Inclusive Innovation & Adaptive Sciences for Safety Enhancement and Risk Reduction for Critical Space Exploration - Towards a more Inclusive Space Future Through the Parastronaut Programme
- Paper ID
102551
- DOI
- author
- company
Viterbi School of Engineering, USC; ; Japanese Rocket Society; International University of Health and Welfare/SpaceData Inc.
- country
United Kingdom
- year
2025
- abstract
This paper contends that the integration of additional sensorial input (e.g.tactile and sonic alarm)could help enhance safety and mitigate risks for astronauts in extreme environments in orbit. Currently, instead of utilising all available human senses, path-dependent technological developments in technology- heavy sectors risk over-relying on visual cues in its innovative process. Designed to support ESA parastronatu programme, ENDEAVOUR II brings together a diverse team consisting of professionals and entrepreneur with diverse abilities to develop simultaneous experiments with on-orbit and simulated segments to examine how high-fidelity mulisensorial simulations could help advance more inclusive developments in critical operations. Human space exploration continues to constitute one of the most inspirational, yet expensive segments of the space sector. The hostile environment of Outer Space, coupled with considerations for cost and crew safety, had in the past posed challenges to creating inclusive opportunities for astronaut programmes. While spacesuits in the Apollo era were custom-made, today, limitations in sizes had led to awkward situations in which there were not sufficient spacesuits to carry out planned all-women EVA. There is the undercurrent assumption that each and every astronaut must be able to perform standard procedures and fit into equipements that are often standardized, regardless of recognzied divergence in shapes and sizes between individuals and genders. Similar path-dependent technological developments affect other critical sectors (e.g. deep sea exploraiton), in which women continue to remain under-represented, and diversity in other forms are but in nascent development. This has created a dilemma in advancing space inclusivity for human space exploration, in the sense that the integration of a diverse crew is often perceived as requiring costly adjustments and specialized accommodation unique to specific astronaut. In fact, recent advances in accessibility and adaptive technologies, and multisensorial researches have demonstrated considerable potential in STRENGTHENING safety and security in critical scenarios when there is low tolerance for errors. (e.g. space exploration). Path-dependent technological developments in critical operations (e..g. EVA) not only hinders innovation in this expensive space segment, it also points to repeated challenges in mitigating against and account for known risks. For example, both Chris Hadfield – Canadian astronaut – and Luca Parmitano – ESA astronaut – had on two separate occasions (i.e. 2001, 2013) reported to have temporarily become blind (due to water in microgravity) while conducting EVA in their spacesuits. In these critical moments, they have to turn to their other senses(e.g. tactile)to ensure the return to safety.