Ready For Orbit? Space Nation Seeks to Unearth Your Full Potential

Having your head in the clouds isn't such a bad thing. In fact, Helsinki-based startup Space Nation wants everyone in the world to be shooting for the stars, literally!

As it says on their recently launched website, "The Space Nation Astronaut Program turns your smartphone into a ticket to the stars. It’s the first free global astronaut training program. Anyone with a mobile device can take part."

The Space Nation app is currently in beta testing and is due to be released to the general public in February 2018. I have been lucky enough to get a sneak peek behind the scenes and it is going to be a gamechanger for everyday people who dream of one day traveling beyond Earth. The app will encourage users to build skills in science, teamwork, self-awareness, and other fields that will help them in their quest to become astronauts. Top app users will be recruited from all over the world to attend a real-life astronaut camp to train for a final competition, with the ultimate winner actually getting to participate in a trip to space!

Skills essential to life in the 21st century - teamwork, problem-solving, physical and mental excellence. #OrbitLaunch pic.twitter.com/1QtTf7FZQx

— Space Nation Orbit (@spacenationorb) November 9, 2017

Since its founding in 2013, Space Nation has broken crowdfunding records, acquired lab space on the International Space Station (ISS) and become the first space member of the United Nation’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO. This is no fly-by-night operation. Space Nation is making the dream of space very real, indeed.

With this week's launch of Space Nation Orbit, a lifestyle magazine for hopeful future astronauts, Space Nation is looking to build a community of content creators and social media influencers to help share their mission. My longtime blog friends Katja and Candice are currently mining the talent pools of New York City, but they are always on the lookout for good recruits:

In search of universal media badassery. #orbitlaunch recruiting week in NYC Nov 6-10. Connect w/ @AmazingCanCan & @katjapresnal #Influencer pic.twitter.com/HgDbOSyhIe

— Space Nation Orbit (@spacenationorb) November 4, 2017

Not quite orbiting the world... but something like it. Katja and Salla of @spacenationorg from the Helsinki headquarters flew to NYC yesterday. This week will be all about #orbitlaunch and we are hoping to find more awesome content creators and social media ninjas who want to be part of @spacenationorbit. Ps. Head Instagrammer spot is already taken, but we are in such early stages that she has not even started yet!

A post shared by Space Nation Orbit (@spacenationorbit) on Nov 6, 2017 at 1:47am PST

I will be signing on to Space Nation's maiden voyage and I hope you will join me in Space Nation Orbit. I'll be contributing over there as a team member, too!

Marvel's Thor: The Dark World Ultimate Mentor Adventure

I sincerely wish I was Roo was eligible for this amazing competition! 9th-12th grade girls can enter to win an amazing trip to meet female scientists like Jane Porter, the brilliant astrophysicist from Marvel's Thor series- played in the films by Natalie Portman.

Marvel Studios, UL (Underwriters Laboratories), Dolby Laboratories, National Academy of Science, Girl Scouts USA along with the famous El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, are proud to team up to sponsor a nationwide MARVEL’S THOR: THE DARK WORLD ULTIMATE MENTOR ADVENTURE in conjunction with the November 8th release of the film.

MARVEL’S THOR: THE DARK WORLD ULTIMATE MENTOR ADVENTURE aims to empower girls 14 years and up, in grades 9 - 12 nationwide, to embark on a journey to discover their potential and future in the world of STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.  Through the collaborative efforts of Marvel, UL (Underwriters Laboratories), Dolby Laboratories, National Academy of Sciences and Girl Scouts USA, girls will have a chance to go out into the real world and ask successful women in STEM fields about what they do, how they got where they are…and how others can follow in their footsteps.  The process is designed to help students to understand who they are, and why this experience can be impactful on their futures. For more information, rules and how to apply, visit www.ultimatementoradventure.com.

“MARVEL’S THOR: THE DARK WORLD ULTIMATE MENTOR ADVENTURE is a chance to inspire a generation and by doing so, to change their future –and ours – for the better,” said Victoria Alonso, EVP, Visual Effects & Post Production, Marvel Studios.

Finalists of MARVEL’S THOR: THE DARK WORLD ULTIMATE MENTOR ADVENTURE will win

a week’s trip to Southern California, provided by UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and Dolby Laboratories. The Ultimate Mentor Adventure will allow the girls to meet some of the most incredible Women in Science such as Dolby Laboratory Senior Scientists, conducting interviews and be challenged to participate in experiments. It will also include interactive events and go behind-the-scenes where the general public is not normally invited – all while having their adventure filmed. On Friday, November 8^th, the winners will conclude their excursion and be recognized at the Premiere Screening of their Ultimate Mentor Adventure documentary short.  The video short will be shown at the El Capitan Theatre prior to a screening of MARVEL’S THOR: THE DARK WORLD in Dolby® Atmos™ on opening day.