The “Right Stuff?” Europe to Recruit Disabled Astronaut for Space Travel

The European Space Agency is accepting applications to fill up to 6 spots in its astronaut program, and it is seeking to promote diversity in its selection process. The agency will at the same time pursue a separate goal of recruiting a disabled person to join its astronaut corps, and has asked the International Paralympic Committee for assistance in finding the right person.

Dr. David Parker, director of the European Space Agency’s robotics and human spaceflight program, has said the recruitment of a disabled person “is not about tokenism.” He told BBC News that the agency is “not looking to hire a space tourist that happens also to have a disability,” but is looking for a person “to do the science; they would need to participate in all the normal operations of the International Space Station (ISS).”

To qualify, candidates are expected to have a master’s degree in a relevant field. Conditions which would have previously disqualified a candidate, such as lower limb deficiency or restricted growth, will be considered in pursuit of a disabled astronaut. Applications will be accepted beginning March 31^st.

OUR TAKE: Diversity and inclusion initiatives often overlook disabled people, but the European Space Agency is taking a bold step in welcoming disabled people into its astronaut program. For many disabled people, the thought of a zero-gravity world is a dream – space is a place where every person has equal freedom to float. Could space be the great equalizer?

To read more about the space agency’s search for a disabled astronaut, click here.

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