Space for Humanity is accepting applications for an all-expenses-paid journey to experience the Overview Effect – a cognitive shift in worldview that occurs to astronauts when they experience the Earth from Space. They are partnering with all available launch providers to offer global citizens sub-orbital spaceflights.

Space for Humanity, in partnership with Space in Africa, is offering global citizens from all backgrounds to become astronauts – Citizen Astronauts – offering the opportunity to experience the cognitive shift in worldview that occurs when seeing the Earth from space.

Space in Africa is promoting the bold initiative of Space for Humanity for fostering inclusive representation of the peaceful use of outer space.

As a part of the program, Citizen Astronauts will participate in leadership and communication training, using their experience to forward an impact venture aligned with one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Following the spaceflight experience, Citizen Astronauts will serve as Social Impact Ambassadors for one year in fulfilment of their venture – in their home country and beyond.

What are Space for Humanity’s plans?

Space for Humanity will select citizens from around the world to travel to space as soon as flights are commercially available. Space for Humanity hopes to send groups on suborbital flights by 2021, to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) by 2024, the Moon by 2032, and Mars by 2040. Each mission will consist of a small group with 5-8 individuals, depending on the flight carrier. The crews selected for our missions will be both diverse and uniquely qualified to share their experiences with their broader communities and the world at large.

How does the program work?

• 6-8 months before the flight, each Citizen Astronaut will go through a week-long training program which will include physical and psychological training for the spaceflight itself, as well as a leadership training program where each person will develop their own social impact program.
• The capstone of the leadership training is the flight experience itself. Each Citizen Astronaut will experience the profundity of the overview effect, setting everything that the astronauts learned in stone.
• Immediately following their spaceflight, each astronaut will carry out a year-long ambassadorship in their local community and beyond. This is a vital portion of the program — it is about social impact.

What are the application requirements?

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Speak English.
• Have a passion for humanity and a desire to positively impact the world.

What is the program timeline? Is there a deadline to apply?

The 2019 application is open until November 15, 2019. The initial round of interviews will start in late 2019 and early 2020. Space for Humanity does not develop flight hardware and therefore depends on the availability of their launch partners to determine actual flight dates.

Selection criteria

Your application should inspire and show us your passion! Be original, creative, and honest as to why you should be selected for this incredible opportunity. Tell the world why you personally care about space and want this opportunity, how you think that the mission will change you, and how you intend to bring these insights and experiences back to your community — basically just tell your story.

Application process:

The application is online and the process is expected to take most applicants 60-90 minutes to complete.

The application includes 4 sections.

• Basic Information
• Video Application or Written Application
• Social Impact
• Assessments for Research

Click here to apply.