The Wrong Stuff - The Spectrum in Space ?

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I was wondering recently about the feasibility of people on the Spectrum being part of space exploration (If space exploration - by people, not machines - ever does occur).

It is still mostly in the realm of Sci-fi, but scientific studies are conducted on things like long range voyages, outposts, colonies, etc.

On the surface it seems certain autistic traits actually might be a benefit/advantage over NT ones in such things as better enduring long term isolation and performing repetitive tasks. Imagine 10 year round trips, or 4 years in capsules and then some small station on a moon or planet. Since we frequently prefer isolation/quiet time would we be much better at weathering such long hauls and possibly with less mental problems developing as a result of isolation then NTs. (Chuckles) That would be a switch... (Shakes NT lightly) "You got to pull yourself together!"

They would otherwise have to be in good shape and stable mentally. Being on medications, even for mental conditions might not be a disqualifier, if it controls whatever problems there are. Something I noticed in the flying world is that pilots, especially fighter and test pilots/astronauts are to supposed to be in perfect condition, and screened heavily prior to acceptance, but if something develops after becoming pilots they don't get removed if it is controllable with medication. They just treat the problem. They are too valuable to just dump. So some just hide problems until they are well experienced and too valuable to get booted.

Am I dreaming or might it actually be feasible?

The intense and dangerous test program wanted the 'Right Stuff' but would long distance and duration routine work actually be suited better to those with the 'Wrong Stuff'.

Any form of travel sickness would rule out a lot of people on the autism spectrum.

I don't mean to crush your dream, but what about meltdowns? I'm not saying that aspies can't go into space necessarily, just that maybe some of us aren't suited for it.

it would be the highest of the high-functioning, just as it would be with NTs.

That is true that it would be just as selective as for NT astronauts. Though I think as time goes by the bar is lowered. That Billionaire guy (Virgin Aerospace) was going to take his family and Justin Bieber on his companies first flight.

Certain things would rule one out I guess. It is the same in things like Submarines. But not all on the Spectrum have melt-downs or are claustrophobic. Also, it might be only certain positions. Like pilots would still be NT.

But I think we would do ok as ship or station technicians. We might also be useful if and when we contact alien life forms. Our different mindset might come in handy in establishing communication. "Greetings Aliens. The Neurotypicals taste much better. Just saying."


Funny how in the future they go back to rotary phones for some reason.


Also, apparently men become a lot more wimpy in the future, and shield themselves behind the women.

well, there is no reason why people in the future wouldn't have a taste for retro things just like we do now, would there?

I would sign up for the selection process. On the other hands, the way the colonization plans are currently envisioned, it would be that people could pay half a million dollars to be able to go... that's project for about 30 years for now at Mars.

why isn't there more discussion of what happens if something goes horribly wrong? the catastrophic list is endless. what if a crewmember en route gets appendicitis? or severely injured in some kind of unforeseen accident?

Appendicitis requires only a simple surgery. The crew would likely have a doctor who would be trained for stuff like that.
As for the rest, yeah, it's risky. But pioneering has always been extremely dangerous. You got to deal with the cards you have once your out there.

it is a titanic task to setup a fully-functioning state on another planet. I don't have faith that it has been adequately thought through.

I don't really care for states, solid, liquid, or whatnot, they just don't agree with me. Especially when they fully follow the laws of physics...

Anyways, I mostly only know the Mars colonization plans for Reaction Engines LTD. -
Link

Essentially the first colony craft is unmanned and delivers buildings and supplies to the planet. It immediately turns back to earth. Three months later, a second ship arrives carrying a small compliment of humans, a Skylon space craft and lots of supplies.
The first ship returns with more supplies and a few more people. And so the colony is slowly expanded. The idea is also to always have a ship that can be prepped to go.

do you think we'll get to the "silver locusts" stage?

I like the idea.
Anyone prone to uncontrollable melt-downs or rage would have to be locked out from the phaser controls.

Come to think of it, Kirk had meltdowns on the last episode "Turnabout Intruder".
I thought it was his best acting.

The 6 month tours on nuclear subs is a bit of a similar situation.

I'm not entirely familiar with the reference. I don't know.

Also, we would get along well with the equipment and androids.

In ray Bradbury's "the martian chronicles" is the passage, "The rockets set the bony meadows afire, turned rock to lava, turned wood to charcoal, transmuted water to steam, made sand and silica into green glass which lay like shattered mirrors reflecting the invasion, all about. The rockets came like drums, beating in the night. The rockets came like locusts, swarming and settling in blooms of rosy smoke." IOW there came hordes of humanity fleeing a decaying earthian infrastructure and dashed earthian hopes, striving to make fresh starts in a new world.