Former Paralympic athletes and surgeon John McFall became the first disabled astronaut to be licensed to participate in 6 -month tasks on the International Space Station (ISS).
Astronaut John McFall is participating in training at ESA’s facility. Image: ESA
In 2000, at the age of 19, McFall lost his right leg when he had a serious motorbike accident. After installing a prosthetic leg, he started jogging and became a Paralympic athlete with a series of medals. Not only that, McFall also won many medical awards as an orthopedic surgeon, according to IFL Science.
In 2022, McFall participated in the program “Fly!” of the European Space Agency (ESA), aiming to help fly into space to become feasible to everyone. “The first time ESA discovered whether a disabled astronaut could perform a long -term mission on the ISS station. The universe as adapted to micro -gravity environment, exercise and technology combination, “ESA said.
In a series of feasibility studies, ESA checks whether people with disabilities can coordinate with the astronaut on the ISS station as a complete team. This process includes flying aircraft called “vomit comet” as well as testing on an inclined table to simulate the effect of micro -gravity. According to NASA, in the micro -gravity environment, body fluid towards the head, causing the astronauts to be reduced by 5-10% of the volume of the legs in the first few hours in the space and this change lasts throughout the mission. Research and research changes the same volume in the dead limb and the hidden impact on fake pins and comfort during the flight into the space.
After finishing the research process, McFall was licensed to participate in a 6 -month task on the ISS station. Determining such a feasible task, ESA is approaching the next stage called “Fly! Mission Ready”. “Mission Ready is an important step towards realizing flight opportunities. We will consider potential scientific activities that can be conducted on the ISS station if I have the opportunity to fly,” McFall said.
The second phase of the program will include a license for McFall to use a prosthetic leg in a micro -gravity environment. Currently, McFall is participating in ESA’s Astronaut Reserve training program at the European Astronaut Center in Germany. Currently, ESA has not revealed the specific time for McFall’s first mission.