In what the agency described as a major step towards letting people with physical disabilities work and live in space, the European Space Agency (ESA) on Wednesday selected the world's first "parastronaut."
British Paralympic sprinter John McFall was selected as the first astronaut with a disability. The 41-year-old McFall had his right leg amputated at age 19 because of a motorcycle accident.
McFall is the first recruit for a new program of the agency investigating accommodations for astronauts with disabilities. He is part of the 17 recruits selected for astronaut training, according to Reuters.
John McFall Will Soon Start ESA's Training Program
Starting next spring, McFall will start the 12-month training program at the European Astronaut Center in Cologne, Germany, according to Engadget.
He will be a part of a feasibility study designed to let ESA determine the conditions needed for people with disabilities to take part in future missions in space.
In March 2021, the agency called for applications to seek people with disabilities who could pass stringent physical and psychological testing.
The program is designed to investigate the changes and costs needed to send astronauts with disabilities into space.
Out of 257 applicants, ESA chose McFall. The agency described him as the world's first "parastronaut."
In an interview posted on ESA's website, McFall said that the experience is like a whirlwind one. Being an amputee, he said that he never expects that it was possible for him to become an astronaut. He said he is very excited at the possibility.
According to him, he has always been hugely interested in science, including space exploration. But after having a motorcycle accident, he thought it was a contraindication to doing something like joining a space exploration.
McFall will join five new career astronauts and 11 reserve astronauts in training. Since 2009, this is the first time ESA replenished its astronaut ranks.
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Who is John McFall, the World's First Parastronaut?
Aside from being a Paralympic sprinter, McFall is also a trauma and orthopedic surgical trainee in England.
He graduated with a bachelor of medicine and surgery degree from the Cardiff University School of Medicine in 2014. He was a doctor with the British National Health Service until 2016.
McFall is married with three children. During his free time, he engages himself in running and mountain biking.
When he was 19, he was involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in the amputation of his right leg. But his amputation didn't stop him from learning to walk and even run, again, according to CNET.
In 2005, he became a track and field athlete. He eventually represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a Paralympic sprinter.
Among the titles that he earned are Paralympic World Cup Champion, 200 meters, in 2007 and World Silver Medalist, 100 meters, in 2006.
During his years in medical school, he also took prizes in anatomy and dissection. He was a runner-up in 2018 for the Queen Alexandra Hospital Junior Doctor Awards.
When ESA announced last year that the agency was looking for astronaut applicants who have a disability, McFall readily jumped at the opportunity.
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