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Disability In Space

On February 16th, 2021, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched their new

“Parastronaut Feasibility Program” in which they now accept applicants with physical

disabilities to create a path for these individuals to fly to space. Thus, they undergo many studies

that aim to modify technology as means for people with disabilities to adapt to space.

Furthermore, it is a huge step in terms of creating a broader range of who is considered “eligible”

to go to space promoting inclusivity. There are many unique people with different ages, gender,

abilities, etc. By being able to include more people of such skills it would be beneficial to

explore space more collectively. Consequently, by doing so, innovations can be developed to

succeed in space missions safely and effectively.

Of course, some aerospace companies, such as NASA, continue to enforce strict

requirements regarding physical or medical conditions that may restrict the ability of an

individual to apply for spaceflight. One of the reasons could include that only certain people with

good build and stature can successfully reach space and won’t face as many challenges as a

person with disabilities would. Thus, large aerospace companies such as NASA disqualify those

with disabilities. However, by considering the advantages of different “disabilities” in zero

gravity, we can arrive at a better understanding of how some individuals can adapt to space.

People with physical disabilities should be allowed to join the astronaut program because of the

many advantages that they have to offer, which creates more inclusion and accessibility in

technological innovation and promotes safety and teamwork with non-disability crew members.

One reason people with physical disabilities should join astronaut programs is due to the

many advantages such as their adaptability to adjust to the world. In “It’s Time to Rethink Who’s
Best Suited for Space Travel,” Rose Eveleth, an Ideas contributor and host/creator of a podcast

who is interested in the many possibilities of the future presents details on how people with

disabilities may be suited for space due to their adaptability in everyday life. Eveleth mentions

“Those with disabilities use their bodies in unconventional ways. Transmobility, for example, is

the “idea that there are lots of ways to get around besides putting one foot in front of the other”

(Eveleth). People with physical disabilities have to adapt to their surroundings every day in their

life, by doing so, they have gained more flexibility to make up for the senses that they have lost.

In the article, “Disability in Space,” however, Christiane Heinicke, a researcher at the Center of

Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) at the University of Bremen discusses the

benefits people with disabilities have in different situations in space:

On Mars, astronauts could move around in wheelchair-like rovers, and the space

normally occupied by the legs could be used by extra life-support supplies. The blind is

said to have better 3D orientation than the sighted, which would be an advantage in

microgravity, and given the high rate of visual problems in space, bringing a visual

impairment into space would mean no adaptation required for orientation. (Heinicke et al.

4)

Studies have shown that there are scenarios where people with disabilities would be able to adapt

to space better than non-disabled people. Consequently, by recognizing their abilities and

learning from people with disabilities, advancements can be made through technological

innovations that personalize individual needs. Sheri Wells-Jensen, an associate professor who is

also interested in astrobiology and disability studies, notes specifically about blind astronauts and

how their disability can become beneficial for space exploration. Particularly, it can be noted that

blind astronauts have advantages such as not feeling nausea or having to worry about the damage
microgravity does to one’s vision due to the microgravity in space accumulating fluid in the eye

thus causing some pressure to the optic nerve (Wells-Jensen).

In addition to parastronauts having great adaptability to adjust to space, including more

people with disabilities also promotes safety and teamwork with non-disability crew members.

With this in mind, some companies are creating universal designs or even policies that can

accommodate everyone in the space crew. In one example, Chris Hadfield, a Canadian astronaut

had an issue where he became temporarily blinded, preventing him from working properly with

his other teammate. The bigger issue was the design of his space suit focused more on the use of

hand-eye coordination rather than using other skills such as audio cues for orientation

(Wells-Jensen et al. 51). When a crisis arises in which it prevents an abled astronaut from seeing

properly, having a blind astronaut may be beneficial in helping them guide others better and such

scenarios help to push for the need of more blind astronauts. In addition, “As searching for lost

or floating objects would represent a notable time-waster for blind astronauts, policies enforcing

orderliness would benefit everyone and increase safety and efficiency. The accumulation of

significant clutter and general disorderliness aboard long-term space vessels is more than an

inconvenience…” (Wells-Jensen et al. 52). This decision would not only help people with

disabilities, but also benefit non-disabled people into promoting more organization and order,

creating a more safe, working environment within the spacecraft.

