Astronaut Job Camp 2023 at SaxaVord Spaceport
Mike Mongo’s Astronaut Job Camp 2023 at SaxaVord Spaceport:
A Virtual Space STEAM Summer Camp Experience like No Other!
Commercial Crew Astronaut Mike Mongo’s Virtual STEM Camp for Kids Returns to UK’s First-Ever Vertical Launch Facility and Brings A.I.
Unst, Shetland — 29 June 2023 — Mike Mongo, renowned astronaut teacher and author, is thrilled to announce the launch of Astronaut Job Camp 2023, an immersive four-week virtual STEM summer camp experience for students aged 9–14 who dream of working in the growing space sector — including as an astronaut! The camp will take place at SaxaVord Spaceport, the UK’s first-ever vertical launch facility located on the beautiful island of Unst, Shetland.
For its third year hosting future astronauts, engineers, and rocket builders, all tuition for students are again fully paid by SaxaVord Spaceport and private benefactors. The free space STEM summer camp, along with a host of special guest space professionals, will be presenting a very special astronaut trainee: Bina48, the first humanoid robot A.I. to train as an astronaut.
Bina48 and Mongo’s relationship is both personal and professional. The A.I. and the astronaut teacher have been training together for as commercial crew astronauts for the past year.
“Having trained for space with Bina48 — including completing Zero-G flight training together from Kennedy Space Center — I personally understand and see how A.I. is changing how all of us will imagine the future,” says Mongo. “Today’s students will be implementing A.I. into their lives in the same way that students who are in university today were introduced to smartphones, and those parent’s parents were introduced to computers. A.I. is changing everything, from education to astronautics.”
Getting to experience working with A.I. will give today’s students a critical competitive advantage for tomorrow’s jobs in space and STEM, according to Mongo. “By the time today’s students are ready for university, A.I. will be ever-present. SaxaVord Spaceport has been leading the way in preparing UK students for space vocations and introducing students to actual conversational A.I. is going to make our attendees all big stars when they start school again in the fall.”
Astronaut Job Camp 2023 aims to inspire and educate young minds by providing them with up-close-and-personal opportunities to develop an interest in space STEM careers and gain insights into the world of astronauts. Student participants will engage in a variety of interactive activities, virtual simulations, and captivating workshops led by space industry and space culture professionals — including flown astronauts — all from the comfort of their own homes.
Highlights of the Astronaut Job Camp 2023 include:
Virtual Spaceport Tours: Students will embark on virtual tours of SaxaVord Spaceport, getting an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the UK’s cutting-edge facility for vertical launches.
Astronaut Training Sessions: Through a series of engaging workshops, participants will learn the essential skills and qualities required to become an astronaut, including teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
Inspiring Guest Speakers: Renowned astronauts, scientists, artists, and space professionals will share their experiences and insights with the campers, offering valuable guidance and inspiration.
Mike Mongo, the camp’s founder and a prominent figure in space education in the UK and abroad, expressed his excitement about Astronaut Job Camp 2023: “Our virtual summer camp is designed to empower young students in the UK and abroad, and ignite their passion for space exploration. Introducing students to having conversations with actual working space professionals is as big an honor as there is for me. We never know when one of our students from Shetland or London may be the next Tim Peake, Helen Sharman, Dave MacKay, Shawna Pandya, or even Sir Richard Branson. This is what we instill into our attendees, a permission to achieve great things and their dreams. We aim to inspire the next generation of astronauts and scientists in the UK, giving them a taste of what it’s like to be part of our world’s space community.”
Registration for Mike Mongo’s Astronaut Job Camp 2023 is now open and free with limited spots available. The camp will run from 3 July to 27 July. Three sessions twice a week for four weeks. One AM session for Scotland students whose school year ends 30 June, an afternoon session for students in the UK who are still in school, (both on Monday-Thursday), and a midday session for students in the US on Tuesday-Friday, all begin starting 3 June.
For more information and to secure a spot for your child, visit astronautjobcamp.com or @astrojobcamp on Twitter, or email info@astronautjobcamp.com.
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About Mike Mongo: Mike Mongo is an esteemed astronaut teacher, author, and advocate for space STEAM education. With a mission to inspire and educate the next generation of space enthusiasts, Mike has dedicated his career to fostering a love for space and science among young minds.
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Contact: Bryden Priest, community projects officer, SaxaVord Spaceport, bryden.priest@shetlandspacecentre.com
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