Tactile navigation for a more accessible cabin

AstroAccess promotes disability inclusion in space exploration, flying disabled scientists, veterans, students, athletes, and artists — its "Ambassadors" — on parabolic flights to experience weightlessness and investigate how spacecraft should be modified so anyone can fly, regardless of disability.

The challenge

The navigational aids available at the time were inadequate for moving in zero gravity: handles were hard to locate, and braille is difficult to read in unknown orientations.

Our approach

We focused on tactile navigation tools for low-vision and blind flyers, exploring textiles with different tactile properties — unidirectionality, relief height, directional contrast, feature size, shape, spacing, and frequency. We built twelve prototypes: one origami tessellation, one faux viper skin, one set of artificial mohair skins, and nine embroidery samples.

Outcomes

Tested in microgravity with astronaut Cady Coleman and three blind and low-vision ambassadors — Sina Bahram, Zuby Onwuta, and Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen — the work pointed the refinements and produced clear evidence that future spacecraft should incorporate directional fabrics on cabin walls, so flyers with limited vision can determine their orientation by touch.

Partners and recognition

AstroAccess is a broad coalition. The program and its parabolic flights have been supported by organizations including Yuri's Night, the Space Frontier Foundation, AIAA, California State University Long Beach, and ThinkSpace, with flight and industry partners such as Virgin Orbit and Relativity Space. The ambassadors' flights and the accessibility research have been covered by outlets including The Verge.