Recruiting the world’s first disabled astronaut doesn’t mean space travel is inclusive – here’s how to change that

In the past, spaceflight was the responsibility of government-funded astronauts who had to meet strict physical, cognitive, psychological and social requirements for selection. But in recent years, all that is changing.

In September 2024, two non-professional astronauts completed the first privately funded spacewalk, using the Crew Dragon spacecraft built by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. Meanwhile, the private company Axiom Space, based in Houston, has been conducting regular flights to the International Space Station (ISS), carrying a mix of government-funded astronauts and paying customers.

In recent years, almost 100 people have become private astronauts through the space tourism companies Blue Origin, operated by Jeff Bezos and Virgin Galactic, by Sir Richard Branson. Although the seat price of these vehicles is still out of reach for most of us, prices are expected to decrease as more players enter the market.

Despite the rapid growth in the number of space travelers, population groups are left behind underrepresented, especially those with disabilities. So how can space agencies and “space tourism” companies make spaceflight more inclusive for astronauts with disabilities?

The European Space Agency (ESA) recently recruited John McFall, who lost his right leg at the age of 19, as the world’s first disabled astronaut. McFall, a surgeon and former Paralympic cheerleader, will participate in a feasibility study to improve understanding of and overcome the barriers to spaceflight for astronauts with physical disabilities.

Esa’s latest selection of astronauts was of an all-white European background, which shows how far there is still a long way to go. But the move to recruit McFall was a significant milestone toward a more comprehensive approach to spaceflight.

Designing effective systems to include people with disabilities has been a long-standing challenge in the world – and the space is taking on a whole new paradigm. The very specific demands of space flight mean that we cannot assume that traditional adjustments and assistive technology will work outside the Earth’s atmosphere. Therefore, if spaceflight is more comprehensive it is necessary to look at every step of the entry into space.

Astronaut training is a complex process, designed to simulate the space environment and enable candidates to perform well under a variety of conditions they may encounter in orbit. But in many cases, the training facilities are not well designed for individuals with physical or sensory impairments.

For example, to get on the plane to fly in an arc to simulate microgravity (referred to as a “vomit comet”), astronauts must climb a set of stairs, which is a handicap for anyone with impaired mobility. Ironically, a handicap that restricts the use of stairs on Earth may be much less of a restriction once in space.

Another key focus will be spacecraft and spacesuit design. The spacesuits on board the ISS were originally designed with male astronauts in mind, meaning that female astronauts have to “make do” with what’s there. This has led to challenges as the number of female astronauts has increased.

In 2019, NASA had to postpone the first all-female spacewalk because a spacesuit torso was too big for one of the astronauts. The Moon suit developed by Axiom Space in collaboration with Italian fashion house Prada is a step towards inclusiveness, with an anthropomorphic size to accommodate a wide range of team members. However, disabled astronauts may still face challenges in the future if they have limb differences or impaired dexterity.

Interestingly, the new SpaceX Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) suits feature something called “embedded modularity” – every part of the suit is custom designed for the intended astronaut, and all parts fit together. Although intended to aid in joint positioning, these suits offer a unique opportunity to support disabled astronauts with limb differences.

Encapsulated suits may include one fixed leg part for individuals with paralysis, and removable parts for those with limb differences. Haptic gloves could provide tactile feedback through the space suit for astronauts with limb differences.

For visually impaired individuals, audio-visual displays could be incorporated through augmented reality (AR) head-mounted displays (transparent displays that show the user’s data overlaid on their surroundings) and AI-powered image-to-speech software that can transfer only visual information into audio explanations. big difference.

Technological support such as the “Be My Eyes” app, pairing sighted assistants with visually impaired people to help explain their surroundings, could also make use of spacesuits.

Successful in space

An often overlooked part of astronaut life is maintaining physical fitness through rigorous exercise regimens. Exercise is necessary as both muscle and bone wear down quickly in microgravity – but the exercise equipment on board the ISS, such as the treadmill and bicycle, is difficult to adapt to people with disabilities. Requires the use of both feet to operate.

Re-engineering the systems of exercise, eating, working, toileting and other essential activities is essential to enable disabled astronauts to thrive in space.

Assistive technologies that could be used inside a spacecraft, rather than inside a space suit, are continuously developing and are of many types. Therefore, there are always opportunities to improve the environment on a space mission to make it more inclusive for astronauts with disabilities.

Examples could include the use of virtual reality (VR) in training on the ground, smart prosthetics that enable complex tasks to be completed, and AI-guided computer vision for visually impaired astronauts.

The policies implemented by space agencies have traditionally been exclusionary, targeting the gifted and ignoring the potential of those who are different. And while some space agencies are establishing advisory committees and promoting diversity, this work is often confined to narrow territories within those agencies.

Despite the fact that the UK and many other countries have specific laws to reduce discrimination in the workplace, the international nature of the space sector can create difficulty. For this reason, policies that mandate inclusion and equity across the space sector are critical. Most importantly, space agencies should ensure sufficient funding and resources to support any inclusion initiative and to work with disability advocacy groups.

Often, the root causes of barriers to inclusion are a lack of understanding or awareness of disability. In many cases, these barriers are reduced by consulting and involving people with disabilities in decision-making processes. It is vital that the space sector first recruits individuals from diverse backgrounds.

While the concept of “diversity quotas” has historically been divisive, the first place to start is to understand the diversity of current and potential space travelers. Publicizing diversity statistics can help hold agencies accountable, and encourage initiatives aimed at greater inclusion.

Much remains to be done, but with a collaborative approach, the new commercial space race could serve as a great model for the rest of the world in its approach to disability.