Titans Space's Chief Astronaut Bill McArthur Speaks with T-Minus Space Daily

Career notes with former NASA Astronaut Bill McArthur.

William McArthur is a retired US Army Colonel, a former astronaut and a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions. He’s now  the Chief Astronaut for Titans Space Industries Inc.

Summary

William ‘Bill’ McArthur is a retired US Army Colonel, a former astronaut and a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions. He’s now  the Chief Astronaut for Titans Space. Bill shares his story about his time in the astronaut office and how it has shaped his role as an advisor for Titans.

• You can connect with Bill on LinkedIn, and learn more about Titans Space on their website.

• Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Read about the Titans Space Astronaut Candidate Training Program or scroll down for a copy.

About Titans Space Missions Commander William S. “Bill” McArthur Jr.

William S. "Bill" McArthur Jr. is a distinguished veteran of four spaceflights and retired U.S. Army Colonel with a background in engineering from West Point and Georgia Tech.

Excelling as an Army aviator and test pilot with over 9,000 flight hours, he brought extensive experience to NASA upon joining in 1987. Selected as an astronaut in 1990, McArthur flew on three Space Shuttle missions: STS-58, STS-74 (Mir docking), and STS-92 (ISS assembly), and held leadership roles in the Astronaut Office.

His most significant mission was commanding Expedition 12 on the International Space Station from 2005-2006, where he oversaw station operations, research, and conducted four spacewalks across his career. Following his return, he continued in key management roles at NASA focusing on safety until his retirement in 2017, marking a career dedicated to space exploration.

Further Information:

• www.TitansSpace.com/Commander-Bill-Mcarthur/

• https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/person/bill-mcarthur/

Also read:

• Brazil's First Astronaut, Marcos Pontes, Joins Titans Space Advisory Board and Assumes Deputy Chief Astronaut Role

• Titans Space Astronaut Candidate Training Plan Part I - Basic Training (Public Issue) Powered by Titans Space Industries

• Titans Space Industries Re-Launches Exclusive Recruitment for Exceptional Astronaut Candidates

• Titans Space Ind. Promotes Aerospace Veteran Dr. Vijay MD, FRCS as COO and Chief Engineer

• The Titans Spaceplane Design and Physics Explained: Overcoming Single-Stage-To-Orbit Challenges (White Paper)

• Titans Space Recruits R&D and E&D Astronaut Candidates to Accelerate its Cis-Lunar Space Infrastructure Developments

• Titans Space Industries introduces New R&D and Expedition & Development Astronaut Roles to Accommodate the Changing Needs of Next-Gen Space Transport and Commerce

• For the armchair critics: Titans Space Industries: Patience, Progress, and Purpose in Cis-Lunar Development

• FAA Consultation Paper: Discussing the Regulatory Framework for Spaceplanes like the Titans Spaceplane

• Testing and Safety of the Titans Spaceplane: Superior Safety Over Multistage Rockets, Revolutionizing Human Spaceflight

• Titans Space Industries: The Strategic Imperative of the 'Wait and Learn Doctrine'

• Titans Space Industries Inc. Appoints Space Training Experts Dr. Vladimir Pletser and Dr. Mindy Howard to Advisory Board

• NASA Veteran Astronaut Bill McArthur Joins Titans Space Industries as Founding Chief Astronaut, Advisory Board Member, and Commander of Inaugural Missions

• Read: Titans Space Industries Manifesto: Introducing a New Paradigm for Space Access and Leading the Next-Gen Space Economy

• Read: Titans Space Industries Business & Investment Thesis: Revolutionizing Cis-Lunar Transportation - A $25B Valuation Driven by UHNWI Astronauts

TITANS SPACE INDUSTRIES - ASTRONAUT TRAINING PLAN - PART I: BASIC TRAINING

• Media Issue

• Date: 20/07/2025

• Prepared by: Space Training experts Dr. Vladimir Pletser and Dr. Mindy Howard, and William McArthur

• Approved by: William McArthur

1. Introduction

Titans Space Industries (TSI) will develop a Genesis spaceplane vehicle, a LEO Space Station (Titans OrbitalPort Space Station - TOPPS), and a series of MoonBound Selene Missions, followed by the establishment of the Titania Lunar settlement on the Moon.

