Where Your Support Goes

$80,000 Fundraising Goal

Mission Control & Operations — $30,000
- Behind every successful mission is a dedicated team ensuring that everything runs smoothly. Our Mission Control team works behind the scenes to coordinate communication with astronauts, manage mission updates for the public, and support logistics and operations throughout the mission. This team is the backbone of Southeast Analog’s mission execution.
Biosphere 2 Mission Site — $32,000
- We have received confirmation to conduct our analog mission at Biosphere 2, one of the most recognized research facilities for large-scale ecological and space mission simulations. While the Biosphere team has generously lowered the cost for us, hosting a mission at such a renowned facility still requires significant resources. This opportunity allows our team to conduct experiments and gain invaluable experience operating within a professional analog environment.
Astronaut Training & Support — $18,000
- For our 2026 mission, Southeast Analog has selected six astronaut crew members who will participate in the simulation. Preparing astronauts for an analog mission requires specialized training such as scuba diving, aerial training, and physical activity. Our goal is to ensure these opportunities remain accessible and that our astronauts do not have to cover these costs out of pocket. (transportation, meals, activities, housing)

Why we started...

Southeast Analog was founded by Vic Paulson, an analog astronaut who experienced firsthand the barriers that often limit access to spaceflight training. To participate in an analog mission at Asclepios, Vic traveled overseas and personally covered the cost of flights and mission expenses. Vic experienced firsthand how opportunities like these required thousands of dollars and significant logistical commitment.

That experience raised a critical question: Why should access to analog astronaut opportunities depend on geography or financial means? Vic began collaborating with Sara Kapasi, SEA’s Head of Research, and Alan Yeung, Head of Mission Control Center, about creating a more accessible alternative: one that would allow students to participate in realistic analog missions within the United States, while still remaining inclusive of students from different states and countries.

Today, Southeast Analog is actively preparing for its pilot analog mission in August, marking the next step toward redefining how students engage with human spaceflight.

Why we are unique...

Southeast Analog isn’t just another student club or classroom project, we are a fully student-run analog space program where students take ownership of the entire mission, from planning to execution. Unlike other simulations, SEA doesn’t divide students into isolated tasks. Instead, teams work together learning firsthand how every part of a space mission connects.

What really sets SEA apart is that we run these missions right here in the United States, making high-fidelity analog experiences more accessible to students from across the country and even internationally. Students of all majors and backgrounds can step into real roles, take meaningful responsibility, and gain hands-on experience that mirrors how actual spaceflight programs operate.

SEA isn’t just about observing space missions, we are all about running them, learning what it truly takes, and preparing the next generation of space explorers in a way that no other program in the U.S. currently does.

Launch Southeast Analog: Mission 2026

Empowering Students to Lead the Future of Space Exploration

Team Members