The
Space Institute:
The Space Institute will assist in similar Research and Information
ways, with the major emphasis on research and program development. We offer
a Space Disabilities Research Program and a Technology Transfer Program. Details
of each are still in development and will be provided on ths website and in our newsletter, available to all Center Associates.
In terms of Space and people with disabilities, Mitchell Rappaport
possesses the copyright to Project DAISI, a program first conceived in 1968 as the Disabled Astronaut Intiative and which
officially ended the day before the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster. The
Space Institute will enable this project to be pursued as far as it can go, and at this time it rests in the hands of NASA-HQ
in Washington,
D.C. We were recently involved in the
American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronomics Annual Conference in January, 2004, where we presented a Poster (please
refer to the Abstract of our Presentation below).
The Technology Transfer Program will serve as a link between research
and development efforts in diverse areas pertaining to NASA research endeavors and people with disabilities. The program focuses on reporting on new research that has potential application to improving the
lives and/or lifestyles of people with diverse disability types.
We are also currently exploring other possible areas of collaborative
arrangements and are working closely in conjunction with NASA in terms of same.
Future information will be posted on this Institute website.
The Space Institute's first presentation was a success!
We presented a poster at The American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics 2004 Annual Conference from January 5 through
January 7, 2004 in Orlando, Florida pertaining to why people with disabilities would make excellent research and study subjects
for ground-based NASA testing. The already published Abstract follows (c. 2003):
This presentation will introduce non-traditional subjects for
evaluation and modeling of the informational aspects of habitat systems and their interfaces in all areas of interaction and
potentially affected physical characteristics of artificial habitats as they affect human performance, safety, comfort, convenience
and strength to determine and establish repetitive, cost effective, ground based research methods. The objectives addressed
in this work are:
1. To establish appropriate models of anticipated onboard conditions
and parameters for Astronauts, utilizing different disability types and degrees of limitations to enhance different subjects
and research objectives, such as: a. Neurosensory stimulation and activation b. \" enhancement possibilities c. Cortical atrophy
and regeneration during long duration space flight that should result in the development of cost and time effective methods
for dealing on the ground with anticipated and unanticipated conditions, circumstances and paradigms that might be encountered
during space missions. To further utilize Biomechanical and Mathematical modeling and projections of same to assist in the
research design.
2. To establish said models that should enable the opportunity
for real-time modeling of suggested problem \"fixes\" as they are developed and as such circumstances might warrant. 3. To
conduct short and long-term studies of people with a variety of disabling and thus delimiting conditions should lead to new
ways and approaches to perform regular and out of the ordinary tasks and/or repairs, as and when needed, by Astronauts in
a more time effective and cost effective manner and method.
4. To develop new methods and applications for addressing repairs
or situations as might be encountered in a more cost-effective method.
5. To develop same and simultaneously
new paradigms that will measure strength, performance, resistance, new methods of functioning in hazardous conditions, which
might otherwise limit mobility, motility and movement, as well as inducing high stress, Neurosensory performance, improving
functioning in and during limiting circumstances and hostile conditions, improving Neurovestibular functioning, enhancement
and response time under adverse conditions and situations, using tactile stimulation to enhance neuro-motor action and reaction
activities, and studying Cortical atrophy and regeneration to enhance same during long duration space flights utilizing people
with a variety of disability types.
As a general indication, the anticipated results of such proposed
research should meet and exceed the research needs of NASA, more cost effectively and more effectively model and assist in
resolving problems and/or onboard situations that might arise, enabling scientists and researchers on the ground to be able
to see problems and foresee potential problems that might arise and enable a method of determing the effectiveness of proposed
solutions.
