THE NEXT LEAP IN SPACE EXPLORATION HAS A SURPRISING OKLAHOMA CONNECTION. TWO OKLAHOMA EXPERTS ARE HELPING PICK PEOPLE WHO ARE MENTALLY FIT TO MAKE THE TRIP. KOCO KYLIE THOMAS SHOWS US HOW OKC IS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF SPACE FLIGHT. WHO HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO GO TO SPACE? AN OKLAHOMA PSYCHIATRIST IS HELPING MAKE THAT CALL. DOCTOR CHARLES DUKES AND DOCTOR JOHN HART ARE DEVELOPING THE MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING PROCESS FOR WHAT COULD BE THE WORLD’S FIRST PRIVATE SPACE STATION. OBVIOUSLY, YOU WANT TO SEE HOW SOMEONE PERFORMS UNDER STRESS. AFTER YEARS OF SUPPORTING NASA ASTRONAUTS DURING MISSIONS TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, DOCTOR CHARLES DUKES IS NOW BRINGING THAT EXPERIENCE TO COMMERCIAL SPACE FLIGHT. THE OKLAHOMA CITY PSYCHIATRIST IS HELPING THAT SPACE IDENTIFY WHICH ASTRONAUTS CAN HANDLE THE ISOLATION, PRESSURE AND DEMANDS OF SPACE. IT’S THRILLING TO BE INVOLVED WITH THEM. TO BEGIN THE WORK THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SELECTING THEIR FIRST PRIVATE ASTRONAUTS. SO WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GO TO SPACE? DOCTOR DUKE SAYS FUTURE ASTRONAUTS MUST WORK WELL UNDER PRESSURE, HANDLE HIGH RISK SITUATIONS AND LIVE IN TIGHT QUARTERS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. AND WHILE COMMERCIAL SPACEFLIGHT MAY OPEN THE DOOR TO MORE PEOPLE THAN TRADITIONAL NASA MISSIONS, THE STANDARDS ARE STILL TOUGH. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY’RE GETTING INTO BECAUSE MICROGRAVITY IS UNFORGIVING. STANDARDS ARE STILL VERY, VERY RIGID AND SERIOUS, BUT THERE’S POTENTIALLY MORE ROOM TO BRING INDIVIDUALS ON WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE
Oklahoma psychiatrists develop mental health screening for private astronauts
Two Oklahoma City psychiatrists are creating mental health screening processes for private astronauts, drawing on their experience with NASA missions.
Updated: 6:26 PM CDT May 20, 2026
Two Oklahoma City psychiatrists are helping shape the future of commercial spaceflight by developing mental health screening processes for private astronauts. Dr. Charles Dukes and Dr. Jon Hart are working with Vast Space to determine who is mentally fit to handle the isolation, pressure and demands of living and working in space. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter”Obviously, you want to see how someone performs under stress,” Dukes said. Dukes, an aerospace psychiatrist, is applying his years of experience supporting NASA astronauts during missions to the International Space Station to this new venture. He described his involvement with Vast Space as an exciting opportunity to help select the first private astronauts. “It’s thrilling to be involved with them to begin the work that will eventually lead to selecting their first private astronauts,” Dukes said. Future astronauts must meet strict standards, even as commercial spaceflight opens opportunities to more people than traditional NASA missions. Dukes highlighted the challenges of space travel and the importance of preparation. WATCH: Oklahoma aims for the stars with aerospace and space industry ambitions”Well, first of all, they have to understand what they’re getting into because microgravity is unforgiving,” Dukes said. He also noted that while the standards remain rigid, there is potential to include individuals who might not have qualified for NASA’s professional astronaut corps. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.”Standards are still very, very rigid and serious. But there’s potentially more room to bring individuals on who might not have qualified for the professional astronaut corps,” Dukes said.Top HeadlinesPolice shoot and kill woman who opened fire at officers during standoff in southwest OKCDriver intentionally drove Cybertruck into lake to use vehicle’s ‘Wade Mode,’ police sayAmerican man detained after bizarre stunt at Punch the monkey’s enclosure in JapanCaregiver pleads guilty to second-degree murder for Athena Brownfield’s deathPolice search for driver who crashed car into northwest Oklahoma City home
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Two Oklahoma City psychiatrists are helping shape the future of commercial spaceflight by developing mental health screening processes for private astronauts. Dr. Charles Dukes and Dr. Jon Hart are working with Vast Space to determine who is mentally fit to handle the isolation, pressure and demands of living and working in space.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter
“Obviously, you want to see how someone performs under stress,” Dukes said.
Dukes, an aerospace psychiatrist, is applying his years of experience supporting NASA astronauts during missions to the International Space Station to this new venture. He described his involvement with Vast Space as an exciting opportunity to help select the first private astronauts.
“It’s thrilling to be involved with them to begin the work that will eventually lead to selecting their first private astronauts,” Dukes said.
Future astronauts must meet strict standards, even as commercial spaceflight opens opportunities to more people than traditional NASA missions. Dukes highlighted the challenges of space travel and the importance of preparation.
WATCH: Oklahoma aims for the stars with aerospace and space industry ambitions
“Well, first of all, they have to understand what they’re getting into because microgravity is unforgiving,” Dukes said.
He also noted that while the standards remain rigid, there is potential to include individuals who might not have qualified for NASA’s professional astronaut corps.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
“Standards are still very, very rigid and serious. But there’s potentially more room to bring individuals on who might not have qualified for the professional astronaut corps,” Dukes said.
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