Fans call for Ace Frehley to be named honorary astronaut
via Whitechapel - Ghost Video / youtube
A campaign has been launched urging NASA to posthumously honor late Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley with the rank of honorary astronaut. Fans are invited to show their support by signing an online petition.
“On October 16, 2025, the world lost not just a legend, not just a rock icon, but also a good man,” said organizer Katherine Sugg. “Paul Daniel ‘Ace’ Frehley, at the young age of 21, was brave enough to take one small orange step and one small red step, making the giant leap into the global phenomenon that is Kiss. While most of his dreams came true, one remained unfulfilled.”
Sugg explained that Frehley’s untimely death at 74, following a brain bleed caused by a head injury, meant he never achieved his ultimate “space” ambition. “He was still only playing the character of the Space Cadet,” she said. “To honor his legacy, the lives he impacted, and his final unfulfilled wish, NASA should posthumously award Ace Frehley the honorary rank of Captain. A celestial figure of his stature deserves nothing less—a final countdown befitting his legend.”
The Spaceman Persona and Cosmic Career
Frehley first introduced his Spaceman persona—also known as Space Ace—when Kiss launched in 1973. The persona became one of the band’s most recognizable trademarks, and he continued the theme even after leaving the group.
His post-Kiss work included the band Frehley’s Comet and solo albums such as 2014’s Space Invader and 2018’s Spaceman. Many of his songs reflected his fascination with outer space, featuring titles like Mission to Mars, Quantum Flux, Inside the Vortex, Past the Milky Way, Starship, Walkin’ on the Moon, Cosmic Heart, Up in the Sky, and Stratosphere.
Legacy and Waiting on NASA
Frehley’s influence extended far beyond music, inspiring countless fans with his cosmic aesthetic and larger-than-life stage persona. The petition seeks to recognize his contributions in a way that aligns with the “space cadet” identity he cultivated throughout his career.
At the time of writing, NASA has not publicly responded to the initiative. Fans continue to rally online, hoping the organization will grant Frehley the symbolic astronaut honor and celebrate a rock legend in true celestial style.
