A Future for People with Disabilities in Outer Space takes flight

 

Alexander Dallendorfer                                                                                                        

11/1/21

Ippolito Period C Chemistry                                                                                   

Current Event #6

 

A Future for People with Disabilities in Outer Space takes flight

By Amanda Morris

The New York Times

October 22, 2021

 

            As reported in the October 22nd, 2021 New York Times article, “A Future for People with Disabilities in Outer Space takes flight” by Amanda Morris discusses a new non for profit organization that is helping pave the way for anyone to be able to participate in spaceflight no matter what disabilities they may have.

The article discusses the non for profit organization: AstroAccess and their recent parabolic (flights alternating upward and downward arcs which give passengers the experience of zero gravity for repeated short bursts) which gave 12 people with varying disabilities the experience of being in zero gravity. Eric Ingram, one of the passengers aboard the flight who has a rare condition that affects his joints stated that “It was legitimately weird, Just the act of standing was probably almost as alien to me as floating in zero gravity”. The author also discuses the reason that this leap in spaceflight is possible for disabled people is due to rise in private companies which have the ability to conduct the same research as governmental organizations while avoiding the same level of bureaucratic tampering. 

The author, Amanda Morris makes sure to present the information in a way that gives us all the information about this groundbreaking work that will have long term effects over the coming century. So in conclusion this article does a great job of discussing an important mission that may have consequences on the future of humanities expansion throughout the stars.

 

Citations:

Morris, Amanda. “A Future for People with Disabilities in Outer Space Takes Flight.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 22 Oct. 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/22/science/astronauts-disabilities-astroaccess.html.