Jose Hurtado, Dr. Ulyana Horodyskyj
To be rescheduledAST 101: Fundamentals of Applied Astronautics (Advanced PoSSUM Academy)Florida Tech, Melbourne, FL.Dr. Jason Reimuller, Dr. Erik Seedhouse
To be rescheduledBIO 102: Spacecraft Egress and Rescue OperationsSurvival Systems USA, Groton, CT.Dr. Jason Reimuller
To be rescheduledBIO 104: Advanced Spacecraft Egress - Post-landing Spacesuit OperationsSurvival Systems USA, Groton, CT.Mr. Ken Trujillo
CANCELLEDAER 103 Field Campaign: Airborne Remote Sensing of the Mesosphere
Yellowknife, NWTDr. Jason Reimuller
Apr 6 - May 22, 2020EDU 101: Citizen Science Research MethodsVirtualMr. Scott Ritter
Aug 3 - Sept 25, 2020EVA 101: Life Support SystemsVirtualDr. Erik Seedhouse
Aug 3 - Sept 25, 2020 (tentative)AER 102: Remote Sensing and Mesospheric ModelingVirtualDr. Steven Mitchell, Mr. Kyle Foster
Aug 24 - Sept 18 (virtual)
Sept 18-25, 2020 (in Florida)		AST 101: Fundamentals of Applied Astronautics (Advanced PoSSUM Academy)Florida Tech, Melbourne, FL.Dr. Jason Reimuller, Dr. Erik Seedhouse
Aug 3 - Sept 25 (virtual)
Sept 28 - Oct 2, 2020 (campaign)		BIO 103: Microgravity Spacesuit EvaluationNational Research Council, Ottawa, OntarioDr. Aaron Persad
Aug 3 - Sept 25 (virtual)
Oct 5-9, 2020 (campaign)		EVA 104: Gravity-Offset EVA Suit Evaluation
Canadian Space Agency, Montreal Qc.Dr. Aaron Persad, Mr. Ted Southern