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triffid_hunter t1_j9vo3b9 wrote

If you can't reach controls while you're strapped into a seat, you could only ever be a passenger - and that industry is still nascent

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Jonesdeclectice t1_j9vp4fr wrote

For all you ‘Muricans, 157cm = 61.8” = 5’-1 13/16”.

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Optimized_Orangutan t1_j9vq7zt wrote

They can't put phone books on your chair so you can see over the dash.

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DNathanHilliard t1_j9vqgbl wrote

*trying to think of a good short joke that would apply here*

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Skot_Hicpud t1_j9vs2w9 wrote

You know, if they just designed spacecraft for shorter people they could save millions in fuel costs.

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harpejjist t1_j9vsw32 wrote

seat belts, the launch chairs, the sleeping pods, etc.

The whole place is designed for people within a height range and if you fall out of tha range you won't fit.

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EmptyKnowledge9314 t1_j9vtsc7 wrote

They are creating vehicles that take tiny numbers of people into space at mind boggling expense (it was $10,000/lb but I don’t know now). The engineering of such things requires parameters; it’s not optional. And it makes no sense to build for the extremes; the vast majority of humans are in a small size range. The cost to build for the people at the ends of the Bell curve would be exorbitant. So they engineer for the 90%.

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ObligatoryOption t1_j9vtwzy wrote

I'm sure there is also a maximum height so you can fit in. The workable range may have to do with the layout of the instrumentation, but I suspect it's more about the space suits. Those need a large number of life support systems that would each only come in one size, and all of them have to be part of the suit in some workable configuration. Then these suits with a person in them must fit the seats, which must fit the capsule.

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Medium-Veterinarian3 t1_j9vubbx wrote

no, for nasa to be accepted into the program u have to be at least 147. shuttle pilots have to be at least 162 however.

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LibraS442 t1_j9vwde8 wrote

Think of it as the rollercoasters in a theme park you need to have the minimum height to go inside.

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AbsentThatDay2 t1_j9vxpe0 wrote

You'd think they'd want short people like submariners.

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theronimous t1_j9vy3rg wrote

That’s interesting because you would think that little people astronauts would be ideal for space travel since the reduced weight and limited interior space would be optimal for designing efficient space craft.

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TravelerMSY t1_j9vz1jx wrote

Just like their equipment has specifications, so do the people.

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kenpocory t1_j9vzekb wrote

Because you have to be this tall to ride this ride?

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ri-mackin t1_j9w0ezx wrote

Short people are famously more affected by gravity, hence why they're shorter. The more gravity you put in a space ship, the more gas it takes to get to space. And since everybody's worried about climate change, they can't use more gas and diesel is too heavy for a space ship.

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SnakesInYerPants t1_j9w0qd7 wrote

Replying to gumol (#1,977,860)

You know how you still need a licence and to be physically capable of driving when in a self driving vehicle because they can still fail and need you to step in? Same thing here. Except on earth if your self driving car loses control and needs you to step in but you’re unresponsive, most are designed to start slowing down and pulling to the side/parking and if they don’t pull over successfully you’ll still most likely live any accident you get into while it’s slowing down. In space, even a minute of you being unresponsive can result in you getting pulled too far into an orbit where you’ll then either crash into the celestial body or get sling-shot off into deep space. The fuel margins are also so tight that you really don’t have any extra to burn correcting coarse even if you’re not pulled into an orbit.

Astronauts have strict requirements for very good reasons. It’s one of the most dangerous jobs you could get into, right next to being in the emergency response crew for nuclear reactors.

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Ok-Medium-1853 OP t1_j9w22r3 wrote

Replying to theronimous (#1,978,895)

Yes you are right to some extent I am 153cm and always dreamed of being an astronaut. This year I want to choose engineering science but I don't know if I should follow my interests or not🥴🤦🏻‍♀️

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gumol t1_j9w3xnz wrote

Replying to SnakesInYerPants (#1,979,375)

> You know how you still need a licence and to be physically capable of driving when in a self driving vehicle because they can still fail and need you to step in?

every single person onboard of a self driving car has to have a driving license? That's not even true for regular, non self driving cars.

Space Shuttle only had 2 seats for pilots. Rest of the crew were passengers.

Dragon will be able to carry up to 7 people to orbit. They can't all be flying the spacecraft.

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SnakesInYerPants t1_j9w4lxi wrote

Replying to gumol (#1,979,998)

On earth, if the driver of your self driving bus gets too sick to operate the vehicle or gets hurt in an accident or dies, there are 100s if not 1000s of people who can readily replace them.

On Dragon, if something happens to 1 or both of the designated pilots, there are only 5 people who could replace them.

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ZincNut t1_j9w5ahz wrote

It doesn’t make sense to you that space flight may have at least the same prerequisites as most fun-fair rides?

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DeadFyre t1_j9w6eui wrote

Because you have to fit inside the Space Suit and safety harnesses. Nasa isn't going to install a child seat into the Space-X Dragon.

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space-ModTeam t1_j9xy5ho wrote

Hello u/Ok-Medium-1853, your submission "why should the heigh of astronaut matter 🤔" has been removed from r/space because:

  • Such questions should be asked in the "All space questions" thread stickied at the top of the sub.

Please read the rules in the sidebar and check r/space for duplicate submissions before posting. If you have any questions about this removal please message the r/space moderators. Thank you.

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