Former Paralympian and current surgeon John McFall has become the first handicapped astronaut to be cleared for a mission to the International Space Station ( ISS ) by feasibility studies .

In 2000 , of age 19 , McFall ’s ripe leg was amputated after he was involved in a serious motorcycle accident . After being fitted with a prosthetic gadget , he need up running and go on to interpret the UK as a Paralympic sprinter , earning himself ashiny array of medalsin the process . As well as this , he has garner a identification number of aesculapian honor as a trauma and orthopedical surgeon .

In 2022 , McFall joined the European Space Agency ’s ( ESA ’s ) " Fly ! " plan , which place to make human spaceflight approachable for all .

" For the first time , ESA is exploring whether an astronaut with a strong-arm disability could embark on a long continuance mission to the International Space Station , " ESAexplains . " John ’s expertise helps germinate innovational solutions for hoi polloi with physical disabilities face space - relate challenge , such as microgravity adaptation , fitness and technology integration . "

In a series of feasibility studies , ESA have try whether it is potential for people with disablement to join spaceman aboard the distance place as a fully integrated crew phallus . This has include flights on the notoriousvomit comet , as well as tilt - board testing to simulate the effects of microgravity .

" In microgravity , body fluid switch headward , causing astronaut to experience a 5 - 10 percent reduction in lower leg bulk within the first few hours in quad – a modification that persist throughout the mission , " ESA explains . " The study inquire similar volume shifts in an amputated limb and their potential encroachment on prosthetic equipment fit and comfort during spaceflight . "

Now , follow the decision of those studies , McFall has been cleared for a six - month - farsighted mission aboard the ISS . Now that such a missionary work has been take for workable , ESA is motivate on to the next form , named " Fly ! Mission Ready " .

" It ’s great that we can say after a huge amount of work in the last 18 months that we have certify that it ’s technically potential for someone with a impairment like mine to fly on a foresighted duration mission . And now we ’re progressing to the next phase and what we need to do is realise that opportunity to vaporize , so move forward , we ’re moving into the Mission Ready phase , " McFall say in astatement .

" The Mission Ready phase is an important step in run forwards to realise a potential flight opportunity . This phase will let in looking at computer hardware certification and moving further down that process . We ’re going to be looking at what potential science could be conducted on the International Space Station should I get the opportunity to vaporize and significantly we ’re looking towards aesculapian authentication for me to fly on a farsighted duration commission . "

The second phase of the programme will involve demonstrate hisprostheticfor use in microgravity . ESA , having concluded thatit is safefor hoi polloi with McFall ’s disability to remain on the ISS for foresightful commission , will now look at what oeuvre he can lead while he is up there , and ensure that he welcome medical certification to fly .

" One of the function of an astronaut is to do important science in microgravity whilst knead in space and it ’s really my promise that if I get the chance to fly we realize what we do in space , the things we learn , the problems we work , the engineering science that we develop has a filter - down effect and benefits people here on earth in wider society , " McFall added .

" This patterned advance to the Mission Ready phase angle is a really crucial milepost in the story of human space travel . "

For now , McFall is participating in ESA ’s Astronaut Reserve education at the European Astronaut Centre in Germany , hopefully forward of a commission to the space post itself .