Founded in 2011 and specializing in suborbital spacecraft habitability, pre-flight fitness training, scientific instrumentation development and operation, microgravity product testing, and radiation dosimetry and protection, Astrowright Spaceflight Consulting LLC (Astrowright) serves the complete range of spaceflight interests, from aerospace corporations and spacecraft manufacturers to academic institutions, professional astronauts, scientific researchers, spaceflight participants, and interested individuals.
Astrowright’s high-energy, industry-centered team includes experts in exercise science, physical science instrumentation and research, space science, cryogenics, and radiological engineering. Perhaps most importantly, each of Astrowright’s staff members are grounded with a solid corporate industry background. As a result, we understand and can speak the language of budget and timeline, cost scheduling, and we know how to accomplish projects and tasks efficiently, on time and under budget.
Whether you’re designing a spacecraft, an experiment, a product, or are booking a once-in-a-lifetime personal spaceflight experience, contact us to help you meet your goals and maximize your time in space!
Firm Principals
Ben W. McGee
Ben W. McGee brings a wealth of diverse academic, industry, and governmental physical science experience to bear as Founder and Principal Research Scientist of Astrowright Spaceflight Consulting LLC. Prior to helming Astrowright’s scientific projects and contracts, McGee initiated and directed a wide array of sub-contracted meteorological, hydrological, geomorphological, aerospace, and radiological scientific investigations for industry leaders such as Bechtel, Northrop-Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Parsons, as well as for governmental and quasi-governmental clients such as the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
As a certified Radiation Safety Officer, seasoned field scientist, and Professional Geologist in the state of Nevada, McGee has designed, installed and maintained scientific field instrumentation networks covering nearly 1,400 square miles of the desert southwest. He has served as a geologist and video specialist for multiple glacial and cryospheric research efforts, has operated precision infrared telescopes during planetary occultation events, and is certified to operate, test and calibrate radiation detection instruments. He completed suborbital scientist-astronaut training at the National AeroSpace Training and Research Center in 2011, and in 2014, he worked with the National Test Pilot School at Mojave Spaceport on the development of their Commercial Space Education and Training (CSET) Program.
McGee is also an established scientific speaker, author and peer-reviewer, having been published in multiple scientific venues, including in the journals Space Policy and Kronoscope as well as on the National Geographic Channel, Weather Channel, and Travel Channel. He has served for several years as adjunct faculty in the Physical Science Department of the College of Southern Nevada, and McGee is currently pursuing graduate work in the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Studies at the University of North Dakota, emphasizing nuclear thermal rocketry.
Ashley A. Onstott
A scientist, artist, fitness specialist and nationally-acclaimed personal trainer, Ashley A. Onstott is the driving force behind Astrowright’s pioneering spaceflight fitness program. With certifications from the American Council on Exercise and the National Academy of Sports Medicine, a degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion (M.Sc.) from California University of Pennsylvania, and degrees in Ballet (B.F.A.) and Anthropology (B.S.) from the University of Utah, she brings a unique, interdisciplinary perspective to the issue of spaceflight fitness as Astrowright's Fitness Director.
Named one of the top national personal trainers by Town Sports International in both 2003 and 2004, Onstott began her career in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the age of 17 as a professional ballet dancer with Ballet West. In 2001, she moved to New York city to continue her career as a ballet dancer, teacher, personal trainer and group fitness instructor before moving to Las Vegas in 2007 to start her own personal fitness venture. Since that time, Onstott has trained numerous types of people representing the full spectrum of fitness backgrounds and goals, from NASA personnel and astronaut candidates to toddlers and the elderly. Additionally, she has worked with many special populations, including prenatal women, professional athletes, and those suffering from advanced Parkinson’s Disease.
In addition to her fitness-related responsibilities, Onstott serves as an Astrowright Staff Scientist for human factors-related research.
Firm Associates
Richard Armitage, Commercial Pilot, Flight Engineer
Jordan McGee, Communications Director
Jason Cordova, Aerospace Operations Specialist
Advisors
Steven Metzger, Ph.D., Planetary Geology and Instrumentation