Interstellar Performance Labs

04/26/2026

Yesterday was Day 1 of STAR Summit and is now complete, and we’re just getting started. 🚀

kicked things off by teaching the Human Behavior & Performance (HBP) competencies—what they are, how they’re used, and how they apply in operational environments.

Then we walked through their HBP assessment reports, where participants learned how to interpret their results and set intentional focus areas to work on throughout the week.

From there, we moved into Crew Identity. They identified their individual purpose and values, then came together as a team to align and create a shared mission.
Instructor, Sandra Herrmann, wrapped up the day by teaching the foundations of working in an analog environment, focusing on sample collection, handling, and preservation, and applied those skills on site.

04/26/2026

Meet the amazing team behind Interstellar Performance Lab’s STAR Summit!

04/23/2026

We talk a lot about the Human Behavior and Performance competencies that shape an astronaut, and the Artemis II crew clearly demonstrated them. But we also wanted to look more closely at the technical training behind the mission, because it was just as critical.

Leading up to Artemis II, the crew trained from June 2023 across both human performance and technical operations. Swipe through for a closer look at what that training involved.

04/09/2026

We’re officially in the final few days of registration for STAR Summit 2026.

Five days of immersive analog mission training at Biosphere 2 in Oracle, Arizona. The Summit is grounded in human performance, crew integration, and technical skills for analog missions.

Registration closes April 12th at 10:00 pm EDT.

Link in bio to register!

04/07/2026

The ISS Human Behavior and Performance Competency Model defines the behavioral skills required to perform effectively in isolated, confined, and extreme environments. It's the same framework that informs how astronauts are assessed and trained for long-duration spaceflight, including missions like Artemis II.

At the STAR Summit, each person completes a self-assessment grounded in the ISS Human Behavior and Performance Competency model before arriving. The results are a starting place for understanding how you show up under pressure, how you lead, communicate, and adapt when conditions aren't ideal.

During the Summit, we walk through your results together. You’ll learn how to interpret them, what they actually reflect, and how to apply that awareness within a team and operational setting.

The assessment is currently available exclusively to STAR Summit participants.

Registration link in bio.

04/02/2026

Registration for the STAR Summit is still open through April 12 until 10pm Eastern.

📆 April 25–29 at Biosphere 2, Oracle, Arizona.

Bring your crew!

See the link in our bio to register.

03/31/2026

Interstellar Performance Labs was featured in National Geographic. This is a huge milestone for us, and for human spaceflight analogs.

Last week, National Geographic published a feature on the World's Biggest Analog, the largest space simulation ever conducted. Sixteen crews. Six continents. Two weeks of living as if humanity had already made it to the moon and to Mars.

IPL supported training and selection of 27 analog astronauts, contributing to a mission that is helping define what analogs can become.

This is recognition that analog missions are evolving. We’re learning in real time, making changes, and building awareness and visibility for what this industry is capable of.

This is how analog missions move forward: through experience, iteration, and shared progress.

And we are so proud to be a part of that.

Read the full feature at the link in our bio.

📸Photo credit: Mackenzie Calle

03/26/2026

We asked last year's attendees why they chose to come to the STAR Summit, and their answers said it all. These are the reasons this program exists, and they're the same reasons the April cohort at Biosphere 2 is worth your consideration.

The Summit is designed to meet people where they are and help them leave more prepared, more connected, and a step closer to mission ready.

See the link in our bio to learn more and secure your place.

03/24/2026

Something that comes up after STAR workshops is that participants learn how to understand their crew before the mission even started.

Eiman Jahangir, a Citizen Astronaut, put it simply after completing the program:

"This workshop was helpful in two ways. First, it helped solidify relationships with my crew mates prior to undergoing an analog together. Second, it allowed me to better understand how I function in groups, how to best support my crew mates, and in general just gave me insight into who I am."

That kind of foundation is built through structured, intentional preparation and it shapes how a crew shows up when the environment gets demanding.

Registration for the STAR Summit closes April 12th at 10:00 PM EST. If this is something you've been considering, now is the time.

Register at the link in our bio.

📸Image Credit: Vanderbilt Health

03/19/2026

Come Explore the Workshop Focus Areas of STAR Summit!

A 5-day training experience designed to strengthen how you think, lead, communicate, and operate in mission environments, individually and as a team.

3 Focus Areas. 12 Workshops.

✨Focus 1: Human Behavior & Performance
These workshops help you better understand yourself, how you operate under stressful situations, and grow as an individual. You’ll explore topics like self-awareness, communication, decision-making, adaptability, teamwork, and leadership so you can show up more effectively in high-risk, high-consequence environments.

✨Focus: Crew & Team Dynamics
These workshops focus on how people operate together, not just individually. You’ll work through activities that strengthen trust, alignment, shared purpose, and team communication so crews can function with more cohesion before mission demands put that to the test.

✨Focus 3: Technical & Operational Skills
These workshops are focused on practical skills that support mission readiness specifically for human spaceflight analog missions. From field-based applications to hands-on learning, these sessions help you build confidence in the kinds of technical and operational demands often present in analog and extreme environment settings.

Come train with us at STAR!

If you want to grow as an operator, teammate, and leader in extreme environments.
Join us for 5 days of immersive training, challenge, and growth.

Link in bio to register and learn more!

03/18/2026

This one feels really special.

We built STAR Summit to give you a space to step into the kind of training that’s often talked about but not always experienced. Real environments, real challenges, and the opportunity to grow alongside people who care deeply about doing this work well.

If you have a mission coming up, or you’re just ready to take the next step in your analog astronaut journey, we’d love to have you there.
You can join as an individual or come as a crew.

April 25–29, 2026 at Biosphere 2, Arizona.

Link in bio to register!

5-day Summit in Oracle, AZ at Biosphere 2, April 25-29th