The first flight of the Genesis Spaceplane is foreseen for March 2029, and the first Space Station mission is foreseen in Q4 of 2029. Several types of missions are foreseen with the TSI Spaceplane: EarthLoop (two orbits, five hours duration), OrbitalLoop (three days), TOPSS Space Station, cis-Lunar Selene, Titania Lunar colony, and future Mars missions. Detailed information can be found at https://titansspace.com/.

TSI has selected the first group of astronaut candidates (ASCANS) who will form the crews of the first Genesis Spaceplane missions and train as potential career astronauts.

• The Basic Training is the first part of training for the TSI ASCANS to prepare for future missions on the TSI Spaceplane and TOPPS Space Station. 

This Basic Training Plan may not precisely mirror the astronaut training programs used by agencies such as NASA, ESA, CSA, JAXA, or Roscosmos. The present training plan is more complete and more diversified, as it does not address a few well-trained government agency astronauts and cosmonauts, but a cohort of approximately 100 ASCANS selected after an application form review and an online interview, with a very large disparity of age, experience, fitness and readiness levels, ranging from test pilots to retired teachers.

One of the main challenges in preparing the Basic Training Plan is accommodating a large number of ASCANs with varying levels of readiness and fitness, diverse mission profiles, the potential presence of up to 350 passengers on some spaceplane missions, and limited knowledge of the actual interior design of the Spaceplane and TOPPS space station.

The EarthLoop and OrbitalLoop missions will carry a large number of "astronauts" whose main role is to experience spaceflight, which means floating and looking out windows, as opposed to the career astronauts who'll be conducting research and managing space systems. To accommodate this, we've added an "Experiential Astronaut" (EA) category to our training plan. EAs are limited to EarthLoop and OrbitalLoop missions, won't have any responsibilities, and will undergo far less training than other TSI astronaut types.

For Research & Development (RD) and Expedition & Development (ED) astronauts, training will blend theoretical and practical elements, lasting anywhere from 4 to 10 months depending on the mission. This won't be sequential or full-time; it'll be part-time to allow for other activities, like collateral duties. Much of the theoretical training will be online, while practical training will require in-person attendance at various sites.

The training plan is designed to help ASCANs build and strengthen the skills essential for safe spaceflight. Although some parts of the practical training (parabolic flights, SCUBA diving, piloting, parachuting) are not absolutely mandatory to become an astronaut, they are extremely useful to develop the ‘real-time decision making in an operational environment’ skills in various environments in which the level of stress can be gradually and safely increased. Parts of the practical training can be waived for those candidates already experienced in the specific field.

The Basic Training Plan will evolve as the space systems design and mission architecture are better defined, and content of training modules may be adapted due to operational reasons.

2. Types of training

Astronaut training is key to the success of any space mission, and three main training phases are usually undertaken in preparation for a spaceflight mission, as illustrated in Figure 1 below:

•  Basic training

• Advanced/Pre-assignment training

• Increment-specific/Assigned crew training (mission-specific)

Alternative names may be given to these training phases by different space organizations, but they all essentially function as equivalent stages in the training process. A fourth stage of ‘in-flight’ or proficiency maintenance training is also implemented once astronauts are active within the corps and begin flying on missions.

Note that in Figure 1, the numbers of hours for each training parts are indicative only. The total duration of the NASA three-part training can range from 2.5 years to 5.5 years (or more).

Training is tailored partially to the trainees’ background, and each astronaut completes the different phases and reaches proficiency at a different pace, depending on their previous experience, skills, and tasks assigned to a mission. The astronaut training is designed to prepare astronauts for spaceflight onboard the Genesis Spaceplane, for operations on the TOPPS Space Station and the Titania Moon base.

It is anticipated that the Basic Training will take place from Q1 2026 till Q4 2027, the Advanced Training from Q1 2028 till Q4 2028, and the Mission Specific Training from Q1 2029 till Mission Launch.

