World's first astronaut with disability to begin training
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Former UK Paralympian John McFall, a surgeon for the UK's NHS public health service, was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) last year when it announced its new class of astronauts.
An update from the UK government website shows that McFall has arrived in Germany and will shortly begin training at the European Astronaut Center.
The world's first 'parastronaut'
Shortly after his selection last year, McFall stated, "The message I would give to future generations is that science is for everyone and space travel hopefully can be for everyone."
He will spend the next two years forming part of a feasibility study carried out by ESA and NASA to assess the conditions required for people with disabilities to go to space.
This entails various astronaut training activities, including sea survival and tests in low- atmospheric pressure environments.
According to a BBC report, McFall recently took part in a high-altitude plane flight to see how his prosthetic leg would behave in a zero-gravity environment.
In the UK government update, McFall said: "I'm a naturally curious person, and I'm excited about the learning ahead, the science that will come out of it, and the fact that this is the small first step of a much bigger journey."
ESA's program 'delivers a powerful message
McFall was in a motorcycle accident at 19, leading to his right leg being amputated. He later went on to win the 100-meter Bronze Medal at the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008.
"This program delivers a powerful message," McFall added, "which I hope will both broaden people’s appreciation of what people with disabilities can do, as well as inspire people with a range of disabilities about the opportunities available to them."
The feasibility study will help ESA develop hardware to allow disabled people to work in space. McFall is not guaranteed to go to play, but he is one of 17 recruits announced last year who have a strong chance of eventually making it to space.
If all goes to plan, the new feasibility study could help open access to space for many while providing an inspiring message that has arguably eluded the space tourism industry to date because its customer base is made up of only the very wealthiest people on the planet.
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