John McFall is a surgeon and a world -class sprinter. Your CV could hardly be more impressive, so far. McFall, who lost one of his legs in an accident, has been authorized for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS), making it the first “parastronaut” in history.
Upon hearing the news, McFall expressed his pride and hope that this milestone challenges preconceived ideas about what people with disabilities can achieve.
A historical milestone
Both When diversity and the face of disability rights Growing challengesThe European Space Agency (ESA) is promoting efforts to determine whether people with prostheses can serve as crew members in space missions.
Medical exams for McFall’s mission took approximately one month. During the rigorous process, McFall, father of three children, had to demonstrate that he could perform all the required tasks, which he made with great success.
Daniel Neuenschwander, director of human and robotic exploration of ESA, confirmed that McFall is now suitable for flying.
“John is certified today as an astronaut who can fly in a long -term mission at the International Space Station, and I think this is an incredible step ahead in our ambition to expand access to society to space,” Daniel Neuenschwander, Director of ESA, the director of the ESE of human and robotic exploration, said in an informative session to announce the certification. “Now he is an astronaut like everyone else who wants to fly to the space station, waiting for a mission task.”
Neuenschwander added that he was surprising to see how well McFall performed and expected disability to be more a problem. Previously, McFall went through the exhausting selection process of the space agency, gradually advancing through the six stages that went from psychomotor tests of hours to interviews.
“Let’s not underestimate all the elements linked to security procedures when it operates at the International Space Station,” said Neuenschwander. “With all honesty, personally I expected some eventual showsters there, and I am very happy to see what we go through that and that is behind us.”
Open space for society
McFall selection is part of ESA Fly! projectlaunched in 2022. The project aims to make long -term space missions accessible to people with a variety of physical skills. It focuses on overcoming the challenges related to being in space and the integration of space travel technologies.
“Flying! Your goal is to make long -lasting space missions accessible to those with a variety of physical skills when addressing challenges such as the adaptation of microgravity, physical aptitude and rehabilitation and technology integration. John McFall, a former Paralympic athlete and orthopedic surgeon, provides crucial ideas as an expert in the field To advance the inclusion in space exploration overcoming the barriers and integrating different perspectives, ”wrote that describing the project.
According to that, McFall, who was bronze medalist at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games and is an orthopedic surgeon, plays an important role in the program.
“This is not about me, this is much larger than that,” McFall said, whose right leg was amputated above the knee after a motorcycle accident at the age of 19. “This is a cultural change … I am proud of me, but I am proud of the change of mentality that this has achieved.”
It is not clear when McFall will fly to the ISS. Like any other astronaut, he is now waiting for a mission assignment.
I think I should give people people that it is possible to change things and people are listening and with adequate support, and proper work, it is possible to change the mentality. And while this is simply in the space industry, it does not mean that it is not possible in many, many other sectors. “
The ESA commitment to inclusion contrasts with recent movements in the United States, where former President Donald Trump ordered an offensive against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI). NASA, for example, went to eliminate all references to DEI, including terms such as “accessibility” or any language aimed at promoting diversity. Meanwhile, that continues to emphasize inclusion, selecting two women among five career astronauts in their 2022 intake.
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