Training Delivery
The STAR Program
Self-study training, certification, and an in-person Summit: the path from analog astronaut candidate to mission-ready crew member.
Build the foundation
Human Spaceflight Analog Training Course
The STAR Course is self-paced training built to develop operational readiness, mental performance, team dynamics, and human factors awareness. Completing the course unlocks eligibility for immersive opportunities including STAR analog missions, certification, and extreme-environment experiences.
The course is being rebuilt as self-study training you can complete anytime. Early sign-ups get first access at the lowest available rate, and a small beta group will be chosen to test portions at no cost in exchange for thoughtful feedback.
Update launch status: is the rebuilt course live, in beta, or still “launching soon”? Add price once set.
Modules & Lessons
Nine self-study modules built around astronaut-grade Human Behavior & Performance competencies, focused on operational clarity, real risk awareness, and crew readiness.
Knowledge Reviews
Quizzes and final exam prep that reinforce key lessons and confirm mission readiness before you apply for candidacy.
Performance Toolkit
Practical planners, safety checklists, communication frameworks, and decision tools you can apply in real analog operations.
Your next steps
The analog astronaut journey
You can stop after the course, or, if you’re ready to professionalize your journey, continue to certification and the registry that mission operators hire from.
Join priority access
Preview what’s changing and receive the lowest pre-launch rate before public release.
Register for the course
When the course goes live you’ll receive first notice and can enroll before the public rate increases.
Complete the course
Work through each module at your own pace with videos, readings, reflections, and quizzes.
Take the STAR candidate exam
Demonstrate your readiness and apply for candidacy, signaling rigor and preparation for certification.
Join a certification session
A virtual or in-person intensive to apply STAR skills in operational scenarios and crew environments.
Register your certification
Enter the STAR Candidate Registry and step into mission roles where opportunities are earned, recognized, and compensated.
For analog crews ready to launch
A five-day, in-person readiness expedition designed to deepen real operational skills, human performance, leadership, and teamwork in dynamic, challenging conditions. You train through movement, navigation, decision-making, and crew tasks alongside others focused on growth and mission competence.
STAR Summit 2026 ran April 25–29, 2026 at Biosphere 2. Add the next edition’s dates and registration link, or show a 2026 recap here. Registration link currently points to the 2026 form.
Oracle, AZPerformance insights
Complete an assessment before the Summit and receive personalized insights on leadership, communication, decision-making, and stress performance to guide your week.
Expedition & trust building
A full-day guided canyon expedition that brings leadership, trust, and collaboration into clear view.
Human performance under stress
Guided challenges that reveal how you perform under pressure and how to manage stress with clarity and confidence.
Crew performance & decision skills
Real-world team coordination, communication, and judgment in scenarios that mirror mission demands and selection environments.
Operational & field skills
Navigation, task execution, and expedition field skills in team settings that mirror real analog operations.
Summit swag
Your STAR Summit t-shirt, mission patch, and expedition workbook designed for note-taking, team drills, and debrief insights.
How it works
Your Summit week
Claim your spot
Join as an individual or a team. Register to secure one of the limited seats and lock in early-bird pricing.
Logistics
Complete your pre-Summit assessment, then arrange travel to Oracle, AZ through Phoenix or Tucson airports.
Event check-in
Arrive at Biosphere 2 on day one for onsite check-in, gear verification, and crew orientation.
Train through action
Daily workshops, field challenges, and technical training while strengthening communication, teamwork, leadership, and resilience.
Integration
Build trust, align roles, learn from others, and deepen self-awareness through structured debriefs and small-crew collaboration loops.
Transformation
Close the week having stretched your limits, strengthened your crew mindset, and translated training into mission-ready confidence.
Stay for the Analog Astronaut Conference
Continue the mission at the Analog Astronaut Conference immediately after the Summit, with a discount when you register for both.
Investment
STAR Summit
Early-bird and standard pricing, individual and team seats. Group rates on request.
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RegisterHelping you succeed in extraordinary missions
Having completed STAR for Analogs, I feel supremely equipped and confident to embark on future analog space missions. The training, resources, and community access provided by this program serve as invaluable tools for anyone keen on pushing the boundaries of space exploration.
Emily Apollonio and the IPL Team have created a cosmic training model for analog astronaut missions. As a first-time analog astronaut, I was uncertain of what to expect, but the program has covered mission focused lessons that have prepared me to handle the unknown and given me the skills to complete my mission. All systems go!
The in-person training was a lively environment, culture, and curriculum tailored to improving my skills and making me a better crew mate to all.
Two testimonials have no name on the current site (ICEE Space crew member; WBA candidate). Add names or remove.
We’re sure you have questions
Let’s clear up a few things
01.Who is this training for?
02.What if I don’t complete the certification?
03.Can this training help my team at work?
04.Can I hire you to support my habitat or mission?
05.Do I need to be an analog astronaut already?
Let’s get to work
Stay ready. Stay Stellar.
Join the STAR priority list for first access to the rebuilt course, or register your crew for the next STAR Summit.