Presenters
Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen, Bowling Green State University, OH, USA; Aisha Said, Universal Inclusion, OH, USA.
Abstract
The road to outer space now includes disabled flyers, with the first wheelchair user crossing the Kármán line in December 2025. It is now time to ask questions about the physical, emotional, technical, and interpersonal needs of mixed crews with disabled flyers on longer missions. One well-established method for investigating new approaches to crew composition and configuration is an analog mission, and analogs have included individual disabled representatives, but these so far have been single individuals serving as part of a nominally abled crew.
We are planning a ten-day analog mission at the Space Analog for the Moon and Mars (SAM) habitat in Arizona crewed by four fully-blind analog astronauts in Fall 2027. The mission agenda will include both general research and inquiries related to how maintenance, scientific investigations, and emergency protocols can be successfully conducted using nonvisual techniques.
Each participant will additionally carry out individual research and perform an EVA.
The goals of the mission are to increase the astronaut candidate pool to include more kinds of people and to establish protocols for sighted astronauts who lose visual acuity during long-duration missions. We seek fiscal and nonfiscal sponsors, individuals who would like to help out and research ideas.
Presenter Biographies
Sheri Wells-Jensen, Ph.D. Professor · Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA
Sheri Wells-Jensen and Aisha Said have been active in the space community for years, promoting STEM inclusion, adaptive research, diversity, and equity. Dr. Wells-Jensen is a professor at Bowling Green State University.
Aisha Said Universal Inclusion, Ohio, USA
Aisha Said works with Universal Inclusion. With Dr. Wells-Jensen, she has been active in the space community, promoting STEM inclusion, adaptive research, diversity, and equity.