Sub-Orbital Training
- Program Flow
From Training to Sub-Orbital Flight Readiness
Participants spend three days in rigorous sub-orbital space environment training designed for a specific flight profile and vehicle. Each participant learns how limited exposure to weightlessness and G-forces associated with rocket-powered flight affects the body. The training prepares the participant to take full advantage of the five to seven minutes of weightlessness during flight while practicing normal procedures, safety procedures, hypoxia recovery, smoke and fumes emergency response, and crew-based situational awareness.
01/ Vehicle Profile
Study the operator’s flight profile, vehicle systems, nominal procedures, emergency procedures, and mission architecture.
02/ Physiology & G-Forces
Prepare the body for sub-orbital acceleration, reduced oxygen environments, motion sickness, and mitigation steps.
03/ Microgravity Operations
Practice translation techniques, unusual-attitude recovery, restraint-system use, and safe vehicle movement.
04/ Emergency Readiness
Train for cabin fire, smoke, pressure loss, emergency ground egress, and life-support equipment procedures.
- Full Curriculum
Level 2 Program Details
Our Sub-Orbital Training curriculum is designed to meet FAA regulatory Spaceflight Participant training requirements, promote safety, and mitigate risk to the SFP and the sub-orbital operator. Participants build working knowledge of the operator’s vehicle profile, nominal and emergency procedures, spaceflight physiology, flight dynamics, microgravity adaptation, accelerated G-force adaptation, and vehicle-specific procedures in accordance with Waypoint 2 Space FAA Safety Approval standards.
During Level 2, the Spaceflight Participant completes the following courses.
Program Format
Duration: 3 Days
Program: Level 2 – Sub-Orbital Training
Focus: vehicle profile, physiology, hypoxia recovery, safety, microgravity, G-force adaptation, emergency procedures, and payload operations.
Upon Completion, the SFP Should
- Understand the operator’s vehicle flight profile.
- Acknowledge and self-correct physiological issues associated with spaceflight.
- Adapt to and operate in microgravity.
- Adapt to accelerated G-forces.
- Demonstrate nominal ingress, egress, restraint-system use, and emergency egress procedures.
- Demonstrate proper use of installed life-support equipment without assistance.
01/ PHY 200
Spaceflight Physiology Briefing
A briefing in human anatomy specific to the SFP during aircraft and sub-orbital flight, basic gas laws, physiological divisions of the atmosphere, altitude physiology, and mitigation measures.
- Sub-orbital accelerated G-forces, self-imposed stress, motion sickness, and mitigation steps.
- Potential environmental stressors experienced during sub-orbital flight.
- Incapacitation and health maintenance in preparation for sub-orbital flight.
02/ ENV 200
Spaceflight Environment Briefing
Briefing on sub-orbital spaceflight dynamics and the environment the SFP will experience during training and flight.
- Earth’s atmospheric structure and radiation exposure.
- Flight mechanics related to sub-orbital flight.
- Vehicle-specific life-support systems.
- Mission architecture and Mission Control roles and responsibilities.
03/ CRM 200
Crew Resource Management Briefing
Familiarizes the SFP with the crew environment, SFP roles, and responsibilities before sub-orbital flight.
- SFP human-factors issues present during flight.
- Tools for working in a crew environment.
- Interpersonal communication principles.
- Conflict management, stress management, situational awareness, and decision making.
- Professionalism while operating in a closed-loop environment.
04/ SSR 200
Spaceflight Safety and Risk Briefing
Briefing in accordance with FAA requirements covering physical risks, hazards, and the safety record of the launch vehicle type.
- Total number of people who have flown sub-orbital and who have died performing sub-orbital flight.
- Launch and re-entry history with people on board and catastrophic failures associated with those flights.
- Operator safety record, corrective actions, and rights afforded to the SFP before flight.
05/ GT 200
Hypoxia Demonstration and Recovery Training
Introduces or refreshes the SFP on physiological effects created by reduced-oxygen environments and proper recovery methods.
- Understand personal hypoxia symptoms and proper self-recovery methods.
- Training may be accomplished in either a hypobaric or normobaric chamber.
06/ GT 201
Vehicle Ingress and Egress Orientation
Familiarizes the SFP with the spaceflight vehicle using a fidelity-correct mock-up in preparation for flight.
- Demonstrate proper vehicle ingress and egress according to operator procedures.
- Demonstrate the SFP restraint system.
- Review nominal flight procedures, the flight vehicle, microgravity transition points, and operator restrictions.
07/ GT 202
Vehicle Emergency Procedures Training and Simulation
Trains the SFP on emergency procedures in accordance with FAA requirements.
- Respond to cabin fire, cabin smoke, and loss of cabin pressure.
- Practice emergency ground egress procedures and techniques.
- Build working knowledge of emergency egress procedures, life support, and survival equipment if installed.
- Demonstrate performance during simulated emergency drills.
08/ FT 200
Accelerated G-Force Adaptation
Subjects the SFP to high G-force load effects on the human body, coupled with vestibular and visual-sense stimulation during unusual attitudes.
- Review physiological gas laws, proper mitigation, and self-clearing procedures.
- Review hypoxic chamber experiences and the IMSAFE personal checklist.
- Understand the accelerated G-force flight profile and associated survival equipment.
- Practice countermeasures designed to prevent loss of consciousness from accelerated G-force loading.
- Experience slow and rapid G-force onset vectors while exercising physiological countermeasures.
09/ FT 201
Microgravity Adaptation
Subjects the SFP to microgravity effects on the human body, coupled with vestibular and visual-sense stimulation during unusual attitudes.
- Review topics from the Spaceflight Physiology Briefing and accelerated G-force flights, including the IMSAFE checklist.
- Review microgravity translation techniques.
- Demonstrate microgravity operations and recovery from unusual attitudes.
- Become knowledgeable on physiological effects associated with changes in gravity.
10/ GT 203
Research and Payload Systems
An as-required course designed to integrate research personnel with research and payload systems installed on the operator’s sub-orbital vehicle using fidelity-correct mock-ups.
- Research protocols as determined with payload and research-specific procedure development.
- Instructor-led hands-on sessions with flight payload hardware, system components, controls, and equipment.
- Proper operation of payload systems and equipment in accordance with operator procedures.
- Final Assessment
Instructor-Led Review & Flight Readiness
Follow-on sessions are provided as required, giving the SFP continued practical training that leads to successful execution of research and payload operations during flight.
- Instructor-led review of SFP roles, vehicle procedures, and safety procedures.
- Practical reinforcement of emergency response, hypoxia recovery, microgravity adaptation, and G-force countermeasures.
- Readiness confirmation before continuing toward operator-specific flight operations.
Ready to Register?
Reserve your Level 2 Sub-Orbital Training seat or contact Waypoint 2 Space for program availability, group enrollment, and training details.