The present document addresses only the first part of the training, the Basic Training. The Advanced and Mission Specific Trainings will be addressed separately in two other documents.

3. Types of Missions

TSI will organize several types of missions.

• EarthLoop missions onboard the Genesis Spaceplane will last about 5 hours and will include two Earth orbits;

• OrbitalLoop missions onboard the Genesis Spaceplane will last 3 days while orbiting the Earth;

• TOPPS Space Station missions will allow TSI Astronauts arriving with the Genesis Spaceplane to stay on the Station orbiting the Earth for up to one month;

• Selene cis-Lunar missions will take TSI Astronauts to the Moon, orbit the Moon and return to Earth, the final Selene mission will include astronauts landing and create a pilot project on the Lunar surface;

• Titania Moon missions will allow TSI Astronauts to land on the Moon to build and manage a large scale Moon base, called Titania Lunar;

• Future Mars missions will take TSI Astronauts to Mars for long-duration missions.

In the future, other types of destinations and projects will utilize the Genesis Spaceplane to transport TSI Astronauts to their destination for specific projects such as orbital debris removal, space solar power stations, etc.

4. TSI Astronaut Categories

This Basic Training plan covers all training modules that are needed during the first part of the training. However, Astronauts during the various TSI missions will have different responsibilities and will be trained differently.

For the Basic Training definition, three categories of TSI astronauts are considered. The first two categories are the official TSI astronauts: the Research and Development (RD) astronauts and the Expedition and Development (ED) astronauts.

The RD Astronauts will prepare and conduct research, and take care of the payloads and instrumentation onboard the Spaceplane and the Space Station.

The ED Astronauts will contribute to the development of space systems onboard the Spaceplane and the Space Station and take care of all onboard systems, and they will be crucial in building the on-orbit and lunar structures.

A third category is called the Experiential Astronaut (EA), who will receive minimal training and formation to fly as a spaceflight passenger, not having any operational responsibility during the space missions.

In addition, the Titans Astronauts are High-Net-Worth Individuals who will be able to participate in missions regularly. These Titans Astronauts may follow the training as either RD or ED, or EA, at their discretion or as mandated by TSI.

Other TSI customers may buy a ticket for a specific spaceflight during an EarthLoop or OrbitalLoop mission, and they will be trained as EAs or as mandated by TSI. 

Finally, other categories of astronauts will be on board the TSI space missions:

• The Commander (CMDR), who has the overall responsibility of the mission and has the final decision for all mission operations;

• Two Pilots (PLT), who assist the Commander in piloting and overseeing all onboard operations;

• Two Flight Engineers (FLT), who assist the Commander and the pilots in the operations of the onboard cockpit and cabin systems;

• One (or several) Flight Surgeon(s) (FLS), who provides in-flight assistance to all onboard astronauts across all medical fields;

• Several Operational Support (OSU) experts, who provide in-flight operational support, assist the RD and ED astronauts in their tasks, oversee the EA astronauts, and ensure that all operations run smoothly and safely.

This document addresses only the EA, RD and ED astronaut training, and provides the plan, the content and the timeline of the training.

It is assumed that the CMDR, PLT, FLT, FLS and OSU astronauts are already well experienced, but they can also follow part or all of the training according to operational needs.

5. Overview of the TSI Basic Training

The TSI Basic Training is the first stage of the astronaut training cycle, and will last two years. Depending upon a given ASCAN’s existing expertise and background, foreseen responsibilities, and future expected mission profiles, this duration could be shortened or extended.

The TSI Basic Training begins with a series of theoretical, academically based classroom lessons to ensure that all ASCANS establish a consistent baseline of knowledge regarding the various subject matter areas.

Training then progresses to focusing on practical skill development and application, and ASCANS receive ‘hands-on’ instruction in several skills that they will be required to master before they are deemed fit for flight.

All Training Blocks will be delivered by qualified instructors.

Depending on their assignment, foreseen responsibilities and mission types, ASCANS will follow all, or parts, or none of these theoretical and practical Training Blocks.

