{"id":284206,"date":"2022-12-16T20:29:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-17T00:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-484703"},"modified":"2023-09-29T18:00:57","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T22:00:57","slug":"nasa-trio-take-flight-in-support-of-disability-inclusion-in-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people-of-nasa\/diversity-at-nasa\/missionequity\/nasa-trio-take-flight-in-support-of-disability-inclusion-in-space\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Trio Take Flight in Support of Disability Inclusion in Space"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Three NASA employees participated in a zero-gravity flight with the Zero Gravity Corporation sponsored by AstroAccess, a project dedicated to promoting disability inclusion in space exploration. As part of the project\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/astroaccess.org\/aa2-press-release\/\" rel=\"noopener\">second cohort of disabled ambassadors<\/a>, NASA employees Denna Lambert, Dr. K. Renee Horton, and Victoria Garcia took flight on an AA2 plane on Dec. 15, from Houston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the flight, the trio \u2013 along with 13 other ambassadors from a variety of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations and aerospace organizations \u2013 conducted demonstrations to test designs that seek to advance disability inclusion in space, such as tactile graphics to help both blind and sighted crew members, and a system for hearing in loud spaces that could also support hard of hearing crew members. These demonstrations build on research established with the project\u2019s inaugural flight in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/astroaccess_flight_photo.jpeg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1029\" height=\"686\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/astroaccess_flight_photo.jpeg?w=1029\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"NASA employees Denna Lambert, Victoria Garcia and Dr. K. Renee Horton\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/astroaccess_flight_photo.jpeg 1029w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/astroaccess_flight_photo.jpeg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/astroaccess_flight_photo.jpeg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/astroaccess_flight_photo.jpeg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/astroaccess_flight_photo.jpeg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/astroaccess_flight_photo.jpeg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/astroaccess_flight_photo.jpeg?resize=900,600 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1029px) 100vw, 1029px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Denna Lambert works as the Inclusive Innovation Lead for Early Stage Innovations and Partnerships in NASA\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate at the agency\u2019s Headquarters in Washington. She leads efforts to engage, develop, invest, and advance innovators from diverse communities that will ultimately support NASA\u2019s mission in aerospace technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMuch like how we at NASA mature and nurture technological advances, this AstroAccess flight has a similar goal of advancing inclusion in human spaceflight,\u201d said Lambert. \u201cAstroAccess ambassadors are taking methodical and strategic steps to answer questions, adapt to barriers, and demonstrate the strength and perseverance of disabled explorers. And along the way, we are developing solutions to improve life for individuals with disabilities here on Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. K. Renee Horton serves as the airworthiness deputy for the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstrator Project at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Dr. Horton is a hard of hearing advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI believe that if you aren\u2019t invited to the table, you build your own,\u201d said Horton. \u201cAstroAccess is showing that everyone is welcome to space, and this is our way of prepping future generations to head to space with others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Victoria Garcia currently works as a launch vehicle systems engineer at the agency\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. She is a team lead for Systems Integration in the Engineering Directorate, where her team does integration work for various NASA projects including the Space Launch System and Mars Ascent Vehicle. Victoria was born Deaf and often speaks to students about her experience working in the aerospace industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWorking with the crew behind the scenes for AstroAccess has been a wonderful experience,\u201d said Garcia. Their mission reminds me so much of NASA\u2019s human factors work to remove barriers in space by making sure all individuals can work with technology seamlessly.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA is proud to extend its congratulations to Victoria, Dr. Horton and Denna for lending their talents to this important project.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Three NASA employees participated in a zero-gravity flight with the Zero Gravity Corporation sponsored by AstroAccess, a project dedicated to promoting disability inclusion in space exploration. As part of the project\u2019s second cohort of disabled ambassadors, NASA employees Denna Lambert, Dr. K. Renee Horton, and Victoria Garcia took flight on an AA2 plane on Dec. [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":497,"featured_media":286480,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[12388],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[12832],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA Trio Take Flight in Support of Disability Inclusion in Space","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people-of-nasa\/diversity-at-nasa\/missionequity\/nasa-trio-take-flight-in-support-of-disability-inclusion-in-space\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people-of-nasa\/diversity-at-nasa\/missionequity\/nasa-trio-take-flight-in-support-of-disability-inclusion-in-space\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/astroaccess_flight_photo.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/astroaccess_flight_photo.jpeg"},"articleSection":"People of NASA","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Roxana Bardan"}],"creator":["Roxana Bardan"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["People of NASA","Diversity at NASA","Mission Equity"],"dateCreated":"2022-12-17T00:29:00Z","datePublished":"2022-12-17T00:29:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-29T22:00:57Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA Trio Take Flight in Support of Disability Inclusion in Space\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people-of-nasa\/diversity-at-nasa\/missionequity\/nasa-trio-take-flight-in-support-of-disability-inclusion-in-space\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/astroaccess_flight_photo.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2022-12-17T00:29:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"People of NASA\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"People of NASA,Diversity at NASA,Mission Equity\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Roxana Bardan\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":3,"time_ago":"1 year","featured_image":{"id":286480,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/astroaccess_flight_photo.jpeg","title":"astroaccess_flight_photo","alt":"NASA employees Denna Lambert, Victoria Garcia and Dr. K. 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