Astronaut for Hire

One giant dive for mankind

3/25/2012 09:01:00 PM

In a historic solo dive to the bottom of the world, famed filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence James Cameron descended 35,756 feet (6.77 miles/10.89 km) to reach the "Challenger Deep," the ocean's deepest point located in the Mariana Trench some 200 miles (322 km) southwest of Guam on Monday, March 26.  The descent voyage took two hours and 36 minutes from 5:15 a.m. until 7:52 a.m. local time. In his specially designed submersible DEEPSEA CHALLENGER, Cameron spent about three hours on the seafloor collecting photos and samples for scientific research in marine biology, microbiology, astrobiology, marine geology, and geophysics.  In another first, he also tweeted from the seafloor under a crushing pressure of 16,285 psi (112,280 kPa). The vehicle surfaced at 12:00 noon local time and was retrieved by the Ship Mermaid Sapphire.

Photo by Mark Thiessen/National Geographic. (shown with permission) Filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence James Cameron gives two thumbs-up as he emerges from the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER submersible after his successful solo dive to the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean. The dive was part of DEEPSEA CHALLENGE, a joint scientific expedition by Cameron, the National Geographic Society and Rolex to conduct deep-ocean research.

"This journey is the culmination of more than seven years of planning for me and the amazing DEEPSEA CHALLENGE expedition team," said Cameron.  "Most importantly, though, is the significance of pushing the boundaries of where humans can go, what they can see and how they can interpret it. Without the support of National Geographic and Rolex, and their unwavering belief that we could successfully make it to the deepest point in the ocean - and back - this would not have happened."

For full National Geographic coverage on the history-making dive, see their news stories:

March 25b: James Cameron Completes Record-Breaking Mariana Trench Dive
March 25a: James Cameron Now at Ocean's Deepest Point
March 8: James Cameron Headed to Ocean's Deepest Point Within Weeks

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One small step for Suborbital

3/14/2012 08:04:00 PM

We are moving from an era of limited government-controlled space access using very expensive vehicles to more affordable systems developed by the private sector that can provide frequent trips to space for a variety of purposes.  Multiple companies are rushing to be the first to market, including Virgin Galactic, XCOR Aerospace, Armadillo Aerospace, Blue Origin, and Masten Space Systems. Their varied technological approaches and flight plans offer researchers a great deal of options for studying the suborbital realm.  The sky is not the limit!

Last month I attended the 2012 Next Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference (NSRC) in Palo Alto, California.  The purpose of the conference was to kickstart the imaginations of scientists who may utilize suborbital platforms for research.  Whereas tourism has driven much of the initial investment in the burgeoning new paradigm for space access, it is the research market that stands poised to provide the long-standing demand to sustain the industry.  NSRC provides an incubative environment for research users to interface with spaceflight providers and chart the path forward towards wider utilization of space and advancement of knowledge.

Shaking hands with one of the most recognizable figures of history Neil Armstrong at NSRC-2012.

If you doubt this assertion, just take notice of who gave the main keynote address at this year's NSRC.  Famed moonwalker Neil Armstrong spoke to a group of more than 450 eager audience members who hung on his every word as he related his personal experiences to the edge of space as a test pilot in the X-15 program.  The somewhat reclusive former astronaut rarely gives public experiences, but in this case, he spent an entire day at the conference interacting with the new pioneers of commercial spaceflight.  As evidenced by the photo above, I had the honor of meeting him myself and thanking him for his inspirational life.

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Astronaut Candidate application submitted

1/26/2012 08:18:00 AM

It's done. I've tossed my name in the hopper for consideration as a 2013 NASA Astronaut Candidate. I wish all applicants the best of luck.

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T Minus 10 Days

1/17/2012 08:09:00 PM

While polishing my 2013 NASA Astronaut Candidate application, I noticed the space agency had posted a new astronaut recruitment video plugging the current application opportunity. Enjoy!

"Your spaceflight experience begins right here, right now." -- NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden

There are only 10 days left until the January 27 deadline. Good luck to one and all!

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Astronaut Advancement

1/01/2012 12:00:00 PM

New years are always time of thoughtful backward reflection and optimistic forward projection. January 2012 will be an active time for astronaut hopefuls in the US as we prepare our NASA applications. The past four years have certainly been a busy time for me. Listed below are some of the things I've done since submitting the 2008 application:

• gained 4 more years of operational experience at the NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, including the Samoa 2009, Chile 2010, and Japan 2011 events;
• participated in the FMARS-12 analog Mars expedition to Devon Island;
• commanded the MDRS-89 analog Mars mission in Utah;
• co-founded Astronauts4Hire;
• completed my MS degree in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota;
• voyaged across the Pacific Ocean and mapped the seafloor aboard the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer;
• completed Dunker and Sea Survival Training at Survival Systems USA;
• completed Suborbital Scientist Training at The NASTAR Center;
• obtained a space motion sickness assessment from the Ashton Graybiel Spatial Orientation Laboratory;
• completed Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver SCUBA training (working on Master Diver now);
• selected as an aquanaut crewmember for the 2013 Atlantica I Expedition;
• received lots of media coverage; and
• doubled my duties as a father.

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