Kirby Runyon first sensed the pull of space when he was a young boy in rural Michigan, staring at the night sky. Rather than join the usual sports teams, he pored over NASA magazines and sci-fi novels, transfixed by photos of distant worlds. That enduring question—What is it like in space?—became his life’s motivation. Over time, he transformed curiosity into action: earning a PhD in planetary geology, joining NASA’s historic Pluto mission, and ultimately launching a company to help others experience a taste of space for themselves.
From Pluto Discoveries to Parabolic Flight
As a graduate student at Johns Hopkins, Runyon joined the New Horizons team and got to see Pluto up close for the first time. Before 2015, no one had real images of that remote dwarf planet. Runyon was among those who studied its newly revealed surface—mountains of frozen nitrogen, wide plains of ice, and faint signs of active geology. That perspective confirmed his belief that Pluto is not just a frosty speck but a dynamic world.
Yet seeing Pluto through a spacecraft camera only deepened his desire to experience what he was studying. To grasp how low gravity shapes planetary surfaces, he began working aboard “Zero-G” flights. In these airplane maneuvers, short arcs of microgravity simulate the environment of asteroids, moons, or Mars. The science was serious—studying how impact craters form under lower gravity—but Runyon found the personal thrill just as compelling. Floating freely, even briefly, felt like stepping into the very worlds he’d researched.
A Glimpse of Cosmic Experience
Growing up, Runyon had pictured astronauts bounding across the lunar landscape, or glimpsing Earth against the blackness of space. Zero-G flights offered a practical version of that wonder. At times, the aircraft was adjusted so that onboard passengers experienced one-sixth of Earth’s gravity—lunar gravity. He learned from an Apollo astronaut to keep his feet together for controlled bouncing, rather than flailing in slow motion.
Those flights sparked a new realization: physical sensations can be as profound as any data readout. He wanted to replicate the momentary “awe” he felt for others. And so, between stints in a NASA control room and late-night analyses of planetary surfaces, he pursued ways to bring the public into that excitement.
Exploring Alien Terrains—on Earth
Another piece of the puzzle lay in terrestrial “analog” sites. Certain deserts, volcanic fields, and canyons on Earth bear a striking resemblance to the Moon or Mars. Runyon traveled to the American Southwest, where gypsum dunes and ancient lava flows evoke exotic, otherworldly landscapes. Immersing himself in those remote spots, he felt a taste of planetary exploration without leaving Earth.
Soon, he invited others—students, researchers, tourists—to join him on these expeditions. Standing in a silent desert at dawn, the ground tinted in pastel shades of pink and orange, participants could easily imagine themselves on an alien frontier. Runyon pointed out geological details and explained how astronauts might collect samples in low gravity. The effect was both scientific and deeply personal as if each visitor discovered a new dimension of what “space” might mean.
Launching an Outer Space Lifestyle
After years of juggling NASA-sponsored research and side projects, Runyon decided to blend his passions into a single enterprise. He left full-time laboratory work, stayed part-time with the Planetary Science Institute, and founded Planex.space—short for Planetary Experience Consulting. Its mission: help everyday people step into an “outer space lifestyle” through zero-gravity flights, analog expeditions, and interactive programs.
Clients come from different backgrounds. Some aspire to be private astronauts. Others want a fresh perspective on science, adventure, or self-discovery. Runyon offers coaching in microgravity, training in geological fieldwork, and curated travel to locations that mimic lunar or Martian terrain. These sessions combine academic insights—soil compositions, impact crater formation—with the emotional rush of exploring the unknown.
Bridging Awe and Understanding
Central to Runyon’s philosophy is that learning about space should kindle both intellectual insight and a spirit of wonder. He references the powerful shift known as the “Overview Effect,” the mind-altering realization astronauts experience when they see Earth hanging in the void. Although his programs can’t place participants in orbit, he hopes even a fraction of weightlessness or a surreal desert vista can open people’s eyes to humanity’s place in the cosmos.
Whether he’s guiding a parabolic flight or helping guests navigate an alien-like canyon, Runyon encourages reflection on the bigger picture. How does it feel to move in low gravity? What stirs in us when we tread a desolate landscape that mirrors Mars? By confronting these questions directly, he believes people can taste a profound sense of connection—with each other, and with the universe we inhabit.
Looking Upward, Moving Forward
Today, Kirby Runyon balances rigorous research with immersive experiences. He still contributes to planetary geology studies—investigating crater formation, analyzing Pluto’s surface data—but also designs experiences for clients who crave more than a lecture or a textbook. His work stands at the intersection of frontier science, personal adventure, and public engagement.
A rural Michigander who once mailed five-dollar checks to support a Pluto mission, Runyon now guides others toward the same enchantment he felt as a child gazing at the stars. By bridging science, exploration, and down-to-Earth instruction, he demonstrates that a taste of space is within reach for all who seek it. Ultimately, he invites everyone to join him in asking—not as a distant dream but as a lived reality—“What is it like in space?”
