SPACE IN 60

Podcast: SPACEIN60 Episode: DEBORAH SASS and THOMAS REEMER | Space Hero Welcome to the SPACEIN60 podcast, where Clint Graumann and Andrew Pylypchuk bring you into the world of the new space industry! Today, Clint and Andrew are joined by Deborah Sass and Thomas Reemer of Space Hero. After our guests reveal why they each chose to move back to farms after experiencing corporate America, they share that the element which led them each to found Space Hero was their 23 year friendship bond. Neither of them had any prior experience within the space industry. As a result, Space Hero is the embodiment of all of the things they have experienced together in the media industry. When Thomas approached Deborah with the idea of starting Space Hero, a reality TV show in which the winning contestant wins a trip to the International Space Station, she immediately agreed. Their story is indicative of how the space industry has changed to become more inclusive and creative in just the last 7-8 years. Space Hero considers themselves both a start up and an entertainment company. It is a very new category, but a very strong one. Because they both come from the media world, they really understand the power of global IP. Now that they have convinced people of their legitimacy, it is just about putting the first mission into production. Their entire team and supporting investors truly believe in the journey. With Space Hero, there is a way for regular people to go into space, an experience the founders hope more and more people are able to one day have. In the last 60 years, less than 600 people have gone to space in the last 60 years, and an even smaller amount of those people are still living today. In their research for the upcoming show, Deborah and Thomas actually spoke to the head of every space industry in the world. So, how does someone get to go into space with Space Hero? Their only real plan is to make this venture as global as possible and not limited to just one country. It is a chance for anybody over the age of 18 and speaks some English to go into space. There is a mobile app which will allow people to apply and introduce themselves to the world. The format is no different from the traditional casting show in which 24 contestants will be chosen to compete to become the very first space hero. There will be challenges, competitions, drama, and a jury to determine who understands the role best. The public will be given the opportunity to vote for the space hero in real time. Space Hero has not been launched to the public quite yet, but they hope to be by the end of this year. Though Deborah can’t reveal certain details yet, she can share that they’re working alongside 165 private and government space agencies in 72 countries to bring this vision to life. Before wrapping up, they explain why space is not just a playground for the rich. Links: Learn more about Deborah Sass, Thomas Reemer and Space Hero. Connect with Clint Graumann on LinkedIn and Twitter. Connect with Andrew Pylypchuk on LinkedIn and Twitter. Learn more about SPACE IN 60 and connect on Twitter. Learn more about the show’s executive producer, AstroAgency.