Analog Astronaut Training Center (AATC) is a private company, which accelerates human spaceflight scientific studies. The company specializes in human physiology research and operational trainings for scientists, engineers, and astronaut candidates. AATC founded by two former European Space Agency professionals: an engineer and a scientist.
In 2018, the company established a laboratory to simulate space environment for scientific experiments focused on space biology and medicine. The facility is located in southern part of Poland. Beside scientific projects, co-supervision of engineer- master and doctoral theses, AATC organizes rocket workshops, stratospheric missions and scientific lunar and martian analog simulations.
In 2022 the company has reached 55 successfully organized analog simulations with more than 250 people trained. This gives AATC second position in the world considering the number of organized expeditions. Most of trained analog astronauts continue their career in the space sector. AATC helps them to develop and grow by publishing their work on international platforms, by sharing precious international contacts and collaborations and involving them in multiple ongoing space projects.
Programs offered in 2023
- 1 and 2 week long international space science internships for students
- Lunar and martian analog simulations in the habitat
- Junior Space Camps
- Scuba Diving Trainings certified by PADI
- Human centrifuge training course – collaboration with Military Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Warsaw, Poland
- Hyperbaric, Hypobaric and Thermal chambers – collaboration with Military Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Warsaw, Poland
- Robotic operations and Human Robotic support in extreme environments
- H.U.E.T. trainer and sea survival
- Habitat systems and mission operations
- Skydiving courses
- Tactical Combat Casualty Care medical courses – ex special forces operators
Programs in development
- Pilot training course [from PPL(A) to CPL(A) and from PPL(H) to CPL(H)]
- Soyuz water egress and contingency survival (fire, depress, chemical fumes)
- Exoskeleton training course
- Fire fighting – collaboration with Fire Department Academy
- Ophthalmology and emergency eye surgery
- Surgery courses
- Dental emergencies
- Speleology courses
- Extreme Medicine courses
- Trips to Bajkonur, Kennedy Space Center, Johnson Space Center, Technik Museum Speyer (for Buran), National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, European Astronaut Center
- IIAS, Project PoSSUM and Project Otter collaboration
- 3D printing for space applications course
- Aerospace engineering and astronautics course
- ISRU development course
- e-learning platform for “reversed classes” for each of the training courses
Our Crew
Agata Kołodziejczyk
Director of Scientific Projects
agata@astronaut.center
The initiator of the first habitat in Poland. Creator and private investor of the laboratory equipment inside the Lunares base. Former postdoc in biomimetics at the European Space Agency. Learn More.
Matt Harasymczuk
Director of Flight Crew Operations
matt@astronaut.center
Aerospace and Software Engineer. Developing HabitatOS. Former European Space Agency engineer… Learn More.
Jayakumar Venkatesan
Director of Human Spaceflight Research
jayakumar@vallesmarineris.in
Chief Executive Officer & MD Valles Marineris International Private Limited, India; Chief Technology Officer Synergy Moon International, USA (Google Lunar Xprize Finalist), Partner Artemis Space Limited, United Kingdom; Learn More.
Sebastian Hettrich
Mission Control Center
sebastian.hettrich.apog@gmail.com
Active member of Mission Control Centre responsible for webinar preparations, pre-training and communication with analog astronauts.
Efstratia Salteri
Journalist – Reporter
efi.salteri@gmail.com
Member of Mission Control Center responsible for sharing information with broad public on social media, internet and during many events for students and people interested in human spaceflight.
Murray Mackay
Flight Medical Officer
mgmackay21@gmail.com
Medical doctor specialized in extreme and space medicine. Author of multiple experiments realized during our analog missions. Takes care of crews in the Mission Control Centre.