New frontiers: Glyn Hayes’ parastronaut initiative

Our very own Glyn Hayes, parliamentary and public affairs coordinator, is taking part in a groundbreaking parastronaut feasibility project later this month.

The project called The Fly! Campaign was launched in 2021 by the European Space Agency and leading researchers, to explore parastronauts’ – astronauts with physical disabilities – potential in space.

Glyn said: “Traditionally, parastronauts wouldn’t be considered for astronaut programmes. However, fitness isn’t just about conventional physical and mental prowess. It’s about how well-suited a person is to a specific task in a particular context.

“The Fly! Campaign aims to challenge preconceptions and boost inclusivity. It’s not just about reaching the stars; it’s about redefining fitness, breaking barriers, and showing that space exploration truly belongs to everyone.”

The campaign is led by a pan-European team, collaborating with researchers from the Centre for human and applied physiological sciences at Kings College London, the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and international partners like the German Aerospace Centre and the University of Padova.

“While this is very much forward thinking, my hope is that councils also apply the same processes, and design accessibility into our local infrastructure, so the towns of the future allow people with disabilities to navigate them as independently as possible. Our current towns and cities require solutions to address their access issues, along with the necessary investment and determination to rectify them.” said Glyn.

Glyn will be taking part in basic experiments and workshops on 23/07/24 so watch out for his post day blog.