John McFall, a British athlete who has competed within the Paralympic Games, has turn into the primary disabled astronaut candidate with the European Space Agency. Photo courtesy of ESA

He was chosen to participate within the ESA’s Parastronaut Feasibility Project to enhance the scientific understanding of “the barriers space flight presents for astronauts with a physical disability.”

McFall was concerned in a motorbike accident that led to the amputation of his proper leg on the age of 19, in line with ESA.

He then turned knowledgeable observe and subject athlete and competed for Britain within the Paralympic Games, profitable the Bronze Medal within the 100m sprint in Beijing in 2008.

Before his Paralympic aspirations, McFall accomplished his bachelor’s diploma from Swansea University in 2004 and his grasp’s diploma from University of Wales Institute in Cardiff in 2005.

McFall has additionally obtained a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the Cardiff University School of Medicine in 2014 and joined the Royal College of Surgeons in 2016. He is at present a trauma and orthopedic specialist registrar working within the south of England.

“When ESA announced that they were looking for candidates with a physical disability to run this astronaut feasibility project, I looked at the person specification and it just kind of jumped out to me,” McFall told the BBC. “I felt so inspired by it. I felt compelled to apply.”

The feasibility research is being carried out by the ESA with NASA, who’re making an attempt to first decide whether or not a disabled astronaut would compromise the protection of different crew members.

The new cohort additionally contains two different members from Britain, Rosemary Coogan and Meganne Christian.

The British Space Command company congratulated its three residents on their accomplishment in being named to the ESA program.

“I would like to send the congratulations of everyone at UK Space Command to the European Space Agency’s new class of astronauts, and our very best wishes to Rosemary Coogan, John McFall and Meganne Christian,” Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey stated in a statement.

“Human spaceflight expands our knowledge and inspired people all around the world. We look forward to seeing your team at the forefront of this remarkable endeavor.”

Current and former NASA astronauts together with Scott Kelly and Jessica Meir additionally congratulated all the ESA class in statements on Twitter.

Koichi Wakata, an astronaut with the Japanese area company JAXA, was also among those sending congratulations.

“I’ve flown in space with many of your colleagues and they are such an incredible group,” Kelly stated in his statement. “I envy you as you start this new adventure!”