🚀 Ever wondered what it feels like to be in space? 👩🏼🚀 Join us and guest reporter Jason Strother for a trip to zero-gravity with scientist Sheri Wells-Jensen, and a “dream team” of astronauts with disabilities on Astro Access! Discover the incredible feeling of weightlessness and how scientists are working to make space more accessible for everyone 🌌
Learn more about Sheri and how she would communicate with aliens in our bonus interview extra on Patreon!
MEET OUR FEATURED EXPERT:
Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen is a linguist and professor at Bowling Green State University. Sheri researches how people with disabilities can participate in space exploration, the study of life beyond Earth, and related fields like language learning and braille.
Sheri is also part of a band! She is a singer and lead ukulele player of the Grande Royale Ükulelists of the Black Swamp. Check out their cool eclipse-themed covers!
WEIGHTLESS WONDER
Are you curious about the plane Sheri and her friends boarded? Here is what it looks like inside a "vomit comet" and what kinds of science are at play:
Imagine all the fun things you would do on your zero-gravity flight! Maybe you could race your friends, dance, or shoot a music video like this band! Also, if you think this music video is cool, definitely check out the behind-the-scenes video for music+space science fun.
THE FUTURE OF SPACE TRAVEL
Sheri believes the future of space travel should take its next steps with inclusion in mind. You can hear more about this powerful idea and more about Sheri's flight in a great Radiolab episode called "The Right Stuff." Previous Tumble guest Andrew Leland is this episode's reporter!
As you heard in the episode, Astro Access is the group that helped Sheri feels the wonders of zero gravity. Click here to more about their organization or click on their logo.
Designing spaces with everyone in mind is part of "universal design." You can learn more about it in this amazing TED Talk featuring architect Chris Downey:
