Interstellar Performance Labs Programs & Services
What does it mean to
To Stay Stellar is to lead with integrity, own your growth, and rise to meet the moment—especially when it’s hard. It’s a mindset we train, model, and expect from ourselves and the people we work with. Whether you’re stepping into a mission, building a team, or overhauling a system, Staying Stellar means showing up fully, failing forward, and holding yourself to a higher standard—because performance, safety, and leadership start with you.
Stay Stellar?
You’re building something bigger than yourself—and you need people and systems that can keep up.
Every training we offer is rooted in the NASA Human Behavior & Performance Competency Model—because in high-pressure environments, knowledge isn’t enough. We develop the full human system: communication, conflict management, leadership, team living, cultural awareness, emotional regulation, and situational decision-making. Because in on Earth—and beyond—your ability to Stay Stellar under pressure is the real test.
It’s not just about knowledge
You’ve already said yes to the mission. Now you’re ready to lead like it matters.
You’re done playing weekend warrior. It’s time to train like this is your career.
You’ve got the grit—now you want the structure, systems, and feedback to back it up.
You’re ready to unify your team—and get everyone moving with purpose.
You’ve got the mission goals. Now you need the people skills to execute under pressure.
You’re not just looking for advice—you want safety systems, risk tools, and mission-ready infrastructure that actually work.
Does this sound like you?
Course and Certification for Human Spaceflight Analogs
The STAR Course is a self-paced training designed to build operational readiness, mental performance, team dynamics, and human factors awareness. It serves as a foundational introduction to analog missions and the risks, efforts, and responsibilities involved. The certification is not required—but if you’re serious about standing out in this industry, you’ll want to claim your spot when our sessions open. Stay ready. Stay Stellar.
Build the Foundation
Your Next Steps
Join the STAR Candidate Registry and make your training and certification official.
Register your STAR Candidate Status
Knowledge Reviews
Solidify your understanding with quizzes and final exam prep that reinforce key lessons and ensure mission readiness.
Modules & Lessons
Explore 8 self-paced modules covering human factors, mental performance, operational readiness, and team dynamics through pre-recorded lessons and interactive content.
Discussion Prompts
Engage with thought-provoking discussion prompts designed to challenge your assumptions, deepen reflection, and foster peer learning.
The Journey to Certification
What’s Inside the Course
Tools & Resources
Access downloadable tools, planning templates, and reference materials to apply your learning beyond the course.
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Get instant access to all 8 modules, resources, and activities.
Enroll in the Course
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Learn at your own pace with videos, reflections, and peer discussion prompts.
Work Through Each Module
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Demonstrate your understanding and readiness by passing the certification acceptance exam.
Take the Optional Certification Exam
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Choose between in-person or virtual certification options offered throughout the year.
Apply for Certification
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Receive your acceptance into the STAR Certification program after application review.
Letter of Acceptance
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Participate in hands-on or virtual training that puts your STAR knowledge into practice.
Successfully Complete the Certification
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Walk away with a personalized plan to guide your growth and mission readiness.
Receive your Stay Stellar Plan
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STAR.CREW Mission Prep
Your full crew’s mission readiness accelerator. What normally takes weeks of chaotic self-prep, trial and error, or last-minute panic—we compress into a structured, expert-led week that sets your mission up for success. You’ll move fast—refining purpose, aligning team dynamics, prepping meals and mindset, and locking in your pre-mission fitness and resilience plan.
Next Mission Prep: June 23-27, 2025
For Analog Crews Ready to Launch
Pre-Mission Fitness Planning
Set crew-level fitness goals and outline a scalable training strategy to improve endurance, strength, and injury prevention.
Nutrition & Meal Planning
Calculate your calorie and macro needs—and plan meals that fuel performance. No one wants to be hangry during mission-critical tasks!
Etiquette & Crewmate Agreements
Set clear expectations for how you'll live, work, and communicate together.
What We’ll Cover
Small Group Living Guidelines
Prepare for shared space, limited privacy, and all the dynamics that come with close-quarters living during analog missions.
Your Crew’s Journey
Join the STAR Candidate Registry and make your training and certification official.
Register your STAR Candidate Status
Here is how it works
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Submit a request with your team size, location, and goals. We’ll help you choose the right format.
Join as a Crew
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Attend Mon–Thurs workshops (4–6PM CST); each crew must have one member present. Drop into office hours Tues–Thurs for support.
Show up, plug in
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Apply what you’re learning in daily group work, refining your crew’s protocols, agreements, and mission strategy for final deliverables.
Work the Plan
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Deliver a 10-minute capstone Friday at 1PM CST that demonstrates your team’s alignment, readiness, and strategy.
Present your Mission
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The following week, receive tailored crew feedback to help you tighten any final gaps before deployment.
Get Feedback, Launch Strong
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Book a private strategy session to review your feedback and refine your crew’s custom game plan.
Strategy Session (Optional Add-On)
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Walk away with a personalized plan to guide your growth and mission readiness.
Receive your Stay Stellar Plan
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Environmental Threat Mapping
Identify operational hazards specific to your mission location and environment.
Purpose & Alignment (plus Mission Patch Design)
Get your team on the same page to define your mission, values, and goals—with or without a mission patch design. Offered virtually or in person.
Psychological Resilience
Identify personal stress triggers and co-create a crew plan to manage challenges before they compromise performance or team dynamics.
