Meet Adam King: The 6-Year-Old Boy From Ireland With Brittle-Bone Disease Whose Space Ambition 'Inspires' NASA

NASA has encouraged a young boy who appeared on Irish television to keep pursuing his dream of joining NASA. Adam King, who is 6, and from Ireland, appeared on the nation's longest-running TV show, 'The Late, Late Toy Show', where he was asked what he wants to do when he grows up. He replied:

"Capcom in Nasa."

NASA, after being informed of the show, soon tweeted out:

"We can't wait for him to one day join our team of dreamers."

🌟 Adam’s kind heart and adventurous spirit inspires us.

There’s space for everybody at NASA, and we can’t wait for him to one day join our team of dreamers. We’ll be here when he’s ready. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/WJCzue9O13

— NASA (@NASA) November 28, 2020

Adam suffers from brittle-bone disease, an extremely rare genetic condition that has left him in a wheelchair and can cause bones to break very easily.

When the show's host, Ryan Tubridy, asked him:

"Would you have liked to have been an astronaut at some stage?"

Adam said:

"Well, I can't be an astronaut because I have brittle bones."

But that doesn't mean he can't work for NASA at the ground level, where tens-of-thousands of some of the world's best scientists and engineers already work. NASA made sure to tell Adam:

"There's space for everybody at NASA, and we can't wait for him to one day join our team of dreamers. We'll be here when he's ready."

NASA was joined by famed Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who also made sure to tweet out his support for Adam. He tweeted:

"Adam - I've been lucky enough to CAPCOM many spaceflights. We should talk space together."

Adam - I’ve been lucky enough to CAPCOM many spaceflights. We should talk space together. Take care, be good - Chris@RTELateLateShow https://t.co/XacYA9ncKT

— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) November 28, 2020

While brittle-bone disease in severe cases can cause a low-life expectancy, many people can go on to live full lives and gain employment in very senior roles. Therefore, it is entirely possible that if Adam keeps his passion for space and studies hard as he progresses through school, then he has every chance of joining NASA's ranks.

'The Late, Late Toy Show' is a huge, highly loved annual program in Ireland in which children, and the hosts, test out all the new toys coming out for Christmas. During the show, Adam even got to guide the hosts through a simulated rocket launch, making sure that his countdown started at 12 and not 10, the real number NASA countdowns begin at.