SERA Mission Control - Frequently Asked Questions
SERA TeamQuestions
Q2: Who is eligible to go to space?
Q3: What is SpaceDust, and what is it used for?
Q4: How do I share my campaign on social media to earn SpaceDust?
Q6: What are badges, and why should I unlock them?
Q7: Am I inviting people to support me or to compete against me?
Q8: What are the different phases of the campaign? How long will they last?
Q9: When is the rocket launch scheduled?
Q10: Where can I find updates and official information about the mission?
Q1: What is SERA?
The Space Exploration & Research Agency (SERA) is a platform built to give anyone—no matter their background or where they’re from—a real chance to participate in space travel and science. Through community-powered missions, SERA opens the door to astronaut selection, scientific research in space, and ways to leave your mark beyond Earth.
In 2022, Victor Hespanha was selected from the SERA community to fly aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard, becoming the first Latin American civilian astronaut. Now, SERA is launching an even more ambitious mission: a dedicated human spaceflight program with six seats reserved on an upcoming New Shepard flight.
- 5 seats for citizens of countries with few or no astronauts*.
- 1 seat open to everyone else on Earth**.
The Collective votes for the final crew.
* Dedicated seats announced so far: Brazil, India, Nigeria, Thailand. The final nation/region is yet to be announced.
** Excluding US-sanctioned nations/regions: Crimea, Donetsk People’s Republic, Luhansk People’s Republic, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria
Q2: Who is eligible to go to space?
If you’re human, over 18 years old, and want to join, you’re eligible to participate in the astronaut program. No prior experience or special background is required.
Q3: What is SpaceDust, and what is it used for?
SpaceDust is the in-app currency that powers the entire campaign.
- Now (Phases 0 & 1): It helps you climb the leaderboard, gain visibility, and unlock the Astronaut Candidate Badge. If you don’t want to become an Astronaut, don’t worry. You can stay engaged by using your SpaceDust to support the Candidates you like, or save it for the next mission.
- Phase 2: You and your supporters will pledge SpaceDust to help you advance to the regional voting rounds.
- Beyond this mission: SpaceDust will also unlock digital and real-world rewards, exclusive items, and advantages in future SERA programs. It’s more than just points—it’s the fuel of SERA’s community-driven space agency.
Q4: How do I share my campaign on social media to earn SpaceDust?
- Connect your social media accounts on the SERA Mission Control app.
- Post content using #SERASpace, inviting your community to join using your referral link. There will be additional hashtags as the competition progresses, so stay tuned.
- Views your posts receive earn you SpaceDust.
Additional details:
Updates to SpaceDust balances and badges related to social media content happen periodically, not in real time.
To learn more, check our full guide: ✨How Social Media activity is rewarded with SpaceDust
Please review our Social Media Posting Guidelines to ensure your content aligns with our mission.
Q5: I do not have a large following, and I am really far behind on the leaderboard. Do I stand any chance?
YES. Leaderboard positions in Phases 0 and 1 do not determine who goes to space. They only provide visibility and momentum. What truly matters:
- Collecting enough SpaceDust to unlock your Astronaut Candidate Badge in Phase 1.
- Rallying community support in Phase 2, where rankings are based on pledged SpaceDust, not just your own.
- Strategy, background story, and engagement will outweigh pure follower counts.
Remember: only 6 people will fly, but the entire community helps decide. This is a decentralized space agency: The Collective, not just the numbers, chooses who goes to space.
Q6: What are badges, and why should I unlock them?
Badges are collectible achievements that amplify your influence. Unlocking more badges increases your voting power when it’s time to choose the astronaut crew and space experiments. Some badges also boost your SpaceDust earnings, giving you an edge in the competition. Think of badges as milestones on your journey—they’re proof of your commitment and help you stand out from the crowd.
Q7: Am I inviting people to support me or to compete against me?
Everyone you invite becomes part of the SERA community, aka The Collective. Some may compete, but all can support you through pledging and voting. Building a strong network early makes you more resilient and visible in later phases. You’ll get 250 SpaceDust for every friend who joins using your link, and a 1,000 SpaceDust when they share their first #SERASpace post on their connected social media. The more friends who join and post, the more rewards you collect!
🚫 No shortcuts, though! Our systems can detect botting. Anyone caught trying to game the system by adding bots as friends will be disqualified without notice.
Q8: What are the different phases of the campaign? How long will they last?
The campaign unfolds in four phases:
- Phase 0: Pioneer Campaign (early adoption, visibility, first SpaceDust collection).
- Phase 1: Astronaut Candidacy (official start, collect SpaceDust, unlock the Astronaut Candidate Badge).
- Phase 2: Collective Action (regional leaderboards for Astronaut Candidates, pledging, and voting to advance finalists).
- Phase 3: Crew Selection (final teams, training broadcasts, global community vote to select the crew).
SERA has partnered with TrueVisions NOW and CreAsia Studio to launch a reality TV show, 'Race To Space: Thailand', to select the first Thai astronaut. The selection process for the dedicated Thai seat will be different from the other five, due to its unique format and local collaboration. If you're not from Thailand, this does not directly affect you.
Timelines are flexible and will be announced as the program progresses.
Q9: When is the rocket launch scheduled?
The exact launch date hasn’t been set yet. What we can say: it’s happening soon, and SERA wouldn’t launch this program without a flight on the horizon.
Q10: Where can I find updates and official information about the mission?
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