The British will become the first astronaut with disabilities participating in the space mission

John McFoll, a former Paralympic Sprinter from Cardiff, underwent a medical examination and received permission to participate in a long space mission. Having lost his leg in a motorcycle accident at the age of 19, the man was chosen as a participant in the research project of ECA “Letty!” In 2022, in order to study the difficulties of sending an astronaut with disabilities for the ISS.

The study ended at the end of 2024, confirming that it is technically possible to send a person with physical restrictions, like John, to a six -month mission to the ISS as a full -fledged crew member.

Daniel Neuenshwonder, the director of the man-robotics, explained that the preparation for the mission includes three key aspects: the type of research that will be carried out, the requirements for the qualifications of the prosthesis and medical certification. At the moment, John is undergoing preparations in the reserve of astronauts ECA in the European Center for astronauts in Germany.