A British astronaut has been cleared to grow to be the primary particular person with a bodily incapacity to participate in a mission on the Worldwide House Station, the European House Company (ESA) has mentioned.
John McFall, a former paralympian sprinter from Cardiff, has been medically licensed to undertake a long-duration space mission, the company mentioned at a information convention on Friday.
Mr McFall told Sky News’ science and medical correspondent Thomas Moore: “It is nice to have accomplished the feasibility examine and demonstrated there isn’t any technical showstopper for me flying to the Worldwide House Station.”
He went on to say “in the present day’s announcement is not only about me personally getting medically licensed to to fly long-duration missions”.
“It is way more than that,” he mentioned whereas pointing to what he described as a tradition shift in how folks with disabilities are handled.
“I believe it ought to give folks religion that is it’s doable to vary issues and individuals are listening and with the appropriate help, and the appropriate work, it’s doable to vary mindsets.
“And while this simply occurs to be within the house business, it doesn’t suggest that it isn’t doable in lots of, many different sectors.”
John McFall in 2023. File pic: ESA
He was additionally reported saying he was principally “passive” through the testing course of, which lasted round a month and concerned medical exams. He mentioned he “simply needed to display I might do the required duties”.
In 2022, the ESA launched the Fly! feasibility examine to take a look at the challenges of getting a disabled astronaut to the ISS and Mr McFall, a father of three, was chosen for the programme as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve.
Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s director of human and robotic exploration, instructed Sky Information: “John is a part of the pool of astronauts who’re eligible to fly to the Worldwide House Station regardless of political concerns from any of our worldwide companions.
“So this field is ticked. And I am very proud as a result of Europe stands for its values inclusiveness is the worth of Europe.
“It is also a powerful worth on the European House Company. We stand for accountable, sustainable and sustained exploration.
“And John is only a marvellous instance.”
He didn’t say when Mr McFall may be part of a mission however mentioned: “That is solely the start.”
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Consultants from ESA, NASA & SpaceX helped with the feasibility examine, which checked out greater than 80 totally different areas, together with medical elements, the ESA mentioned.
Requested about the potential of participating in a British mission sooner or later, Mr McFall reportedly mentioned that was a “very attention-grabbing prospect”, however mentioned there was “nothing proposed in the intervening time”.
The surgeon, who misplaced his proper leg in a motorbike accident on the age of 19, realized to run once more and have become an expert monitor and subject athlete in 2005.
John McFall (L) carrying the Paralympic flag on the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. File pic: Reuters
He represented Nice Britain and Northern Eire as a Paralympic 100m sprinter and gained greater than a dozen medals, together with bronze on the 2008 Paralympics, earlier than leaving the game to grow to be an orthopaedic surgeon.
Liz Johns, interim head of house exploration on the UK House Company, mentioned: “It’s incredible to see that John and the group at ESA have proved it’s technically doable for somebody with a bodily incapacity like his to stay and work on the Worldwide House Station.
“That is ground-breaking work that no different house company has executed earlier than.
“Now we’re wanting ahead to supporting John through the subsequent section: Fly! Mission Prepared.
“That is an important step in the direction of the primary long-term mission for an astronaut with a bodily incapacity.”
