How space tech can help life on earth – mission behind “Space For A Better World”
So, how do you get from singing with Ringo Starr on the “Vertical Man” album to managing Buzz Aldrin, the second man to land on the Moon, to becoming an “Astronaut Wrangler” and working with veteran astronauts to run “Space Camps” with COMO Hotels and Resorts?
Well, that’s the career trajectory of Florida-based Christina Korp and she’ll tell you, that while it was not the plan, “my rock star lifestyle prepared me for life with rock star astronauts”.
In her previous life as a rock star, she toured the world, performing as Christina Rasch, and took an exit left in her musical career to manage media celebrities such as John Tesh when “the universe brought Buzz Aldrin and I together”.
“I knew nothing about space but Buzz’ people wanted someone to handle his speaking engagements, someone with branding and event skills,” said Korp.
She started working with Aldrin on January 2, 2008. “I wasn’t alive when he walked on the moon and I thought he was just this quiet old man who had walked on the moon. Turned out, he had such a big personality, is such an icon, has this giant vision for humanity.”
Buzz Aldrin (right) with former POTUS Obama, when Korp was managing the astronaut’s engagements. Photo credit: https://christinakorp.com/
Korp worked with Aldrin for 10 years and the biggest lesson she learnt from that time – there’s always another way, don’t take no for an answer.
“If something wasn’t working, Buzz would always find another way, he persisted. It was an eye-opener for me.”
That attitude helped when Korp set up Purpose Entertainment to promote space exploration and to highlight women in space. “With Buzz, I started to meet all these women who didn’t get recognized and I thought I should do something about that.”
Christina Korp (left) and Nicole Sott, at the Space Camps in COMO Maalfushi, Maldives. Photo credit: Matt Porteous
One of these astronauts is NASA veteran astronaut Nicole Stott, known as the Artist Astronaut and author of “Back to Earth What Life In Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet – And Our Mission To Protect It”. They are behind the “Space For A Better World” Foundation, which is the organization that organises the “Space Camps” at COMO Hotels & Resorts.
Since 2022, “Space Camps” have been held in various COMO resorts in Maldives, Thailand, Bali and Turks and Caicos as well as a pop-up event in Singapore.
In summer 2023, they were held at COMO Maalfushi (Maldives), COMO Point Yamu (Phuket) and COMO Uma Canggu (Bali). Open to guests aged 8-16, the camps provided first-hand knowledge about space from Nicole Stott and Sarah Sabry who, through Space for Humanity – a programme where civilians have the opportunity to apply to become a trained astronaut –became the world’s second Citizen Astronaut and the first Arab woman in space.
From August 5-14 this year, Stott and Korp will return to COMO Maalfushi to repeat the “Space Camp”. “Inspiring for children and adults alike, learn about outer space through art, food and movement,” says the hotel website.
Nicole Stott, known as the Artist Astronaut, conducting art classes with the children participating in the Space Camps. Photo credit: Matt Porteous
Doris Goh: “I had the idea of Space Camps to inspire children and adults and to elevate our guest experience at COMO.”
Said Doris Goh, chief commercial officer of COMO, “We got to know of Christina, who uses her network of astronauts to raise awareness of space and sustainability, when she organised the 50th anniversary of Apollo 16 at the London Science Museum. We sponsored the event at the Museum with accommodation for the 11 astronauts and started our collaboration in 2021.
“I had the idea of Space Camps to inspire children and adults and to elevate our guest experience at COMO. Christina brought us Nicole Stott and she has been the best person to work with the kids. Both ladies gave generously of their time to be with us at COMO.”
Said Korp, “When we first spoke to COMO about a collaboration, they asked us, how is space relevant to us? And we highlighted the ways they were using space technology in their resorts – the water purifiers developed for purifying in space, the memory foam in their beds – that’s material that NASA uses in seats for astronauts to soften the landing; that material is in everything we use, beds, shoes, neck pillows.
“Our mission is to promote space and sustainability, to highlight the relationship between space and earth, and how space technology benefits life on earth, and could be used effectively for sustainability.”
She said the early Space Camps were aimed initially at children “to encourage them to be active in resorts rather than being on their devices”. But since then, both adults and children have taken part in a range of activities which include designing bottle rockets for lift-off as well as space art.
“Our aim is to connect the space curious to the space serious and drive attention to ways in which space tech is used on earth – GPS, cell phones – and how from space we can monitor the health of coral reef, how it can give us data on polar ice caps and sea temperatures, how we can harness the energy of the sun to give us clean energy. This is important especially if you care about sustainability. How can we use space tech to look after our planet?
