The European Space Agency (ESA) announced on February 14 that for the first time in history, an astronaut with a disability has been granted permission to participate in a long-term mission on the International Space Station (ISS).
According to Sky News, this special astronaut is Mr. John McFall, a 43-year-old British surgeon and former Paralympic athlete. Mr. McFall lost a leg in a motorbike accident when he was 19, but that did not stop him from achieving his dream of flying into space.
Former Paralympian John McFall
PHOTO: European Space Agency (ESA)
"It's great to have completed the feasibility study and demonstrated that there are no technical obstacles that would prevent me from flying to the International Space Station," Mr McFall told Sky News. "Today's announcement is not just about me personally being medically cleared to fly on long-duration missions. It's about a cultural shift in how we treat people with disabilities."
After receiving notice from ESA that he would be a reserve member of the 2022 astronaut corps, Mr. McFall underwent several assessments to determine his fitness for a space mission. Finally, on February 14, ESA officially announced that Mr. McFall had received medical clearance for an extended mission on the ISS. Currently, there is no specific time for Mr. McFall's first mission.
The announcement comes as ESA’s diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) programs are facing challenges from the Trump administration. However, ESA’s director of space exploration Daniel Neuenschwander stressed that Europe will continue to uphold its values of equality, while expressing that Washington and other partners on the ISS have medically approved McFall.
The next phase of the feasibility study will focus on developing equipment, including components that will help Mr McFall overcome potential challenges in a zero-gravity environment.
Former athlete McFall believes these technologies will not only help him adapt to life in space, but will also have long-term benefits for other prosthetic users in society.
Liz Johns, director of space exploration at the UK Space Agency, said: "It's fantastic to see Mr McFall and the team at ESA demonstrate that it is technically possible for a disabled person to live and work on the ISS. This is ground-breaking work that no space agency has done before."
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tram-khong-gian-iss-se-lan-dau-don-phi-hanh-gia-la-nguoi-khuet-tat-185250215093846611.htm
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