There are 16 Training Blocks covering several modules on the theme of the Training Block. The Training Blocks can be split into two parts:

• The academic classroom sessions, covering theoretical knowledge (Training Blocks 1 to 7); and

• The practical skill development and application (Training Blocks 8 to 16).

Table 1 below outlines the Training Blocks.

At the end of each training block, a written and/or oral examination on the training block content will take place to assess the knowledge acquisition and understanding of the ASCANS. The instructors will also assess the participation and behavior of the ASCANS during the training block and will report to the Astronaut Training Board.

Part of the theoretical training will be conducted remotely with ASCANS online in lectures delivered by online instructors. Most of the training for the practical Training Blocks will be delivered either at the TSI Astronaut Center, or at specific remote locations all over the world, including the Arctic and the Antarctic.

The total training durations for the TSI Basic Training program are as follows.

It is expected that EA will require approximately two weeks to be trained.

Depending on the type of missions, RD and ED will have training lasting from 4 to 10 months. This training will not be done sequentially and will be conducted on a part-time basis, allowing sufficient time for other activities, e.g. collateral duties.

6. Collateral Duties

In addition to the formal training, ASCANS will have to participate in various collateral duties.

Astronauts are not just operators; they are integral to the iterative process of spacecraft, lunar lander, and base development. Their unique perspective as end-users informs critical design decisions, ensuring operational efficiency, safety, and habitability for missions like the Space Stations and the Titania Lunar base.

ASCANS will also be called upon to support ongoing missions and participate in the preparation of future missions, as CapCom (Capsule Communicators), or ‘communication with crew in space’ simulator and Spaceplane, Space Station or Moon missions training. ASCANS will also be required to participate in media relations and public outreach activities in support of a future or ongoing mission.

7. Conclusions

Upon successful completion of the TSI Astronaut Basic Training program and collateral duties, ASCANS will officially receive the title of ‘TSI Astronaut’ and will be allowed to start the next level of training, the TSI Astronaut Advanced Training.

Below is a copy of Titans Space Astronaut Candidate's Playbook: Principles for a Career in Space, first published on June 21, 2025.

This playbook, outlining the core principles for a career in space, is primarily for Titans Space Industries Astronaut Candidates, those on a four-year trajectory to become fully trained, career astronauts with their first mission (as Inaugural Astronauts) in sight and an ongoing future beyond. However, anyone aspiring to become an astronaut will find these insights beneficial.

Titans Space Astronaut Candidates. You're not just any aspiring spacefarers; you're career astronauts, aiming for sustained human presence beyond Earth. This isn't a joyride; it's a profound commitment. Here's a customized "hustle playbook" for you, built on core principles and categorized for the rigorous demands of your future.

This isn't just about getting to space; it's about building humanity's future among the stars. Every principle below is a pillar of that mission.

Mindset & Mental Fortitude (The Inner Space)

• The Unshakeable Resolve (Choose Joy, Always): In the vacuum of space, your inner state is your most critical life support. Cultivate an unwavering core of optimism and problem-solving. Sadness is a luxury the mission cannot afford.

• Master of the Uncontrollable (Let Go of What You Can't Control): The universe is vast and unpredictable. Focus your formidable intellect and energy only on what you can influence. Fretting over cosmic rays or distant meteoroids is wasted energy.

• Learning from Every Anomaly (Embrace Your Failures): Every "anomaly" – every misstep, every system glitch – is a data point for improvement. Analyze, learn, and integrate. Failure is simply unexpected data, not an end.

• Self-Care for Mission Success (Be Kind to Yourself): Your body and mind are your most valuable instruments. Prioritize rest, nutrition, and mental decompression. A compromised astronaut compromises the mission.

• Unwavering Integrity (Stay True to Yourself): In extreme isolation and high-stakes environments, your ethical compass must be unyielding. Your actions define not just you, but the entire endeavor.

• Authenticity Under Pressure (Live Authentically): The stress of deep space will strip away pretense. Embrace your genuine self, flaws and all. True teamwork relies on transparent and authentic individuals.