“There’s a lot going on in the space world that people don’t know about and we want to be the bridge.”
She recalled the Space Camp in Bali one year when Nicole emailed one of her astronaut colleagues who was in space to take a picture of Bali from up there. “She emailed the picture to Nicole who showed the participants a picture of Bali from space and when you see that, it changes your perception of our planet.”
Said Korp, “It’s not just about inspiring kids, but also influencing decision makers to take better care of our planet.”
Korp who is an avid traveller herself, having travelled to 57 countries in seven continents, looks forward to the continuing partnership with COMO Hotels & Resorts. “It’s the first ongoing partnership we have with a travel brand and we are united in our purpose of promoting space and sustainability.”
She’s all for the advances being made in space tourism “especially if it changes humans’ perspective of space”.
“As long as it’s not just about joyrides and for the very wealthy, and it changes perspectives,” she said, which is why she is supportive of Space Perspective’s Balloon flights “which will give you the view of Earth for a lot longer”.
This view of Earth is called the “overview effect”, described as a moment when people see the world from far above and notice it’s a place where “borders are invisible, where religious and economic strife are nowhere to be seen”.
Astronaut, author and humanitarian Ron Garan, in this video, described this moment. “When I looked out the window of the International Space Station, I saw the paparazzi-like flashes of lightning storms, I saw dancing curtains of auroras that seemed so close it was as if we could reach out and touch them. And I saw the unbelievable thinness of our planet’s atmosphere. In that moment, I was hit with the sobering realization that that paper-thin layer keeps every living thing on our planet alive.
“I saw an iridescent biosphere teeming with life,” he continues. “I didn’t see the economy. But since our human-made systems treat everything, including the very life-support systems of our planet, as the wholly owned subsidiary of the global economy, it’s obvious from the vantage point of space that we’re living a lie.”
Reiterated Korp, “It’s not about the thrill of the launch but the longer duration of the view. The more people who can see the view of Earth from space, that touches the hearts and souls of people to protect Earth. Astronauts, they all work so hard to go to space only to discover Earth and then they want to protect it.”
May 9, 2021; Merritt Island, FL; Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke and shuttle astronaut Nicole Stott go on a Zero-G flight from Kennedy Space Center. Credit: Shanna Lockwood/Space for a Better World
She confesses she personally has not experienced this moment although she has done six Zero-Gravity rides. Her company organizes private trips on these rides and whatever profits are made, goes back into “Space For A Better World” Foundation, she said.
So far, she’s organized four charters in the US and once in France. The US$10,000 ticket per passenger includes the flight and private dinner with astronauts such as Nicole Stott and Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke. The next ride will be on October 13 in Italy, where the French aircraft will be brought to Italy do the first zero gravity ride in the country.
Footnote: Here are ways in which space technology has impacted life on Earth.
Communication
- Satellites: Facilitate global communication networks, enabling internet, television, radio, and phone services.
- GPS: Provides precise navigation for personal, commercial, and military use.
Environmental Monitoring
- Weather Forecasting: Satellites help predict weather patterns and monitor climate changes.
- Disaster Management: Early warning systems for natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.
Healthcare
- Medical Imaging: Technology developed for space exploration has been adapted for MRI and CAT scanners.
- Telemedicine: Satellite communications enable remote medical consultations and surgeries.
Agriculture
- Crop Monitoring: Satellites provide data on crop health, soil conditions, and weather patterns to optimize farming.
- Resource Management: Helps in the efficient use of water and other resources.
Scientific Research
- Earth Observation: Study of Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses to understand environmental changes.
- Astrobiology: Research on extremophiles and potential life forms, contributing to our understanding of biology.
Transportation
- Air Traffic Management: Satellite systems enhance the safety and efficiency of air travel.
- Maritime Navigation: Provides precise navigation data for shipping industries.
Innovation and Economic Growth
- Spin-off Technologies: Innovations developed for space missions often find applications in everyday products (e.g., memory foam, cordless tools).
- New Markets: The space industry creates jobs and stimulates technological advancements that benefit the economy.
Security and Defense
- Surveillance: Satellites aid in monitoring and ensuring national security.
- Global Cooperation: Promotes international collaboration and peace through shared scientific missions and data.
Education and Inspiration
- STEM Education: Space missions inspire interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
- Public Engagement: Space exploration projects capture public imagination and drive interest in science and technology.