Candidate for crew on Space station or the moon

[bdewoody]

I for one would be willing to volunteer to be permantly stationed either place. I am physically challenged and therefore gravity is my biggest enemy. But I have a feeling that this potential source for personnel will be overlooked for a long time.<br /><br />I'm curious about thoughts on this matter by others like me. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>

 

[qso1]

bdewoody:<br />But I have a feeling that this potential source for personnel will be overlooked for a long time...<br /><br />Me:<br />One reason for that is there has been no spokesperson for the physically challenged lobbying for physically challenged persons to go into space and another is the crew safety problem that comes with having to be able to escape a spacecraft in trouble. This was kind of brought up on the John Glenn flight because of his age. But he got to go because of his position.<br /><br />If there were a spokesperson representing the physically challenged, safety issues could be overcome if it can be demonstrated that physically challenged people can safely deal with emergencies. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

I too am physically challenged, (my right arm is missing below the elbow) I think the only way we will get into space is on a commercial mission. I could be the cook, (I am a chef) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[bdewoody]

Really, how many fully functional crew have sucessfully escaped a spacecraft in trouble? I'm fully aware of the risks and would still go.<br /><br />I was on a NW airlines 747 in the mid 80s getting ready to leave Narita in Tokyo riding in business class which was upstairs. The gate agent wanted me to move down into tourist expressing concern that in an emergency I would not be able to get down the stairs and exit the aircraft. I told him that in the event of an accident I'd get down the stairs just fine if there was time and if not I would die just like everyone else. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>

 

[qso1]

bdewoody:<br />Really, how many fully functional crew have sucessfully escaped a spacecraft in trouble?<br /><br />Me:<br />None so far as I know but then, we haven't had a situation that has ever called for a crew escape. The problem is that in preparing for a mission, all possibilities are factored in and rehearsed in the rare event they would be needed. The severity of the condition would determine how fast that individual could escape a craft in trouble. And since I do not know the severity of your situation, I would not be able to say one way or the other what NASA might say. Keeping in mind I'm largely speculating on an untried scenario. As in my original post, I pointed out that maybe a spokesperson would be needed to get NASA to see the benefits of widening their crew selection criteria, but shuttle seats are very limited and soon it will be retired.<br /><br />As the previous post pointed out, chances of getting a commercial flight into space might be a bit better in about a decade if one has enough money.<br /><br />I also mentioned John Glenn because money and power talks. Story Musgrave was 60 and NASA told him he was too old to continue to fly in space. This a year or so before Glenn at 77, went up. Glenn was nearly old enough to be Musgraves father. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[bdewoody]

To be honest I wasn't even considering the thought of a physically challenged person ever being part of a shuttle mission. I'm looking forward to when either a large space station or moon base would need more or less permanent staff. I also know it would be a one way trip as it is difficult for able bodied well trained astronauts to re-adjust to earth's gravity after a long mission.<br /><br />Paraplegics who are partially or totally paralysed from the waist down have already adapted to not being able to walk where they are going and would not have a hard time adjusting to the lack of or reduced gravity. Many of my aches and pains I believe would go away with the lack of earths tug on my body. I'm already deeply into computers and their use from everything including work to entertainment. My 1st computer was a radio shack TRS-80.<br /><br />I really doubt that in the foreseeable future that those in charge of setting these things up will consider using such a source for a labor pool but it doesn't keep me from dreaming. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>

 

[qso1]

bdewoody:<br />I really doubt that in the foreseeable future that those in charge of setting these things up will consider using such a source for a labor pool but it doesn't keep me from dreaming.<br /><br />Me:<br />It will probably be that way for sometime but an articulate spokesperson could speed things up by pointing out some of the advatages you mentioned. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[dragon04]

<font color="yellow">I for one would be willing to volunteer to be permantly stationed either place. I am physically challenged and therefore gravity is my biggest enemy. But I have a feeling that this potential source for personnel will be overlooked for a long time.</font><br /><br />There are so many variables to consider. For example, how much more difficult would it be for a paraplegic to don a spacesuit?<br /><br />The issue of working in "zero G" as opposed to microgravity is another thing to look at. What would a paraplegic's function be on the first Moon Base? What in fact would <b>any</b> person's function or more accurately stated functions be?<br /><br />Any activity in any gravity environment that requires walking would still be a problem.<br /><br />What "special needs" would any physically challenged person require? Aside from their primary disability, what is their overall health status? As expensive as it is to put mass into space, early colonies as well as space stations would be facing cost prohibitive issues in regards to equipment, medicines, etc.<br /><br />Nonetheless, your idea is intriguing. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> I've often wondered whether any consideration has been given to the utilization of "little people" as the vanguard for initial colonization due to the fact that they would require less space and less resources to some degree as opposed to a group of 6 foot tall 100kg people.<br /><br />Ironically, I saw a movie once (can't remember the name) that involved a guy on a large biosphere spacecraft who had "robots" that performed the routine maintenance and upkeep functions.<br /><br />Years after seeing it, I read an article about the movie in which it stated that amputees were employed to be the little "robots". The movie was produced well before robotics were anything but rudimentary.<br /><br />So in a figurative and fictional way, physically challenged people have already "gone to space". <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[pioneer0333]

This topic brings up a lot of key topics and debates. Such as a person who can't use his or her legs could and probably would be more suited to work in space. But to really push this idea to NASA, you have to prove on many different levels the reason you could perform the job. But no matter this debate, the second key is that there would need to be a new type of suit designed to be easily accessible by all standards needs to be developed. And of course the biggest requirement is the ability to function in space for years at a time. The loss of bone calcium and bone density is a big plus for those who can not use there legs. Because this persons legs are already not able to function, there is Very little worry of bone loss and muscle loss. These are the people most suited for the missions to Mars and the outer solar system. Now of course the legs will still lose density and muscle, therefore I don't believe it would be wise stay too long in space.<br /><br /> The biggest "new" source for people wanting to perform missions to Mars and so on, will be submariners. Only because they already know how to handle the stress of being in one tight fitted place for months on end. In other words, any person wanting to travel or work in space for extremely long periods of time will have to with stand solitude.But all people will be able to go as the technology gets better. But for now, I feel that no matter your situation, the main point expected is the ability to work in confined, small, cramped, and solitary places. <br /><br /> This point is a very good idea for long missions into deep space, it's just that the "higher-ups" are usually slow to recognize whats around them. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>