KISS fans have begun a campaign to honor the late Ace Frehley by awarding him posthumous honorary astronaut status. The legendary guitarist and founding member of the iconic rock band passed away on October 16 in Morristown, New Jersey, at the age of 74.
According to a statement from his family, Ace – affectionately known as “Spaceman” – died “peacefully surrounded by family” following “a recent fall at his home.” While the exact cause of death has not been officially released, reports indicate that a medical examiner in New Jersey has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his passing.
In the wake of his death, a Change.org petition has been launched by a fan named Kathryn, urging NASA to recognize Frehley with honorary astronaut status. The petition cleverly nods to Ace’s famous “Spaceman” persona and has already garnered more than 1,500 signatures, quickly gaining attention across social media.
The campaign page, highlighting Frehley’s iconic nickname, reads: “On October 16, 2025, the world lost not just a legend, not just a rock icon, but also a good man. Paul Daniel ‘Ace’ Frehley, at the tender age of 21, was brave enough to take one small orange step and one small red step, and make the giant leap into the global phenomenon that we all now know as KISS. And while MOST of his dreams ended up coming true, at least ONE did NOT.
“When he suddenly passed away from a brain bleed following a head injury at 74, he was still only merely PLAYING the character of a Space Cadet. He NEVER got to be one for REAL. In honor of his memory, all the lives directly and indirectly impacted by him, and his one last remaining unfulfilled wish, NASA should posthumously make Ace Frehley an honorary astronaut with the rank of ‘Captain’, because a celestial being of his caliber doesn’t deserve anything less of a send-off than this. His last countdown should be his absolute BEST!”
As of now, NASA has not publicly responded to the petition.
Frehley played on some of KISS’s most legendary albums, including Kiss (1974), Destroyer (1976), Love Gun (1977), and Dynasty (1979), writing and performing classics like “Shock Me,” “Rocket Ride,” and “Talk to Me.” His 1978 self-titled solo album, featuring the hit single “New York Groove,” remains a fan favorite.
After leaving KISS in the early 1980s, Frehley continued a successful solo career with FREHLEY’S COMET and released a string of acclaimed albums, including Anomaly (2009) and 10,000 Volts (2024). He reunited with KISS for their 1996 reunion tour, thrilling fans worldwide and reaffirming his place as one of rock’s most influential guitarists.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.