Putting the Stars Within Reach: Improving NASA 3D Printed Data Sets by Working with Blind and Visually Impaired Audiences

Astronomy tends to be a visuals-heavy field, historically from thousands of years' worth of humans looking up to the night sky to the first generation of telescope users, as well as in modern times with the advent of high-powered multiwavelength distributed spacecraft. Such visualizations have been said to play a significant role in the popularization of astronomy - by leveraging the "visual economy" - though they can leave individuals who have no or very low vision behind. Enabling access to knowledge within the context of science, particularly government-funded science, is crucial in order to provide blind and visually impaired (BVI) participants an equitable and equal opportunity in the data sharing pipeline. Such products may take the form of tactile 3D printed models, Virtual Reality experiences with audio capabilities, and data sonifications. For the purposes of this presentation, we focus on 3D printed technology and our work with BVI audiences to improve such data-driven 3D printed science models for BVI audiences, as well as for additional expert and non-expert audiences.