Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy/Gallaudet University Collection

Who Were the Gallaudet Eleven—and Why Did NASA Study Them?

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, during the early days of the U.S. space program, eleven Deaf men were recruited to help scientists answer a critical question:

Could the human body withstand spaceflight?

At the time, very little was known about how humans would react to:

•   weightlessness
•   disorientation
•   motion sickness
•   extreme physical stress

Researchers from NASA and the U.S. Naval School of Aviation Medicine (now NAMI) conducted a series of experiments connected to Project Mercury. They began studying a group of deaf men—carefully chosen from a pool of students, staff and faculty from Gallaudet College (now Gallaudet University).

Harold Domich, Robert Greenmun, Barron Gulak, Raymond Harper, Jerald Jordan, Harry Larson, David Myers,  Donald Peterson, Raymond Piper, Alvin Steele, and John Zakutney — the Gallaudet Eleven.

They were not passive subjects. These men volunteered knowing their participation could help advance human spaceflight.

What made them valuable in this mission wasn’t just their deafness, but a specific aspect of their physiology connected to it.

Why Deaf Individuals Were Ideal for Space Research

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Many of the challenges astronauts face in space are related to the vestibular system—the part of the inner ear responsible for balance and spatial orientation.

In hearing individuals, this system can become overwhelmed in unfamiliar environments like zero gravity, leading to:

•   nausea
•   dizziness
•   motion sickness

However, the Gallaudet Eleven were not just deaf–they were specifically chosen because of their altered vestibular systems. 

The researchers recruited from Gallaudet because it was a large educated Deaf community where individuals with inner ear differences, often caused by meningitis, were more likely to be concentrated. They then tested participants to identify ideal candidates: those with reduced vestibular function.

This meant:

•   They were far less sensitive to motion sickness
•   They could tolerate disorientation better
•   They remained physically stable under extreme conditions

Instead of a limitation, this difference was a scientific advantage.

Participants later noted they were “different in a way scientists needed.”

Important Note: Not All Deaf Individuals Share This Trait

It’s important to understand that the Gallaudet Eleven were not representative of all deaf people.

Most of the men in the study became deaf due to spinal meningitis, which can damage or change the vestibular system.  

Their reduced sensitivity to motion was not because they were deaf, but because of this specific combination of deafness and vestibular differences.

Like all populations, Deaf individuals have a wide range of abilities and sensitivities. So, not all deaf people have the same physical responses to stimuli.

Was It Deafness or the Vestibular System?

While the Gallaudet Eleven were all deaf, they were selected primarily because of their reduced vestibular function—not deafness alone.

However, their deafness played an important role. Researchers were able to identify and recruit this group through Gallaudet, where many individuals shared similar medical histories that affected both hearing and balance.

This distinction is important. Not all deaf individuals have altered vestibular systems. But in this case, a group within the Deaf community possessed a unique combination of traits that provided valuable insight into human spaceflight.

Inside the Experiments: What the Gallaudet Eleven Endured

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The men participated in a series of intense and sometimes uncomfortable experiments designed to simulate the physical stress of spaceflight.

Centrifuge

Participants were spun at high speeds to simulate the intense gravitational forces astronauts experience during launch.

While hearing participants often became sick, the Gallaudet Eleven showed remarkable resistance to motion sickness.

Cold Water Endurance

They were submerged in freezing water for extended periods to test survival in extreme environments.

Motion and Disorientation Studies

Researchers tracked how well they could maintain orientation when visual and physical cues were disrupted.

Across these experiments, the findings showed that individuals with reduced vestibular function could remain stable and functional even under extreme motion and disorientation.

No small feat.

How Did This Research Help Space Exploration?

While the Gallaudet Eleven were not selected as astronauts, their participation helped scientists understand one of the biggest challenges of spaceflight: motion sickness and disorientation.

By studying individuals with reduced vestibular function, researchers were able to identify the inner ear as a primary cause of motion sickness. This insight helped NASA prepare astronauts for what they would experience in space, develop training protocols, and design missions that accounted for the body’s need to adapt.

Rather than replicating these traits, scientists used what they learned to better support astronauts with typical vestibular systems.

A Powerful Example of ‘Deaf Gain’

The story of the Gallaudet Eleven challenges a common narrative—that deafness is something to overcome or fix.

Instead, it highlights what many in the Deaf community already know:

Deafness can offer unique strengths that benefit society as a whole.

This concept is often referred to as Deaf Gain: the idea that differences associated with deafness can contribute valuable insights, abilities, and innovations.

In this case, the men’s reduced sensitivity to motion created scientific breakthroughs.  Their perceived “limitation” became a critical asset. 

We Celebrate the Deaf Eleven, Especially During Deaf History Month

During Deaf History Month, stories like this serve as an important reminder:

Deaf people have always contributed to major advancements. Not in spite of deafness, but truly because of it.

But, as with many from marginalized groups, these types of stories are often overlooked.

The Gallaudet Eleven were never widely recognized. But they played a meaningful role in shaping human space exploration.

Their story invites us to not only rethink how we define ability, but to also lift up lesser-known contributions to history. This type of recognition is richly deserved and past due.

The story of the Gallaudet Eleven now serves to inspire younger audiences in the new book The Gallaudet Eleven: The Story of NASA’s Deaf Bioastronauts, written and illustrated by Deaf creators.

The legacy of Deaf history continues.

Final Thoughts

The Gallaudet Eleven remind us that innovation often comes from places we don’t expect.

It wasn’t because of a limitation that they accidentally contributed to science. 

It was because of a unique physical makeup that offered something others could not. 

And because they were willing to use it to contribute to something bigger than themselves.

Let’s change the narrative so future Deaf and hearing generations will know these stories of Deaf Gain. Let deafness not be perceived as a deficit but as something to learn from and value. 

Let this be their legacy. 

Common Questions

Were the Gallaudet Eleven chosen because they were deaf?

Not exactly. They were selected primarily because many of them had reduced vestibular function, often due to illnesses like meningitis. Their deafness helped researchers identify and recruit this group, but the key factor studied was their inner ear function.

Do all deaf people have reduced motion sickness?

No. Deaf individuals have a wide range of physical experiences. Not all deaf people have differences in their vestibular system, and many experience motion sickness just like hearing individuals.

Did any of the Gallaudet Eleven become astronauts?

No. While their research contributed to NASA’s understanding of spaceflight, none of the Gallaudet Eleven were selected to go to space.

How did this research help NASA if astronauts don’t have the same vestibular traits?

The research helped scientists understand that motion sickness is largely caused by the vestibular system, not the motion itself. This allowed NASA to better prepare astronauts, develop training methods, and design missions that account for disorientation and adaptation in space.