Introduction

Black and white photo of six white men sitting on the floor inside an aircraft, and one sitting on a bench. The men on the floor are wearing safety harnesses and two are signing to each other.

From left to right: Navy Lt. Commander Robert Kennedy and deaf test subjects Barron Gulak, Alvin Steele, Bob Greenmun, John Zakutney, Raymond Piper, and David Myers prepare for a zero-g flight.

Researchers planning human’s first explorations into space had a problem. During space travel, motion and extreme gravitational forces act on organs of the inner ear, often making even the most experienced aviators sick. To minimize failed space missions and maximize the ability of astronauts to function, the United States Navy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) turned to Gallaudet College, where they found eleven deaf men immune to motion sickness.

Introduction