About the Event

***If you plan to attend this event, please register online before 10AM on Thursday, April 30th. Additionally, please be advised that all attendees must present a government-issued ID (Driver’s License or Passport is acceptable) at the event check-in area located past the security screening. As a member of the nation’s central banking system, security is a high priority and all IDs will be scanned.***

Until today, space tourism took on the meaning of wealthy “individuals” spending money to go on a “short” trip to space. However, the new space industry is seeing many resources being spent to achieve goals faster, through innovative companies whose goal is space tourism, not just orbital or sub-orbital tours.

What about trips to the moon or other planets? Where does space medicine stand in regards to human achievement of these goals? How are companies like Excalibur Almaz and SpaceX planning to make these goals possible in the future?

Dr. Jonathan Clark, M.D, M.P.H, is a six-time space shuttle crew surgeon who served in top roles at Johnson Space Center. He is currently an assistant professor of Neurology and Space Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and teaches operational space medicine at BCM’s Center for Space Medicine. He is also a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and he serves as space medicine advisor for BCM’s National Space Biomedical Research Institute. Dr. Clark holds the position of chief medical officer for Excalibur Almaz, an orbital commercial space company. Additionally, he was the medical director of the Red Bull Stratos Project. Furthermore, Dr. Clark assumed an advisory role on the Paragon StratEx mission, where he was responsible for advising the team on high altitude diving and offered expertise on the neurological effects of extreme environments.

Dr. Clark served 26 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy as a naval flight officer, flight surgeon, and military freefall parachutist. His professional interests focus on the neurological effects of extreme environments and crew survival in space.

He has delivered speeches on the topics of space tourism, the two Supersonic jump missions he was part of, and three TED Talks.

This program is held in partnership with His Highness the Aga Khan Council for the Southwestern United States.

*There is free self-parking at the Taft Lot beside the Federal Reserve (entrances on Taft Streen and Allen Parkway).*