LIFT Academy Takes Flight With NASA Astronaut Candidates

Big news from the Gulf Coast—LIFT Academy is helping prepare the next generation of space explorers for launch!

NASA has selected LIFT Academy’s Galveston campus to provide foundational flight training for its newest astronaut candidates. Over the course of an intensive 12-week program, the astronaut candidates will develop core pilot skills that build confidence, precision, and mission-ready capability.

The program blends more than 160 hours of ground school, simulator sessions, and hands-on flight time, guiding candidates from the fundamentals of aviation through Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations. Training takes place in the Diamond DA40NG, a modern, glass-cockpit aircraft designed to mirror today’s advanced aviation environment. Along the way, candidates will reach one of aviation’s most iconic achievements—solo flight—up to three times before graduation.

“At LIFT, we pride ourselves on turning complex theory into confident action,” said Ed Bagden, Director of Operations and Academic Programs. “Supporting NASA’s astronaut candidates is an incredible honor, and our team is committed to ensuring every trainee meets the highest standards for mission success—no matter their previous flight experience.”

Since its founding by Republic Airways in 2018, LIFT has grown into one of the largest academies in the country, with campuses in Indianapolis, Galveston, Myrtle Beach, Columbia, and Tuskegee. The Galveston location, which opened in December 2023, offers ideal Gulf Coast flying conditions and the specialized infrastructure needed for a program of this scale and significance.

This announcement also highlights LIFT’s broader commitment to aviation excellence and history. Through its partnership with Tuskegee University at Moton Field—where the legendary Tuskegee Airmen earned their wings—LIFT continues to honor aviation’s past while shaping its future. From historic runways to astronaut training bound for space, LIFT Academy is proud to be part of an enduring human story: the drive to fly higher.

The NASA astronaut candidate training program will run through June 2026, a journey that begins on the runway and leads far beyond the horizon.