• Solo Capable, Team Driven (You're Stronger Than You Think): Understand your individual capabilities to operate independently in a crisis. This self-reliance forms the bedrock of a robust and resilient team.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Adaptation (The Mission Imperative)

• Engineering for Feedback (Welcome the Critics): Every design review, every simulation critique, every debrief is an opportunity to harden the system and refine the plan. Solicit and internalize critical feedback as engineering data.

• Agile in the Abyss (Be Ready to Pivot): Space is the ultimate dynamic environment. Rigidity leads to failure. Develop the foresight and mental agility to adapt operational plans on the fly based on evolving circumstances.

• Perpetual Advancement (Never Stop Learning): The technology of space exploration is constantly evolving. Your intellectual curiosity must be insatiable. Master new systems, new protocols, and new scientific frontiers.

• Pushing the Envelope (Step Outside Your Comfort Zone): Innovation in space demands a willingness to venture into the unknown, both technologically and personally. Embrace challenges that push the boundaries of your current capabilities.

Crew Dynamics & Interpersonal Resilience (The Team's Gravity)

• Confidentiality Protocol (Guard Your Inner Circle): Trust is earned and maintained through discretion. Personal vulnerabilities must be managed internally; mission-critical information is shared on a need-to-know basis.

• Mission-Focused Acceptance (Don't Chase Approval): Your focus is the mission, not individual popularity. Respect is earned through competence and contribution, not by seeking universal acceptance from others.

• Defined Boundaries, Seamless Integration (Set Clear Boundaries): Understand your role and the roles of others. Respect personal space and operational parameters. Clear boundaries enable efficient teamwork in confined environments.

• Interstellar Empathy (Walk in Someone Else's Shoes): Long-duration missions demand profound understanding and patience for your fellow crew members. Cultivate empathy to anticipate needs and mitigate interpersonal friction.

Foundational Pillars & Future Vision (Sustaining Humanity)

• Psychological Readiness (Your Mind Matters Most): Your mental fortitude is the first line of defense against the stresses of isolation, confinement, and risk. Prioritize psychological training and well-being routines.

• Legacy Through Exploration (Collect Moments, Not Things): Your "riches" are the scientific discoveries, the engineering breakthroughs, and the expansion of human knowledge. The material world pales in comparison to the cosmic vista.

• The Privilege of Perspective (Practice Gratitude): Remember the immense privilege of your role. Gratitude fuels resilience and reminds you of the profound purpose behind your demanding work.

• Optimizing the Human Machine (Take Care of Your Body): Your physical condition is mission-critical. Rigorous fitness, disciplined nutrition, and preventative health are not optional, they are integral to operational success.

• Pioneering for Generations (Give Back): You are laying the groundwork for humanity's permanent presence in space. Every action, every sacrifice, is a contribution to a future that transcends your individual lifetime.

This framework emphasizes not just the technical prowess required, but also the profound psychological and interpersonal skills essential for career astronauts, especially those leading humanity's sustained ventures beyond Earth. Good luck, Titans. The future awaits.

Further Information

Spaceplane and Space Station Operations

The Titans Spaceplane is specifically designed to provide safe, reliable, efficient, and low-cost transportation for astronauts and cargo to and from the Low Earth Orbit Titans OrbitalPort Space Station (TOPSS). Much like NASA’s Space Shuttle ferried astronauts and supplies to and from LEO, the Titans spaceplanes will perform a similar function, with a key difference: the Titans Spaceplane is a Single-Stage-To-Orbit (SSTO), Horizontal Takeoff and Horizontal Landing (HTHL) vehicle, while the Space Shuttle utilized a vertical takeoff configuration.

This unique design dramatically increases safety (because there are no explosive take-offs and stage separations) for the crew, streamlines operations and rapid reusability, and significantly reduces the cost per flight compared to traditional rocket systems.

