John McFall..the first astronaut of people of determination
The European Space Agency on Wednesday selected its first-ever astronaut with a disability, in a huge step towards allowing people with physical disabilities to work and live in space.
The agency, which includes 22 countries, said it had selected British Paralympic runner John McFall as part of a new group selected for training to become astronauts.
McFall will participate in a feasibility study designed in a way that allows the agency to assess the conditions necessary for persons with disabilities to participate in future missions in space.
McFall will join five new astronauts early in their careers and 11 reservists in training after the European Space Agency replenished its astronaut ranks for the first time since 2009.
And the European Space Agency published vacancies last year for those who are fully able to pass its usual rigorous psychological and cognitive tests and other checks, and who are only prevented from becoming astronauts because of the limitations of the devices used in light of their disabilities, and it received 257 applications to fill the position of an astronaut of people of determination or something. It's called Parastronout.
The agency said McFall will work with its engineers to understand the hardware changes needed to open up professional spaceflight to a broader group of qualified candidates.
McFall was involved in a motorcycle accident that led to the amputation of his right leg when he was 19 years old.
He won the bronze medal in the 100-meter dash at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
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