World’s First Disabled Astronaut Selected

With the developing technology, our space studies have accelerated. So much so that these days, we are taking great strides to carry out manned missions to the Moon and Mars, while sending telescopes into space that will reveal the secrets of the universe. Astronauts, who undergo rigorous training to take part in these missions, are also of great importance to our research.

Now, there has been a historical development regarding astronauts. The European Space Agency (ESA), in an announcement made last week, is the world’s first paraastronaut; that is, the first disabled astronaut has been selected. This person; John McFall, 41, a UK national, a former Paralympic athlete.

McFall, who is also a doctor, won a bronze medal at the 2008 Paralympics.

McFall, who also won the bronze medal in the 100 meters at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, became the first selected member of the ESA’s Parastronaut Feasibility project, an initiative to “open the way to space for a professional astronaut with physical disabilities”. McFall lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident when he was 19 years old. Let’s not go without adding that the world’s first paraastronaut is also a doctor.

McFall, 41, achieved this feat as one of 17 astronauts selected from among 23,000 candidates. It was reported that the selected new astronauts will be sent to the European Astronaut Center in Cologne, Germany, where they will receive 12-month training. It was stated that further training would follow if they were appointed to any task.

McFall also said in his statements, “The message I will give to future generations is; “Science is for everyone and space travel can be for everyone.” Of course, one wonders how a physical disability will affect the astronaut’s performance in space, which is already a challenging environment. ESA wants to find out, too, and see what modifications to vehicles, clothing and other technology will be needed to get paraastronauts in space.

This move expands space agencies’ goals to increase astronaut diversity. Let’s add that eight of the 17 astronauts selected by ESA from different countries are women. Likewise, NASA wants to make moves on diversity. With the Artemis mission, which will take humanity back to the Moon years later, the agency aims to ensure that a woman and people of a different ethnicity set foot on the satellite for the first time.