The Out Astronaut Project addresses the under-representation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) people in science and space. Sponsored by the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, we highlight the contributions of LGBTQ+ members currently working in science and space and provide grants to promising LGBTQ+ students currently pursuing professions in space-related fields.
We believe that communities are empowered when they are represented. Astronauts inspire our youth, represent limitless possibilities, and serve as ambassadors to STEM. Our goal is to train and fly a member of the LGBTQ community as a scientist-astronaut. This person would be an inspiration to the LGBTQ community while enabling cutting-edge research.
The Problem:
More than 40 percent of LGBTQ people in STEM are not out and gay and bisexual students are less likely to follow an academic career. Presently, there are few out LGBTQ STEM professionals serving as role models to LGBTQ youth. One example of this is the fact that of the 561 individuals that have been selected as astronauts or cosmonauts, none have ever identified openly as a member of the LGBTQ community.
Our Solution:
The International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) donates an annual grant to Out Astronaut to train the winning candidate through a merit-based selection to attend the IIAS ‘Fundamentals of Astronautics’ class at Florida Tech. The project then intends to train and fly an exceptional LGBTQ student to space to conduct relevant research while highlighting the contributions of current LGBTQ members making contributions in science and space.
Out Astronaut Executive Director, Dr. Jason Reimuller, and 2023 Out Astronaut Chair, Dr. Brandy Nunez, show their Pride in the gravity-offset laboratory and EVA space suit provided by the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences.
Partner Institutions
Our Three-Phase Plan to Qualify an OUT Scientist-Astronaut
PHASE 1: RECEIVE BASIC ASTRONAUTICS TRAINING
Credit: Spectrum 13, Melbourne, FL.
Phase One holds annual competitions to encourage LGBTQ-identi ed individuals in the STEM fields to share their stories publicly and in doing so create visibility and representation.
PHASE 2: RECEIVE ADVANCED ASTRONAUTICS TRAINING
Credit: International Institute for Astronautical Sciences
Phase Two educates Out Astronaut’s Scientist-Astronaut Candidates to a level of credibility in a scientific field related to astronautics so that our candidates are respected as leading scientists and/or science enablers rather than as passengers or tourists.
PHASE 3: CONDUCT A SCIENCE MISSION IN SPACE
Credit: International Institute for Astronautical Sciences
Phase Three seeks to fly one fully-qualified Out Scientist-Astronaut Candidate to space on a dedicated IIAS research spaceflight to conduct experiments, perform educational outreach, and see their investigations through to publication.
Want to Get Involved?
1. Learn More
Want to meet LGBTQ professionals working today in space-related STEM fields? Want to request someone to speak at your school or organization? These dynamic individuals strive to be role models for LGBTQ youth interested in a career in science and are happy to serve as mentors for aspiring scientists and space professionals.
2. Support Us
The profession sorely needs more scholarship programs to help educate future LGBTQ space scientists and to allow current LGBTQ space scientists to further their careers. To help ensure the continued success of the space sciences, consider our scholarship program for this often overlooked community. It will serve as a lasting contribution to the profession and its under-represented practitioners.
3. Apply!
If you are an openly-identifying member of the LGBTQ community over the age of 18 who is a student or professional in a STEM field and would like to train to be a scientist-astronaut, here is your opportunity! We seek passionate individuals interested in enabling scientific exploration and advocating for equality.
Our future lies with today’s kids and tomorrow’s space exploration.
– Dr. Sally Ride, Astronaut