Ce-Ce Mazyck floats upside down in zero gravity next to astronaut Cady Coleman. Credit: Steve Boxall / ZERO-G
Making Space Accessible
CE-CE MAZYCK, MISSION: ASTROACCESS
My goal for the Horizon 2022 flight was to orient myself while in Zero-G! I am an incomplete paraplegic due to a military airborne jump. I walk short distances with a cane or walker. I use my wheelchair for distance. I have minimal control of my left ankle/foot.
Orientation in zero-g is a bit difficult. One push of your pinky finger could possibly have you literally flying in space! Cady Coleman (retired NASA astronaut) taught me to orient myself first by starting low, closer to the ground by using foot straps that could connect in a box or a net-looking climbing apparatus. I held on to straps while moving in a box, as well as by moving across. The straps also gave me a little momentum to navigate up the aircraft wall. There were also two tether cords hanging from a spot high on the aircraft wall to help with orientation. I used those to help when I wanted to experience zero-g being a little bit higher up, rather than just being on the bottom of the aircraft floor. I was really trying not to flip upside down nor belly up!
I wanted to give the appearance that I could handle it and I knew what I was doing—well, it takes lots of practice! I also tried something fun, it's called a “Hamster Wheel.” That was truly fun and a bit scary at the same time. The hamster wheel is literally what it sounds like. I am the hamster and the aircraft is the wheel. I scale the aircraft walls in a circular movement. I completed two of those! If tried again, I will narrow it down to one.