Austronaut workshops and programs are designed to inspire and develop high-performance habits in individuals, whether they aspire to become astronauts or seek to excel in other fields. Participants will learn about the elements/factors that support/enable ongoing success, through the high-achieving lens of astronaut selection, training and missions.

Workshops and programs draw on the interdisciplinary requirements placed on astronauts—success in academics, physical fitness, technical skills, and interpersonal abilities like leadership, teamwork, and communication — and teach a holistic approach to mental and physical performance, blending practical and theoretical perspectives.

This one-day workshop was featured in International Space University Space Studies Program 2021 and Australian Space Biology Symposium 2021. It included the key topics of: background information, basics of self-regulation, stress, sleep and circadian rhythm, basics of executive functioning and SCP/SMR (neurofeedback), basics of improving skills and neurostimulation, applications in space travel, early adopters examples, and ethical aspects. Movement areas were also discussed, including: mobility, stability, motor control, and strength.

See below for a summary video!
This one-day workshop informed participants about the elements that support ongoing success, through the lens of becoming an astronaut, which involves the formation of healthy peak performance habits. A holistic approach was taken to teach about mental and physical performance from both a practical and theoretical perspective. The knowledge shared touched on various transferable skills that are not just relevant to becoming an astronaut but can also be applied in everyday life. The background of the instructors included: psychology, neuroscience, exercise physiology, flight, yoga, and music. Two special instructors were present: Paul Scully Power (former astronaut and oceanographer) and Nicola Winter (ESA reserve astronaut and German air force pilot).
This one-day workshop included the key topics of: hazards of human spaceflight, psychological techniques for stress management, sustained performance at an elite level, optimal conditioning using velocity based training, and ethical concepts in human spaceflight. The goals of the workshop included: understanding what it takes to perform at an elite level over a career, learning about the different hazards to humans in the space environment, discussion of the ethical challenges experienced by spacefaring individuals, developing psychological preparation methods relevant for human spaceflight and everyday life, and understanding and practising physical training methods uaeful for human spaceflight and elite performance. Two special instructors were present: Dennis Armfield (former Carlton Blues AFL player) and Simon Jenner (ecosystem manager at Axiom Space). Other instructors present included: Dr Rowena Christiansen (physician lecturer and subject coordinator at The University of Melbourne), Dr Harry Banyard (exercise and sport science lecturer at Swinburne University of Technology), Dr Evie Kendal (health promotion senior lecturer at Swinburne University of Technology), and Jennifer Sharp (psychologist and PhD candidate at Charles Sturt University).

Past & Present Instructors

Dr Rowena Christiansen

Physician, Lecturer & Subject Coordinator
The University of Melbourne

· Space Health & Medicine Expert
· Co-Founder, International Humans in Space
· 2021 ESA Space Physician Training Course

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Chris Rackl

Chris is a former Luftwaffe fighter pilot with 20 years in the German Air Force including 15 years of flying and 2 years in Combat Survival and Search & Rescue. He is experienced in Human Factors Training, Crew Resource Management training and Single pilot resource management with expertise in mental preparation, building up situational awareness, leadership and teamwork. He now works is aviation quality and risk management and as a flying instructor. Visit The Confidence for more.

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Mandy Scotney

Mandy is the founder of Third Collective who offer counselling and mental-wellbeing education for organisations and individuals. She’s passionate about the work she does and has been researching Hope & Wicked Problems as part of her Masters of Research. Mandy also has 25 years of commercial leadership experience (including Executive General Management and CEO roles) across the travel, health & well-being, and recruitment industries.

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Paul Hawkins

Paul is the Chief Combobulator at Crazy Might Work, an award-winning, for-purpose innovation agency, launched in Antarctica. He works with leaders to create high-performing teams, transform culture and innovate for impact, in spaces ranging from intensive care to space itself. He has trained in innovation and neuroscience through Stanford University and the Neuro-Leadership Institute and is a facilitator of the 4-D program used by NASA.

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Joanne Fisher

Joanne Fisher founded Fisher People in Culture to bring the latest expertise from the fields of neuro-leadership, executive coaching, emotional intelligence and organisational culture, to busy business and HR leaders of SMEs. Her mission is help SMEs create accelerated growth, via the power of optimal cultural foundations underpinned by the neuroscience of leadership, culture and performance.

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Taine Conway

Taine recently completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Criminology at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and has moved to Sydney to pursue a career in acting through the school Screenwise. He also has a passion for fitness and is translating his experience as a personal trainer into working at Fitness Playground in Sydney.

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Past & Present Instructors

Dr Rowena Christiansen

Physician, Lecturer & Subject Coordinator
The University of Melbourne

Australian physician Dr Rowena Christiansen is a long-term educator within the University of Melbourne Medical School, and in 2022 developed a new ‘Discovery Subject’ “Human health in the space environment”. She also lectures on ‘humans in space’ for Swinburne University and is a member of the Australian Space Agency Space Medicine Technical Advisory Group.

She is a creative founder of the International Humans in Space Summit and was also selected for the 2021 ESA Space Physician Training Course.

Dr Evie Kendal

Senior Lecturer, Health Promotion
Swinburne University of Technology

Dr Evie Kendal is a bioethicist and public health scientist specialising in the ethics of emerging technologies. Her work focuses on reproductive biotechnologies, health communication and media, and space ethics.

Evie is a Senior Lecturer of Health Promotion at Swinburne University of Technology's Department of Health Sciences and Biostatistics and heads the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Emerging Technologies (ELSIET) research group, housed at the Iverson Health Innovation research institute.

Dr Harry Banyard

Lecturer, Exercise and Sport Science
Swinburne University of Technology

Prior to becoming a lecturer at Swinburne, Harry was the athlete development manager at the West Australian Football Commission, and completed his PhD at Edith Cowan University on the topic of velocity-based training: monitoring, implementation and effects on strength and power.

Some of his current research areas include: velocity-based training, optimal exercise for astronauts, sprint & jump force-velocity profiling & training, fatigue & barbell movement tracking, exercise & its effect on depression & anxiety, & motivational strategies to increase physical activity levels.

Jennifer Sharp

Psychologist and PhD Candidate
Charles Sturt University

After working with children and families for many years in the public service, Jennifer is completing PhD research at Charles Sturt University with a focus on the use of technology to address loneliness in people in space. Space travel involves separation from others for extended periods of time, and loneliness is a fundamental challenge to overcome.

Jennifer’s research aims to identify whether social interaction via virtual reality or with a voice-interfaced artificial intelligence program reduces loneliness. This research has relevance for astronauts as well as people on Earth in isolated, remote and confined locations.