Register to win the opportunity to train as a scientist-astronaut candidate with the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences while advocating for science education within the LGBTQ community.
You may enter your application anytime before the contest deadline posted below; however, it is recommended to submit your application prior to the voting period. Please note, the Out Astronaut Project is a public, community-facing endeavor; by applying, you are providing consent to post your image and/or video submissions for content including our website and social media (details HERE). To submit your application, please enter the following information below:
- Your name, nationality, email address, phone number, and preferred pronouns
- If given the opportunity to train as the next OA scientist-astronaut candidate, you will be expected to pay your experience forward to the LGBTQ+ community in some way. How would you leverage your experience with Out Astronaut training in Fundamentals of Astronautics (AST 101) and receiving career development support to advance diversity, inclusion, and/or equity for the benefit of the LGBTQ+ community? Proposals might involve popular science, political advocacy, youth outreach, public speaking, nonprofits, etc.
- We are interested in seeing how your STEM mind works! Prepare a written summary of a hypothetical experiment you might be interested in conducting during an aerospace research campaign. This could be for an experiment using IIAS’s Mooney 231 or Extra 300L aircraft, a Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft (up to 50k ft), the National Research Council of Canada’s Falcon-20 microgravity aircraft (as part of IIAS’s BIO 103 program), or a high-altitude balloon (up to 130k ft of altitude as part of IIAS’s AER 103 program). Include science objectives, method, and anticipated results. (Note, upon successful of completion of Phase I, Out Astronaut candidates are eligible for Phase II, where they will have the opportunity to conduct their own research, pending sufficient sponsorship.)
- A good photo of you in action!
- A 3–5 minute video capturing your interests and expertise in science, space, inclusivity, and LGBTQ+ equality.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2023 OUT ASTRONAUT CONTEST ARE NOW CLOSED
The Out Astronaut Contest: Phase One Rules and Prizes
Who is eligible:
The Out Astronaut Contest is open to those who identify as part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community and are involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. We are looking for individuals who openly embrace their role in the LGBTQ+ community and want to serve as role models to LGBTQ+ youth and become representatives of their community as pioneers of astronautical science. Contestants shall also meet the following requirements:
- Age at time of application: 18-39 years
- Residency: US, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, or Central America
- Ability to pass a FAA Class III Flight Physical
- LGBTQ+ community member
Awards:
The International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) has committed scholarship for one individual’s tuition to attend AST 101 ‘Fundamentals of Astronautics’ program at Florida Tech in Melbourne, Florida including lodging and round-trip flight and for the winning candidate as well as an Out Astronaut T-Shirt and mission patch. All finalists consent to having their stories featured on our website.
Determining the 12 Phase One Finalists:
The Out Astronaut Project Executive Team and LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee will solicit help from the general public the 12 finalists from the pool of applicants. Each finalist should be determined based on an assessment of three criteria: 1) the contestant’s interests and experience in science, technology, engineering, and/or math, 2) the merit of the design of their planned LGBTQ+ engagement project, and 3) the candidate’s potential to be an LGBTQ+ role model and astronautics professional.
Determining the Contest Winner:
The Out Astronaut Project Executive Team and LGBT Advisory Committee will decide the winning contestant based on a reassessment of the 12 finalists’ submissions as well as their personal interviews, which will be conducted online or over the phone, with rankings determined by the same three criteria above (STEM pursuits, LGBTQ+ proposal, professional/role model potential). The award winner will receive a scholarship covering travel, lodging, and tuition for attending the IIAS’s Fundamentals of Astronautics course (AST 101), which includes 3 weeks of webinar coursework and a 1-week hands-on intensive.