Growing up in southern Michigan, Kirby Runyon’s passion for space exploration began at a very early age. Surrounded by cornfields and dairy farms, he developed a deep interest in the stars. Although his surroundings offered little celestial inspiration, Runyon remained unwavering in his fascination. As a leading planetary scientist, he reflects on his childhood, Runyon recalls, “I was always enthralled with space exploration from at least the age of three, if not younger. It amazed me that we even had cable, and I could watch Star Trek.”
Runyon’s parents nurtured his passion by taking him to the Michigan Space and Science Center. There, he encountered the Apollo 9 space capsule, which sparked a lifelong obsession with space. “Seeing that Apollo capsule up close,” Runyon recalls, “was one of those moments that made me realize space wasn’t just something to watch on TV—it was something I could be a part of.” He knew he wanted to be a leading planetary scientist.
The Space Kid: Runyon’s Unique Journey
From an early age, Kirby Runyon’s love for space set him apart from his peers. “I was always the space kid in school,” he says. “I wasn’t interested in anything except space, and not interested in sports, which made it socially lonely at times.” Despite this, his passion for space exploration never wavered. By high school, he attended Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, describing it as “the most fun I’d had up to that point in my life.” Runyon devoured every resource on space he could find, including books, documentaries, and magazines.
At age 14, Runyon’s dedication to space led him to write to his congressman. He advocated for the Pluto mission, which later became NASA’s New Horizons mission. “Even back then,” he recalls, “I knew I wanted to be part of something bigger—something that would help humanity explore the far reaches of space.” This determination set him on the path to becoming a leading planetary scientist.
The Challenges of Pursuing Planetary Science
However, Runyon’s path to becoming a planetary scientist was not without challenges. Initially, he pursued a degree in physics but soon discovered that math and physics were not his strengths. “I was terrible at math,” he admits. “And you need math to do physics. It was a tough realization, but it forced me to rethink my path.”
During this time, Runyon discovered planetary science, particularly planetary geology, as a potential career. “I was procrastinating on my physics homework by reading about what the Mars rovers were doing on the surface of Mars,” Runyon laughs. “And I realized, all these scientists working on Mars weren’t astronomers—they were geologists.” This discovery pushed him towards becoming a leading planetary scientist.
Shift to Planetary Geology
Runyon shifted his focus, earning a master’s degree in geology with a thesis on Mars. In 2011, he interned at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, where he researched potential lunar landing sites. It was here that he began to see a clear path toward his ultimate goal. Shortly after, Runyon entered a PhD program at Johns Hopkins University. This move marked a pivotal chapter in his career. “Getting into Johns Hopkins was a game changer,” he says. “That’s where I started to dig into planetary geology, and where things started coming full circle for me.” His journey to becoming a leading planetary scientist was truly taking shape.
The Pluto Mission: A Dream Fulfilled
While pursuing his PhD from 2012 to 2017, Runyon’s childhood dream came full circle. He became a member of the geology imaging team for the New Horizons mission, which flew by Pluto in 2015. “When I was growing up, we had no pictures of Pluto—it was just a fuzzy dot, even with the Hubble Space Telescope,” he recalls. “But in 2015, I was sitting in the control room at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab as the first pictures of Pluto started coming in. I was the first person to see mountains on Pluto. It was an incredible moment.” This moment solidified his status as a leading planetary scientist.
Experiencing Space Firsthand
Runyon’s desire to experience space firsthand has driven him throughout his life. In 2020, during the pandemic, he purchased a ticket for a Zero-G flight to experience weightlessness. “I know it sounds very woo-woo and spiritual,” Runyon says, “but when I experienced zero gravity, something unlocked inside me. It was like I had this pent-up purpose that was finally unleashed.”
In addition to experiencing weightlessness, Runyon became a coach for the Zero Gravity Corporation in 2021. “It was such a thrill to help people experience what it feels like to be in zero gravity,” he says. “It’s one thing to read about space, but it’s another to feel it.”
Planetary Experience Consulting: Sharing the Outer Space Lifestyle
Today, Runyon’s work extends beyond academic research. His company, Planetary Experience Consulting, LLC, focuses on helping people live what he calls the “outer space lifestyle.” Through VIP experiences, public speaking, and planetary geology trips, Runyon strives to bring others closer to the experience of space. “I want to inspire people to live a life of awe and wonder through an outer space lifestyle,” he explains. “Whether it’s through Zero-G flights, planetary geology trips, or just learning more about space, my goal is to help people answer the question, ‘What’s it like in space?’”
Looking to the Future
In early 2024, Runyon is set to embark on his second NASA-funded research flight. “This upcoming flight is going to be incredibly gratifying,” he says. “Getting to experience weightlessness while conducting real scientific research—it’s something I never get tired of.”
Kirby Runyon’s life is a testament to where passion and determination can lead. From the boy in Michigan who loved Star Trek to a leading planetary scientist breaking new ground in space exploration, his journey continues to inspire others to reach for the stars.
