NASTAR Center

The National AeroSpace Training and Research (NASTAR) Center, located in Southampton, Pennsylvania, is the world's first FAA-approved center for commercial human spaceflight crew qualification and training, providing aerospace physiology training to astronaut candidates, spaceflight participants, military aircrew, and aviation professionals.

Founded in 2007 by Wyle Laboratories (now KBR), NASTAR operates a short-arm human centrifuge — the Environmental Tectonics Corporation (ETC) Authentic Tactical Fighting Instrument Trainer (ATFS-400) — capable of generating up to +20Gz sustained acceleration. This centrifuge simulates the gravitational forces experienced during rocket launch ascent, reentry, and emergency abort scenarios. Trainees learn G-LOC (G-force induced Loss Of Consciousness) prevention techniques, AGSM (Anti-G Straining Maneuver) protocols, and physiological warning signs of hypoxia and acceleration-induced incapacitation.

NASTAR's Commercial Spaceflight Training program (NASTAR-SFT) was developed in collaboration with the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation and Virgin Galactic, which selected NASTAR as its training partner for SpaceShipTwo crew and flight research passengers. The program covers three phases: academic ground school in aerospace physiology, centrifuge-based G-force training simulating the unique 6-second 3.5G boost of SpaceShipTwo's hybrid rocket motor, and emergency procedures. Blue Origin also worked with NASTAR on New Shepard passenger preparation protocols.

Beyond commercial spaceflight, NASTAR provides altitude chamber training simulating hypoxia onset, spatial disorientation demonstrations in a gyroscopic chair, and spatial disorientation flight simulation. The center has trained NASA astronauts, military pilots, and government agency personnel alongside commercial space participants. NASTAR's human factors research program contributes to understanding of human performance limits in aerospace environments, informing FAA rulemaking around commercial spaceflight medical certification and crew training standards.