Will Implement Conditioning Regime For Tourinauts

At a conference held earlier this month at the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, FL, Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, Space Florida President Steve Kohler and Dr. Joe Story, president of The Andrews-Paulos Research & Education Institute, announced the formation of a Personal Spaceflight Medical Program, among the first of its kind for commercial space tourists.

This specialized program will implement a tailored biomechanical, physiological and psychological conditioning regimen for those considering commercial human space flight. The program would be one of the world's first formal civilian space flight research and training programs.

As commercial applications for space become more developed, there is a growing national and international interest in space tourism. It is anticipated that, as the space tourism market grows, Florida will play a key role. Florida already has a significant advantage when it comes to both the tourism industry and space exploration. It is probable that the Andrews Institute partnership with Space Florida would become a best practice for other states to model their commercial human space programs around.

"Space tourism is not a venture to be taken likely, as human lives are involved," said Steve Kohler, Space Florida President. "The partnership between Andrews and Space Florida will ensure that participants have the safest, first-class experience possible -- before, during and after their safe flight from Florida."

"We believe this type of partnership gives Florida an advantage in the space tourism arena," noted Florida Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp. "Florida has more than 50 years of experience in safe human spaceflight and an even greater legacy in creating an optimum tourism experience for visitors. No other state can boast this combined capability. The partnership between Space Florida and Andrews will only strengthen that natural advantage."

"The Andrews Institute has a long-standing reputation as one of the finest human performance medical facilities in the nation," noted Dr. Joe Story, president of The Andrews-Paulos Research & Education Institute at the Andrews Institute. "I can't imagine a better partnership than the one between Space Florida and Andrews to ensure that space tourists departing from Florida are properly conditioned and prepared for the elements of zero-gravity."

Early in the human space program, Mercury astronauts trained at Pensacola's Naval Air Station (NAS). Today, NASA utilizes Pensacola NAS's Training Squadron (VT) 4 and its T-34C Turbo-Mentor trainers for primary astronaut orientation flight training. 

Space Florida and Enterprise Florida combined resources to fund a formal study in Summer 2008, conducted by the Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development, University of West Florida. The study estimates that during the first full year of operation, the Personal Spaceflight Medical Program will train nearly 300 space flight candidates, with strong increasing demand thereafter.

The study estimated that by 2021, more than 13,000 tourists per year will be taking sub-orbital flights... and those passengers will post unique medical challenges.

FMI: www.spaceflorida.gov, www.theandrewsinstitute.com