Meet Axiom Space Project Astronaut Emiliano Ventura

Emiliano Ventura, a Portuguese physiologist, is Axiom Space’s first-ever Project Astronaut. Training is underway in this new pilot program to prepare Emiliano with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute meaningfully to commercial human spaceflight.

Emiliano is applying his expertise in optimizing human performance, honed through years of working with elite athletes, to astronaut training. With more than two decades of experience in high-performance environments, Emiliano works at the intersection of sports science, extreme environment performance, human physiology, motorsport, and space exploration, with a strong focus on applied research.

As a physiologist, Emiliano has supported Axiom Space astronaut crews with personalized protocols to prepare astronauts for the physical and cognitive demands of human spaceflight. He combines scientific precision with human insight to help individuals reach their full potential, whether on Earth or on orbit.

Below, Emiliano shares his career journey, passion for research, and what excites him about space.

Tell me about your businesses and how they support astronaut training?

As the founder of PowerMotion Group, and the Director of MSI Bio Performance, I lead a multidisciplinary team and oversee advanced training and recovery programs for elite athletes and astronauts. I have worked with elite Formula 1 race car drivers and MotoGP athletes from around the world. For Axiom Space, I have developed personalized protocols to prepare astronauts for the physical and cognitive demands of spaceflight.

What inspired you to pursue your work and research in human performance and training?

From an early age, I was fascinated by the limits of human potential, how far the body and mind can go when guided by science, discipline, and purpose. Working with elite athletes taught me that performance is not just physical, but deeply emotional and cognitive. That passion naturally evolved into the space domain - the ultimate arena where human performance is tested under extreme conditions - where every detail in training and preparation can influence the success of a mission.

What is most important in training to be an astronaut, and why?

We train for excellence in every training procedure, but preparedness and readiness for the unknown is critical. The single most important quality we cultivate is adaptability. Space, by its very nature, is an environment of controlled unpredictability, and demands that astronauts be prepared for the unexpected, physically, emotionally, and cognitively. This demands a holistic form of resilience – the mental clarity to solve novel problems under pressure, the emotional composure to maintain teamwork in isolation, and the physical control to perform precisely when circumstances change.

What excites you the most about space?

Space is the ultimate frontier. It challenges us to rethink our limits, collaborate as a team, and advance humanity to benefit civilization. What excites me most about space is knowing that, as part of the Project Astronaut, I am contributing to a legacy that transcends generations. Participating in this training program and simulating mission preparedness, personally enriches my own horizons. It's a profound journey – expanding my perspective of our place in the universe.

Axiom Space Project Astronaut highlights the company’s dedication to mission readiness and continuous improvement. By testing and refining astronaut training as we know it today, this pilot program seeks to enhance and improve the journey to becoming an astronaut and enhancing performance in microgravity. Axiom Space astronauts Michael López-Alegría, Peggy Whitson, and Koichi Wakata each provide hands-on training and expertise as part of the program.

Developing a training program for astronauts underscores that life and work on orbit is becoming more accessible to more nations and individuals. Visit MSI Bio Performance to learn more about Emiliano Ventura, his work with athletes and astronauts, and his company PowerMotion Group. Read more about Project Astronaut.

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