The European Space Agency (ESA) selected its first-ever trainee with a physical disability among its intake of 17 astronauts for 2022 on Wednesday. John McFall is an orthopedic surgeon and former British Paralympic sprinter with a bronze medal to his name.
“In November 2022, John was selected to take part in the Parastronaut Feasibility Project to improve our understanding of, and overcome, the barriers space flight presents for astronauts with a physical disability,” explained the ESA.
McFall lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident when he was 19. After the accident, he continued his education in sports and exercise science, and competed in the Paralympics before eventually beginning his medical training at the age of 28. In November 2021, he was chosen for ESA’s Parastronaut Feasibility Study.
He joins a team of five career astronauts and 11 astronaut reserves, of which 8 of 17 are female. The agency’s member states Germany, France, Italy, and Spain have two citizens each on the roster, while Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Sweden all have one. The UK has three.
“Today we welcome the 17 members of the new ESA astronaut class 2022. This ESA astronaut class is bringing ambition, talent, and diversity in many different forms – to drive our endeavors and future,” declared ESA director Josef Aschbacher.
