(CLO) John McFall, a former Paralympic athlete and current surgeon, has become the first disabled astronaut approved to perform a mission on the International Space Station (ISS).
In 2000, at the age of 19, McFall had his right leg amputated following a serious motorbike accident. After being fitted with a prosthetic leg, he began training to run and later represented Great Britain in the Paralympic athletics competitions, winning numerous prestigious medals. He also had a distinguished career in medicine as a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon.
In 2022, McFall joined the European Space Agency's (ESA) "Fly!" program, which aims to expand space travel opportunities for everyone, including people with disabilities.
ESA reserve astronaut John McFall has been medically certified for long-duration missions on the space station. (Photo: ESA/Novespace)
“For the first time, we are investigating the possibility of a disabled astronaut taking part in a long-duration mission on the ISS,” ESA said. McFall brings significant expertise in developing innovative solutions to the unique challenges that disabled astronauts may face, such as adapting to microgravity, maintaining fitness and using assistive technology.
During the research phase, ESA tested the possibility of integrating people with disabilities into the ISS crew through real-world tests, including microgravity simulation flights and tilt-table tests to assess the impact of the space environment.
One of the most important studies is analyzing how body fluids move in microgravity conditions, especially for amputees, as well as how this affects the comfort and suitability of prostheses in space.
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The next step of the program is the "Fly! Ready for Mission" phase, during which ESA will certify McFall's support hardware, evaluate potential scientific research he could conduct on the ISS, and complete medical certification to ensure he is fit for a long-duration mission.
In the second phase, ESA will look into certifying McFall’s prosthetic for use in microgravity, while also ensuring he is medically cleared to fly. ESA also highlights the importance of scientific research in the space environment and how it can benefit society on Earth.
After completing the testing phase, McFall was officially approved by the ESA for a six-month mission to the ISS. Currently, McFall is undergoing Pre-Astronaut Training at the European Astronaut Center in Germany, preparing for his historic mission to the ISS.
Ha Trang (according to IFL Science)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/phi-hanh-gia-khuyet-tat-dau-tien-tham-gia-su-menh-vu-tru-post335072.html
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