User:Francesapl
John Spencer is a space architect with design awards from NASA for his work on the International Space Station (ISS), now in Earth’s orbit. Spencer has built a career in aerospace architecture that includes both design and development. He is founder of the nonprofit organization Space Tourism Society (STS), an international organization whose mission is to make space tourism available to as many people as possible in the nearest possible future through research, education and funding.
Spencer designed a simulation facility for the National Geographic Society Television and Film group for a TV mini-series titled “Mars Colony.” He designed the new NASA Ames Visitor Center; the new corporate headquarters and spaceship manufacturing facility for the XCOR Aerospace Corporation; and the Earthrise Institute’s “Earthrise Center” for science education to be built in New Mexico. Spencer designed projects for the National Science Foundation (NSF) that were built in Antarctica, and for NOAA, built under water. Both science bases are still in operation. In addition, Spencer has been the lead designer for several Earth-based projects with a space theme including a proposed multi-billion dollar development in Asia.
Over the past 25 years, Spencer and his project teams have proven they can originate exciting design concepts and attract the investment, joint venture, and sponsorship of some of the world's most prestigious corporations. Over $300 million has been invested directly into his original design concepts. He creates, designs, and develops immersive simulation experiences and themed-attraction projects, involving orbital tourism, as well as lunar, Mars and future-themed realms. He coined the term “SimNauts” and “SimExperience” in the 1990’s to describe the next generation of immersive, multi-day, space simulation experiences. He has also served as a conceptual designer for a wide variety of international clients.
John Spencer is the author (with Karen L. Rugg) of Space Tourism—Do You Want to Go?, the first U.S. published book on space tourism. Spencer has been quoted on space tourism in The Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, Space News, Popular Science, Men's Journal, Los Angeles Times, and more than 50 other magazines and newspaper articles. He has appeared on “The Today Show,” and on CNN, ABC, CBS News, and more than three dozen other television networks, including the Discovery Channel, PBS, Japanese NHK, and The Learning Channel.
Spencer attended the University of Southern California (USC) at the School of Architecture. He received his professional degree and master’s degree (Master of Architecture) from the Southern California Institute of Architecture. He currently lives and works in the Los Angeles area.