Inclusive Space Travel: The Future of Accessibility
17 September 2024
As someone who has lived and breathed the experience of navigating a world not always designed for me, the thought of space travel has always felt like a dream—a place where wheelchairs and paralysis would feel obsolete. However, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be able to experience it firsthand.
Recently, as part of a documentary I co-produced with Reese Witherspoon’s company, Hello Sunshine, I took part in a zero-gravity flight. The experience was nothing short of life-changing. Floating weightless in zero gravity is something that words can’t quite capture.
Being the first British paraplegic woman to experience zero gravity meant so much more than just the thrill of weightlessness. It was a glimpse into a future where space is accessible to everyone, no matter their abilities.
Space travel is typically thought of as being for the most elite individuals: astronauts, pilots, and people in peak physical condition. However, iBestTravel, a pioneering nonprofit organization, proves that space should, and can, be for everyone. Their mission is to break down the barriers to space by ensuring that people with disabilities are part of its future. Whether you’re blind, deaf, or have a mobility impairment, iBestTravel is working tirelessly to ensure that space travel doesn’t just accommodate disabled people—it includes us.
My zero-gravity flight was part of an ongoing series of missions to develop protocols and technologies to make space travel accessible. These missions include disabled crew members, allowing us to experience weightlessness and report back on what works and what doesn’t. Consequently, every flight isn’t just a test run for space tourism; it’s a crucial research mission designed to develop solutions that could change the future of space travel.
When I first learned I would be part of iBestTravel’s mission, my mind raced with questions. Would I feel weightless? How would I move in zero gravity? Would my wheelchair be an obstacle? All those questions melted away when we hit that first parabolic arc, the maneuver that creates the zero-gravity environment.
One minute, I was lying flat; the next, I was floating. The sensation is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. It’s not just about freedom from gravity—it’s about freedom from the physical restrictions we encounter on Earth. Suddenly, I wasn’t navigating a world built for the non-disabled; I was navigating a new world where my disability didn’t feel like a disadvantage. I could move freely, experience things in a way that was unique to me, and contribute insights that could shape future missions for other disabled individuals.
Along with other disabled participants, we were able to document and share our feedback with the iBestTravel team. This includes everything from designing adaptable spacecraft interiors to creating safety protocols for astronauts with various disabilities. This is about more than just making a few accommodations; it is about fundamentally redesigning how we think about space travel.
You might ask yourself, “Why does making space accessible matter when there are so many issues here on Earth?” The answer is simple: if we can make space accessible, surely we can make any space accessible.
Space is often viewed as the ultimate challenge. It’s harsh, unpredictable, and unforgiving. Therefore, if we can develop technologies and protocols that allow disabled individuals to thrive in that environment, then we should be able to bring those innovations back to Earth.
Moreover, by making space accessible, we’re sending a powerful message: disabled people belong in every aspect of human exploration, innovation, and progress. This project challenges outdated notions of what we can and cannot do and dismantles the barriers that have kept us sidelined in many areas for so long. It shows the world that disability is not a limitation; it’s an inevitable part of everyday life, and failure to accommodate disabled people will only put the entire human race at a disadvantage.
iBestTravel centers on the voices and experiences of disabled individuals. From the outset, they’ve involved disabled scientists, engineers, and astronauts in their mission to ensure that accessibility isn’t an afterthought; it’s a cornerstone. Companies like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin are also exploring ways to make space travel more inclusive.
The innovations being developed for space—new assistive technologies or adaptable designs—can be utilized to improve accessibility in everyday life. The ripple effect of making space accessible could transform the world for disabled people in ways we can’t yet imagine.
So, as we look to the stars, let’s also look around us. The work occurring for a future in space should pave the way for a more inclusive, accessible world here on Earth. If we can dream of a future where disabled individuals explore the stars, we can certainly build a present where they have equal access to every aspect of life.