Some would argue that including people with disabilities just to include them could cause

issues in the long run, making accessibility not as important. According to Heinicke, “...sending

a person with a disability to space just to be able to say that one sent a person with a disability to

space is as problematic as the many other attempts here on Earth where design changes often

have more symbolic than practical value. Making some small adjustments after the fact hardly
ever leads to useful design” (Heinicke et al. 2-3). He makes a point in which the ESA believes in

including people for the sake of inclusivity instead of truly exploring the advantages of the

“differently-abled.” With this mindset, it would be problematic to send people with disabilities

into space. However, by taking this issue into consideration, by promoting inclusivity, not only

does it help to save money, but creates technology that helps to accommodate every individual

regardless of having a disability. Amanda Morris, a disability reporting fellow for the National

Desk, explores the different tests for people with different disabilities to ensure a safe space

flight in “A Future for People With Disabilities in Outer Space Takes Flight.” Morris states how

“...accessibility issues must be considered now — at the advent of private space travel — rather

than later because retrofitting equipment to be accessible would take more time and money”

(Morris). As a result, designing for more inclusive space travel can save money; furthermore; it

can be beneficial for every astronaut to meet and work with individuals with different strengths.

Rather than including people with disabilities for inclusivity, teamwork and cooperation should

be kept in mind to ensure a safe flight with other astronauts. “An alternate vision for

colonization,” Sheri Wells-Jensen, an associate professor who is also interested in astrobiology

and disability studies discusses how diversity can strengthen teamwork and reveal certain

barriers to allow for more inclusive space travel. It is mentioned that “in virtually all earth-side

scenarios, it is increasingly understood that diversity strengthens working groups… there is no

evidence that the inclusion of these groups has harmed space missions in any measurable way”

(Wells-Jensen et al. 51). Space programs need to include people with disabilities in a way that

they can work well with non-disabled people and make certain accommodations in space crafts

or technology that can be beneficial to all.

 Again, companies such as NASA do not push for inclusivity; it is believed that only

people that meet the strict requirements regarding physical ability showcase more success in

spaceflight. But, people with physical disabilities should be allowed to join the astronaut

program because of the many advantages that they have to offer, which creates more inclusion

and accessibility in technological innovation and promotes safety and teamwork with

non-disability crew members. By addressing the issues of including people for the sake of

inclusivity or not designing certain technologies that can promote better teamwork with different

crewmates, spaceflight can turn into a whole new experience for everyone. Moreover, it can

create better opportunities for people with disabilities as well as widen a different approach to

going to space. More aerospace companies should consider parastronauts and their advancements

in space.
 Works Cited

Eveleth, Rose. “It’s Time to Rethink Who’s Best Suited for Space Travel.” wired.com, 27

January 2019,

https://www.wired.com/story/its-time-to-rethink-whos-best-suited-for-space-travel/

Heinicke, Christiane, et al. “Disability in Space: Aim High.” Science (American Association for

the Advancement of Science), vol. 372, no. 6548, American Association for the

Advancement of Science, 2021, pp. 1271–72, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abj7353.

Morris, Amanda. “A Future for People With Disabilities in Outer Space Takes Flight.”

nytimes.com, 22 October 2021,

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/22/science/astronauts-disabilities-astroaccess.html

Wells-Jensen, Sheri, et al. “An Alternate Vision for Colonization.” Futures : the Journal of

Policy, Planning and Futures Studies, vol. 110, Elsevier Ltd, 2019, pp. 50–53,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2019.02.012.

Wells-Jensen, Sheri. “The Case for Disabled Astronauts.” blogs.scientificamerican.com, 20 May

2018, https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/the-case-for-disabled-astronauts/