When Blue Origin revealed the six person crew of its upcoming New Shepard NS 37 mission, one name immediately stood out for those of us who have been documenting the rise of commercial spaceflight: Jason Stansell. A computer scientist from West Texas, a lifelong space enthusiast, and now a private astronaut preparing to fly above the Karman line, Jason represents a new generation of explorers who combine curiosity, technical skill, and personal meaning in every step of their journey.
I met Jason at the NASTAR Center, the only commercial human spaceflight training facility in the United States. It is the same centrifuge that has prepared pilots, researchers, and future astronauts for the crushing G forces of launch and reentry. Jason arrived openly excited, humble, and ready to push himself. He called it “the closest thing to flying before the real thing.”
As we began talking, it was immediately clear that Jason’s trajectory into space started long before the NS 37 announcement.
Training Where Legends Have Trained
Over the years, the center has hosted NASA astronauts, commercial crew members, and private explorers preparing for missions that pushed the boundaries of what civilians could achieve. The Inspiration4 crew, led by Commander Jared Isaacman, completed key human performance and G force simulation training in the same centrifuge Jason used during his session. Their flight made history as the first all civilian orbital mission, and their signed portrait still hangs on the wall at NASTAR as a reminder of what dedicated training can accomplish.
NASTAR’s board of directors includes retired astronaut Winston Scott, whose experience in spaceflight, EVA operations, and human performance adds deep credibility to the center’s mission. Legendary Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin has toured the facility as well, meeting staff and reviewing its training capabilities.
Commercial space leaders have also made their way to NASTAR. Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic, visited the center during the planning stages of commercial suborbital flight and used NASTAR’s research in preparing future space tourists for real G force environments.
Jason trained on equipment that has directly shaped the preparation of astronauts, educators, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and civilians headed to space. He stepped into a centrifuge trusted by icons, and he carried that sense of heritage into every run.
A Childhood Shaped by Sci Fi, Curiosity, and Adventure
“I grew up watching rockets, flying planes, riding motorcycles, scuba diving, studying physics,” Jason told me. “Anything that let me understand how the world works or pushed the limits of what we can do.”
Jason’s early life in West Texas put him near the growing commercial space industry long before he knew he would ever be part of it. He watched launch after launch from a distance, dreaming of a world where private citizens could one day strap in and fly.
That day is now only weeks away.
A Day Inside the NASTAR Centrifuge
Jason’s experience at NASTAR was not a photo opportunity. It was real astronaut preparation.
He strapped into the high fidelity capsule simulator, surrounded by panels, instruments, and displays designed to mimic actual flight environments. As the centrifuge began to rotate, pressing his body into the seat, he learned something essential about surviving spaceflight.
“You cannot fight G forces with strength,” he said. “You fight them with technique. Breathing, posture, awareness. Your body wants to shut down, so you have to stay ahead of it.”
The NASTAR instructors guided him through the profiles used for commercial suborbital missions: rapid acceleration, quick transitions, and controlled reentry deceleration. Jason handled them with calm confidence, even as the simulator demanded quick thinking and discipline.
What struck me most was not the technical training. It was his sense of gratitude.
“This is surreal,” he said. “I am getting to do something I have dreamed of my whole life.”
A Purpose Bigger Than the Flight
Blue Origin highlighted Jason’s passion for science education and critical thinking, but the heart of his mission is deeply personal. Jason is dedicating his NS 37 flight to his brother, who passed away in 2016 after a long battle with brain cancer.
“Everything I do going forward, I do with him in mind,” Jason said quietly. “I want this flight to honor him and inspire people to live fully while they can.”
For Jason, the mission is not a bucket list item. It is a tribute, a message, and a bridge between who he was and who he still hopes to become.
Healthy Skepticism and a Love of Science
Jason is not flying to promote himself. He is flying to promote understanding.
In a world filled with misinformation about spaceflight, physics, health, and technology, he wants people to think more deeply.
“I want to inspire healthy skepticism,” he said. “Not cynicism. Curiosity. Ask questions, challenge assumptions, learn the real science behind what we see.”
He views space as one of the purest ways to illuminate the truth. No politics. No spin.
Just physics, exploration, and perspective.
What Jason’s Flight Means for the Future of Spaceflight
Jason represents something powerful and new. He is not a billionaire, a celebrity, or a government astronaut. He is the voice of the emerging commercial explorer: talented, curious, grounded, and motivated by meaning rather than spectacle.
His presence on NS 37 proves that the path into space is widening. The next wave of explorers are engineers, educators, scientists, creators, and ordinary citizens with extraordinary curiosity.
And Jason is one of the first to walk that path.
A Moment at NASTAR I Will Never Forget
As Jason exited the simulator after one of the higher G profiles, the door swung open and he stepped out with a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. He paused, looked around the room, and said:
“I cannot believe this is real. I cannot believe I get to do this.”
It reminded me of something every astronaut has told me, “Spaceflight changes you long before you ever leave the ground.”
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