ESA welcomes parastronauts

[Δημοκρατικός]

The European Space Agency (ESA) announced this week that it will be looking for a physically disabled candidate as one of its new astronauts selected during the 2021-2022 recruitment cycle.

"We all witness people with various disabilities or let's say differently-abled people taking their place in society: in politics, on our TV screens. We've all marveled at the Paralympians," said David Parker, Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA. "We already have people working at ESA who have disabilities, and we need more of them to join us."
Who should apply?

In addition to the other requirements for astronaut candidates, Parker further specified what ESA is seeking in parastronaut candidates: "We are looking for an individual who is psychologically, cognitively, technically and professionally qualified to be an astronaut, but has certain classes of physical limitation that would normally prevent them from being selected through the requirements we normally have."

According to ESA's website, those classes of physical limitation include physical disabilities affecting a person's legs or feet or individuals affected by dwarfism.
Ability is relative

British astronaut Timothy Peake pointed out that when dealing with weightlessness, there are many things a person can do without the use of their lower limbs.

"Actually, it's about ability. It's not about disability," said Peake.


https://www.dw.com/en/esa-welcomes-para ... a-56617337