Roles & Responsibilities
Lock in who’s doing what before the pressure hits. No surprises on mission day.
Consulting Services
From safety systems to incident investigations, our consulting services bring clarity to the human side of mission risk. We help teams and organizations strengthen performance, prevent problems, and operate with intention—because every system is only as strong as the people behind it.
Tailored Strategy for your Mission Needs
Hourly Consulting
Need targeted support? We offer hourly consulting tailored to your needs—focused, flexible, and mission-aligned.
We plan and staff analog missions for research, providing the site, structure, and professional crew.
Safety Systems & Reporting Infrastructure
Build reporting structures and feedback loops that track trends, improve communication, and support a proactive safety culture.
Human Factors & Reliability Analysis
Identify risk-prone workflows, predict human error, and design systems that support safe, efficient, high-performance operations.
Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis
Go beyond the surface to uncover systemic and human causes—then implement solutions that stop repeat events.
Consulting Focus Areas
Standards & Operational Readiness
Develop or refine safety guidelines, run mission-specific risk reviews, and prepare your team to execute under pressure.
Organization & Deployment
Your Consulting Journey
How it Works
Share your challenges and goals—we’ll explore how our consulting services can support your mission.
Book your 30-minute discovery call
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Together, we’ll identify the most impactful services for your team or project.
Define the Scope
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You’ll get a tailored proposal with clear outcomes, timeline, and delivery options.
Receive your custom plan
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Engage & elevate
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Trusted by
Investment
Human Factors & Safety Consulting
From root cause analysis to risk assessments, we help you build safer systems, stronger teams, and smarter operations—customized to your mission.
For Organizations
Proposal-Based
Pricing varies depending on scope, urgency, and timeline
Stellar Training for Astronaut Readiness Course & Certification
8 modules of self-study and discussion prompts followed by an optional exam and certification add-on. Designed to build a foundational understanding of the risks, efforts, and responsibilities that go into human spaceflight analog missions.
For Individuals
$697
with the option to add the certification after completion of the course.
STAR.CREW Mission Prep
Your full crew’s mission readiness accelerator. In one expert-led week, you’ll align, strategize, and prep for deployment—no chaos (maybe a little), no guesswork, just structure, clarity, and performance under pressure to get your crew aligned.
For Crews
$2,000 per crew
with the option to add a private strategy session
Helping you succeed in extraordinary missions
The STAR.CREW training was excellent and challenging in several ways. I enjoyed the teamwork sessions where we learned key communication skills to ensure mission success. I also enjoyed being challenged by the workouts! The training left me and my teammates with a great bond that I hope will continue for years to come. I expect to see everyone in space someday!
Gopal Katkoria
Certified STAR Candidate & WBA Candidate
Emily Apollonio and the IPL Team have created a cosmic training model for analog astronaut missions. As a first-time analog astronaut, I was uncertain of what to expect, but the program has covered mission focused lessons that have prepared me to handle the unknown and given me the skills to complete my mission. From team building to physical fitness, I'm prepared. All systems go!
CHILL-ICE III Analog Astronaut
ICEE Space
This course 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.
Eiman Jahangir
Citizen Astronaut
The in-person training was a lively environment, culture, and curriculum tailored to improving my skills and making me a better crew mate to all.
WBA Candidate
Having completed STAR for Analogs, I feel supremely equipped and confident to embark on future analog space missions. The training, resources, and community access provided by this program serve as invaluable tools for anyone keen on pushing the boundaries of space exploration. I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone who envisions themselves participating in pioneering analog missions in the near future.
Amos Behana
Certified STAR Candidate
Built for Extraordinary Missions
Why Choose Interstellar Performance Labs
At Interstellar Performance Labs, we operate with precision, purpose, and a fire to raise the bar—because in our world, lives, missions, and reputations are on the line. We fuse real-world expertise in astronaut training, aviation safety, and human factors with science-backed frameworks like HFACS, NASA’s Human Behavior Competency Model, and IGSA standards. Our clients walk away sharper, more cohesive, and mission-ready—because we don’t just train teams; we transform them. If you're looking for next-level performance and consulting that actually moves the needle, you're in the right orbit.
Human Factors Consultant & STAR Instructor
Founder of Interstellar Performance Labs and the architect of the STAR Program, Emily blends accident investigation expertise, human spaceflight analog mission and isolation, and astronaut training science to lead crews and leaders to next-level performance.
Emily Apollonio
STAR Instructor & NASA HERA Analog Astronaut
A NASA HERA analog astronaut, geologist, and marine research specialist, Sandra blends deep science with real-world experience. With 12+ years at sea and a PhD from ETH Zurich, she brings operational clarity, imaging expertise, and global fieldwork experience to every training she leads.
Dr. Sandra Herrmann
STAR Instructor & Mentor
Christina is a space nutrition scientist with a passion for extreme environments. Now at the German Aerospace Center, she’s shaping the future of astronaut health. TEDx speaker, ESA intern, and SCaN scholar—she’s here to make sure crews are fueled for performance, resilience, and survival.
Christina Valagkouti
Advisor
Co-developer of HFACS and a pioneer in human factors, Dr. Shappell helps us raise the bar on error analysis and system performance. His mentorship not only sharpens our mission—it’s instrumental in adapting HFACS to the unique demands of human spaceflight analog environments.
