Astro Access

Disability Inclusion in Space Exploration – Five Microgravity Missions Since 2021

Core Services & Expertise

AstroAccess operates as pioneering project under SciAccess, Inc. (501c3 non-profit) founded in 2021, dedicated to promoting disability inclusion in human space exploration by paving way for disabled astronauts through five microgravity missions with Zero Gravity Corporation, advancing accessible spaceflight design with 30+ partner organizations and 60+ volunteers including aerospace CEOs, renowned disability advocates, student leaders, space science experts.

Core mission activities include:

Parabolic Flight Missions:

Five microgravity missions conducting demonstrations onboard parabolic flights with Zero-G Corporation as first step toward flying diverse range of people to space. AstroAccess Ambassadors (disabled scientists, veterans, students, athletes, artists) experience weightlessness, test microgravity accessibility tools, investigate spacecraft physical environment design enabling all astronauts regardless of disability on Earth to work and thrive in space.

First parabolic flight: October 17, 2021 with ultimate goal flying one or more team members to space in coming years.

Research & Development:

Operational tasks demonstrating disabled crew member abilities working effectively in microgravity environment, investigating potential environmental changes promoting greater accessibility.

Physical Environment Accessibility Research:

• Sound beacons for blind crew member 3D space orientation
• Tactile markers inside cabin supporting blind crew member access
• Emergency lighting operations through tactile and auditory systems

Communication Accessibility Research:

• American Sign Language legibility impact floating in microgravity
• Safety cues traditionally verbal communicated efficiently to Deaf and hard-of-hearing crew members
• Non-verbal communication systems for emergency auditory anomalies

Safety Procedures Research:

• Emergency egress modifications for crew members with disabilities
• Basic safety and operational task performance (navigate to oxygen masks)

General Microgravity Research: Disabled crew members performing same microgravity experiments as non-disabled peers with limited materials.

Public Advocacy:

AstroAccess Ambassadors using platform acting as public advocates for global disability access in STEM, inspiring next generation scientists and world-changers.

Service guarantees: Advancing disability inclusion benefiting all humankind, universal design facilitating inclusion resulting in new system redundancies and functionalities improving safety for all crewmembers, accessibility spurring innovation benefiting all users.

Geographic Reach & Capabilities

Operating from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with national and global disability inclusion advocacy mission.

Address: 7213 Whipple St, Pittsburgh, PA 15218, USA

Charity Navigator recognition validating non-profit transparency and accountability.

Zero-G partnership: Five parabolic flight missions conducted with Zero Gravity Corporation enabling microgravity research.

Industry Credentials & Partnerships

AstroAccess maintains SciAccess, Inc. 501c3 non-profit status with Yuri’s Night fiscal sponsorship (non-profit space advocacy organization) and Whitesides Foundation support.

Organizing team: 60+ volunteers comprising aerospace CEOs, renowned disability advocates, student leaders, space science experts, diverse team offering unparalleled expertise at intersection of space and disability.

Partner network: 30+ partner organizations playing key roles advancing accessible spaceflight design mission.

Historical context: NASA “Gallaudet 11” (1950s) – 11 deaf men participated extensive research shaping human space exploration future, NASA proving deaf space flight participants more adaptable to foreign gravitational environments, yet never deaf astronaut flown.

Disability statistics:

• United States: 26% population has disability, only 8.4% employed scientists and engineers have disabilities
• Doctorate degrees: Only approximately 1% US science/engineering doctorates held by people with disabilities
• Global: People with disabilities largest minority group worldwide

Business case: Companies prioritizing disability inclusion practices consistently out-perform competitors.

Scientific advantages: Deaf individuals immune or resistant to motion sickness due to vestibular system differences, providing inherent strengths enhancing mission success. Sign language enabling non-verbal communication in emergency situations with auditory anomalies.

Innovation benefits: Universal design creating system redundancies and functionalities improving safety for all crewmembers. Accessible design for blind astronauts enabling all crew operation in emergency lighting conditions where lighting first system offline.

Historical impact: Women entering space program sparked steady increase women in STEM continuing to present day, expecting same with disabled personnel.

Client Benefits & Advantages

AstroAccess’ five microgravity missions since 2021 demonstrates active operational experience beyond theoretical advocacy. Their 30+ partner organizations with 60+ volunteers including aerospace CEOs provides exceptional industry connectivity and expertise.

NASA Gallaudet 11 historical precedent (1950s research proving deaf participants’ advantages) validates scientific basis for disabled astronaut benefits despite no deaf astronaut ever flown, addressing 70-year gap.

Universal design philosophy creating safety benefits for all crew addresses business case beyond social justice, demonstrating emergency lighting operation through tactile/auditory systems potentially life-saving when seconds count.

Vestibular system advantages for deaf individuals immune to motion sickness provides mission-critical benefit for space travel where motion sickness affects crew performance.

26% US population disability representation versus 8.4% STEM employment demonstrates massive untapped talent pool, with companies prioritizing disability inclusion out-performing competitors validating business case.

Sign language non-verbal communication enables emergency operations during auditory system failures, providing system redundancy benefiting all crewmembers not just Deaf astronauts.

501c3 non-profit status with Charity Navigator recognition enables tax-deductible contributions supporting mission.

Quick Facts:

• Founded: 2021
• Status: SciAccess, Inc. 501c3 non-profit
• Missions: 5 parabolic flights with Zero-G Corporation
• Team: 60+ volunteers, 30+ partner organizations
• Location: Pittsburgh, PA
• First Flight: October 17, 2021
• Goal: Flying disabled team members to space
• Recognition: Charity Navigator

For aerospace companies seeking disability inclusion expertise for spacecraft design, space agencies requiring accessible safety system research, STEM educational institutions addressing disability representation gaps, disability advocacy organizations promoting space exploration access, corporate partners supporting innovative universal design approaches, and students with disabilities aspiring to space careers, AstroAccess provides the operational microgravity experience, scientific research foundation, and advocacy platform essential for advancing disability inclusion in human space exploration.

Contact Details:

Email: info@astroaccess.org
Address: 7213 Whipple St, Pittsburgh, PA 15218, USA
Website: https://astroaccess.org/
Status: 501c3 non-profit (SciAccess, Inc.)
Recognition: Charity Navigator
Fiscal Sponsor: Yuri’s Night
Founded: 2021
Missions: 5 parabolic flights completed

Location