The Inaugural spaceplane flight is followed by frequent dedicated EarthLoop missions, providing an unprecedented platform for short-duration microgravity research. These EarthLoop flights are unique in that virtually all passengers aboard will be research crew, participating in a diverse array of scientific experiments. Each EarthLoop mission offers approximately three hours of sustained microgravity, a duration ideally suited for a wide range of scientific investigations.

This capability complements the long-duration research conducted on the TOPSS, enabling a comprehensive understanding of microgravity's effects across varying timeframes. The scale of EarthLoop operations, with frequent flights carrying large numbers of research crew, represents a seismic shift in the accessibility of microgravity, revolutionizing fields such as materials science, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. By dramatically increasing the volume of microgravity research, EarthLoop and TOPSS missions will help accelerate the development of new technologies, medicines, and manufacturing processes.

Recognizing the growing demand for access to LEO, Titans Space Industries is offering comprehensive 1-month all-inclusive mission packages to companies, space agencies, and research institutions for a fixed price of $25 million. Each package includes transportation for two astronauts to and from TOPSS aboard a Titans Spaceplane, as well as accommodation and support within the station for the duration of the mission. This offering provides a cost-effective and streamlined pathway for organizations to conduct research, perform manufacturing processes, or gain firsthand experience in the unique environment of low Earth orbit.

About Titans Space Industries

Titans Space Industries (TSI) is dedicated to developing safe, innovative, and cost-effective cis-lunar space exploration technologies. The company is committed to making space accessible to all and is working to develop a variety of spaceflight programs, including human spaceflight, cargo transportation, and space exploration. TSI's vision is to lead the way in making space travel a reality for millions of people around the world.

With a combined 600 years of experience in business and aerospace, TSI's founding team boasts an unparalleled depth of knowledge and expertise. This seasoned leadership brings together the sharpest minds in both fields, ensuring strategic brilliance and operational excellence. Further amplifying this expertise, the company's development of factories and facilities throughout the U.S. will be under the leadership of a senior management team with a combined 1,000 years in aerospace, including director roles of the NASA Space Shuttle program and ISS missions. This wealth of hands-on experience guarantees the highest standards in manufacturing, safety, and innovation for all Titans Space projects.

About Chief Astronaut Bill McArthur

A veteran of four spaceflights and a retired U.S. Army Colonel, William S. “Bill” McArthur Jr. has had a distinguished career marked by extensive experience in aviation, engineering, and space exploration. His trajectory took him from the rigorous training environments of the U.S. Army and test pilot school to serving as commander of the International Space Station.

- https://titansspace.com/commander-bill-mcarthur/

About the Titans Astronauts Corps

Titans Space Industries has established the “Titans Astronauts” program, an exclusive, subscription-based membership granting unlimited access to future space missions and related experiences, including frequent lunar visits. With a target membership of up to 2,000 ultra-wealthy individuals joining the program through 2030, each paying $25 million over a six-quarter period, this program will generate a substantial (lump sum, non-recurring) revenue stream and create a community of dedicated space enthusiasts contributing to the long-term sustainability of TSI’s space tourism initiatives.

Further Information: www.TitansSpace.com/Titans-Astronauts

---- Further Information ----

- Titans Space Industries Business & Investment Thesis: www.TitansSpace.com/TSI-Investment/

- Titans Space Industries Manifesto: Introducing a New Paradigm for Space Access and Leading the Next-Gen Space Economy https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/titans-space-industries-manifesto-introducing-new-paradigm-lachman-srrle/

Technology

- Titans Spaceplanes: https://titansspace.com/titans-spaceplanes/

- Titans Spaceplanes (video): https://youtu.be/1vOzgahx8us

- Titans Engines Systems: https://titansspace.com/titans-engines-systems/

- Titans OrbitalPort Space Station: https://titansspace.com/leo-orbitalport-space-station/

- Titans SpaceShips/Orbital Transporters: https://titansspace.com/spaceship/

Library

- White Papers & Analyses: https://titansspace.com/library-analyses-white-papers/

Contact

Sue Guvener - Chief Sales, Marketing, & Communications Officer

Marcus Beaufort - Director of Business Operations, Space R&D Strategy