This year’s lecture will review the past 10 years of progress toward preparing for routine space flight for members of the public. The lecture will review the regulatory and legal climate affecting preparations for flying commercial space flight participants under the auspices of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Results from research conducted to evaluate the challenges presented by the broad range of individuals wishing to fly to space on commercial vehicles will be discussed. Dr. Vanderploeg will include review of pre-flight testing and training used to identify and quantify the medical risks for commercial space flight participants and the mitigation of those risks. The lecture will conclude with the application of results and recommendations from research and practical experience to the medical program at Virgin Galactic. As commercial space flight operations commence over the next one to two years, the opportunities to practice Aerospace Medicine in new and exciting ways will become a reality.