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Author Background

Dr. Cory Trunkhill is a recent PhD in Aviation graduate from the School of Graduate Studies in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He holds a B.S. in Professional Aeronautics and an M.S. in Aeronautical Science. His primary areas of research interest are Aviation and Aerospace History, Public Commercial Space Applications, and Space Tourism.

Dr. Robert Joslin is an Associate Professor with the Department of Graduate Studies in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He holds a B.S. Mechanical Engineering, M.S. Aeronautical Engineering, Ph.D. in Aviation, and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. His primary areas of research interest are Human Factors in Design Airworthiness Certification of Flightdeck Technology, Flight Test Risk Management, and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems.

Dr. Keebler is an Associate Professor of Human Factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with over 15 years of experience conducting experimental and applied research in human factors, specifically focused on training and teamwork in medical, military, and consumer domains. He is currently co-director of the Research Engineering and Applied Collaborations in Healthcare (REACH) Laboratory and the Small Teams Analog Research (STAR) Laboratory where he works with a team of faculty and students to solve real world issues at the intersection of teamwork and technology.

Abstract

Space flight participants are not professional astronauts and not subject to the rules and guidance covering space flight crewmembers. Ordinal logistic regression of survey data was utilized to explore public acceptance of current medical screening recommendations and regulations for safety risk and implied liability for civil space flight participation. Independent variables constituted participant demographic representations while dependent variables represented current Federal Aviation Administration guidance and regulations. Odds ratios were derived based on the demographic categories to interpret likelihood of acceptance for the criteria. Significant likely acceptance of guidance and regulations was found for five of twelve demographic variables influencing public acceptance of one or more areas of guidance and regulations: age, household size, marital status, employment status, and employment class. Increases in age and household size, never married, employed full-time, and self-employed exhibited significance in increased likelihood of acceptance of one or more areas of the guidance and regulations for space flight participation. Findings are intended to inform government regulators and commercial space industries on what guidance and regulations the different demographics of the public are willing to accept.

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