Purdue University Purdue e-Pubs College of Technology Masters Theses College of Technology Theses and Projects 12-7-2010 The elecS tion of Commercial Astronauts for Suborbital Spaceflight Brian J. Kozak Purdue University - Main Campus, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/techmasters Kozak, Brian J., "The eS lection of Commercial Astronauts for Suborbital Spaceflight" (2010). College of Technology Masters Theses. Paper 32. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/techmasters/32 This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. Graduate School ETD Form 9 (Revised 12/07) PURDUE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL Thesis/Dissertation Acceptance This is to certify that the thesis/dissertation prepared By Brian J. Kozak Entitled The Selection of Commercial Astronauts for Suborbital Spaceflight For the degree of Master of Science Is approved by the final examining committee: Denver Lopp Chair John Young Tim Ropp To the best of my knowledge and as understood by the student in the Research Integrity and Copyright Disclaimer (Graduate School Form 20), this thesis/dissertation adheres to the provisions of Purdue University’s “Policy on Integrity in Research” and the use of copyrighted material. Approved by Major Professor(s): ______________Denver Lopp ______________________ ____________________________________ Approved by: Gary Bertoline %&'(%'&(%( Head of the Graduate Program Date Graduate School Form 20 (Revised 9/10) PURDUE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL Research Integrity and Copyright Disclaimer Title of Thesis/Dissertation: The Selection of Commercial Astronauts for Suborbital Spaceflight For the degree of Master of ScienceChoose your degree I certify that in the preparation of this thesis, I have observed the provisions of Purdue University Executive Memorandum No. C-22, September 6, 1991, Policy on Integrity in Research.* Further, I certify that this work is free of plagiarism and all materials appearing in this thesis/dissertation have been properly quoted and attributed. I certify that all copyrighted material incorporated into this thesis/dissertation is in compliance with the United States’ copyright law and that I have received written permission from the copyright owners for my use of their work, which is beyond the scope of the law. I agree to indemnify and save harmless Purdue University from any and all claims that may be asserted or that may arise from any copyright violation. Brian J. Kozak ______________________________________ Printed Name and Signature of Candidate 11/30/2010 ______________________________________ Date (month/day/year) *Located at http://www.purdue.edu/policies/pages/teach_res_outreach/c_22.html THE SELECTION OF COMMERCIAL ASTRONAUTS FOR SUBORBITAL SPACEFLIGHT A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Purdue University by Brian J. Kozak In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science December 2010 Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana ii The sky is not the limit... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES....................................................................................................v LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................vi ABSTRACT............................................................................................................vii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................1 1.1 Objectives.......................................................................................................1 1.2 Background.....................................................................................................1 1.3 Scope..............................................................................................................2 1.4 Significance.....................................................................................................2 1.5 Definitions.......................................................................................................3 1.6 Assumptions....................................................................................................4 1.7 Delimitations...................................................................................................5 1.8 Limitations.......................................................................................................5 1.9 Summary.........................................................................................................6 CHAPTER 2. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE......................................................7 2.1 Space Tourism ...............................................................................................7 2.2 The First Commercial Astronauts...................................................................8 2.3 Review of Government Astronaut Selection...................................................9 2.3.1 Academic Performance............................................................................10 2.3.2 Pilot Experience.......................................................................................12 2.3.3 Character / Motivation..............................................................................14 2.4 United States Government Regulations.......................................................15 2.5 Suborbital Companies within Space Tourism...............................................16 2.6 Summary.......................................................................................................18 CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY...........................................................................19 3.1 Purpose.........................................................................................................19 3.2 Qualitative Research.....................................................................................19 3.3 Theoretical Framework.................................................................................20 3.4 Sampling.......................................................................................................22 3.5 Data Collection..............................................................................................23 3.6 Study Participants.........................................................................................25 3.7 Data Analysis................................................................................................27 3.8 Researcher Bias...........................................................................................30 3.9 Researcher Credibility...................................................................................31 3.10 Summary.....................................................................................................32 iv Page CHAPTER 4. DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS..................................................33 4.1 Sample Attrition.............................................................................................33 4.2 Data Analysis and Reduction........................................................................34 4.3 Findings.........................................................................................................34 4.3.1 Assertions................................................................................................35 4.4 Summary.......................................................................................................45 CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS..............................46 5.1 Conclusion....................................................................................................46 5.2 Discussion.....................................................................................................47 5.3 Recommendations........................................................................................49 5.4 Summary.......................................................................................................50 LIST OF REFERENCES.......................................................................................51 APPENDICES Appendix A. Research Letter..............................................................................54 Appendix B. Research Brief...............................................................................56 Appendix C. Telephone Interview Transcripts....................................................59 Appendix D. Email Interview Transcripts..........................................................112 Appendix E. Coded Telephone Interviews........................................................120 Appendix F. Coded Email Interviews...............................................................176 Appendix G. Code Frequencies........................................................................184 Appendix H. Research Questions and Codes..................................................199 Appendix I. Strength of Data Continua...........................................................210 v LIST OF TABLES Appendix Table Page Table G.1 Codes and Frequencies from Dan DeLong.......................................185 Table G.2 Codes and Frequencies from Jim Voss.............................................186 Table G.3 Codes and Frequencies from Gary Payton........................................187 Table G.4 Codes and Frequencies from Mark Brown........................................189 Table G.5