Hi! My name is Mike Mongo and since 2007 I have been an astronaut teacher. In 2022, I was selected by Uplift Aerospace to be an astronaut–on the first-ever Web3 commercial crew, Space+5.
I'm author of children's book The Astronaut Instruction Manual. And its follow-up, Kid Astronaut Training Manual (2024).
I serve on the Board of Advisors of Students for Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS). And I am one of the co-founders of Yuri's Night Space Coast at Kennedy Space Center.
I live in Cape Canaveral, FL, where I get to work with many of the world’s space companies, groups, and organizations and practice surfing. You can often find me at Cafe Surfinista in Cocoa beach working on my phone or talking with artist/surfer/friend Bruce Reynolds.
When I was growing up I wanted to be a superhero or an astronaut. Growing up to become an astronaut teacher and an astronaut is both!
The best part of my job as astronaut teacher is knowing and sharing how important space exploration is for the future success and well-being of humankind and our Earth.
We can solve every challenge we face on earth today–energy, health, sustainability, equality, inclusion, even the illusion of scarcity–by solving for space.
In addition to training for space, most of my time is spent teaching and connecting with students around the world. My goal is to make sure that every student I connect with importantly understands 1) tomorrow's jobs are in space and 2) they now have permission to live, work, and play in space.
And, yes, I have upside-down glasses. They are made that way.
Remember: Getting people's attention is easy. What's important is having something to say that’s worth hearing afterwards.
Photographer: Dr Sian Proctor