An unfortunate accident led to him losing one of his limbs. - John the astronaut (age 43) set to embark on a space journey with an artificial limb.
A British citizen named John McFall, who is 43 years old, lost his right leg in a motorcycle mishap several years ago. In spite of this setback, McFall has achieved the incredible feat of becoming an astronaut and may soon make history by floating in space with a prosthesis.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has taken notice of McFall and is currently testing both him and his prosthesis for space compatibility.
Stellar Achievements with a Disability
Father of three, John McFall, has already achieved a great deal despite his disability. Around three decades after his accident, he discovered sports for himself through a prosthesis. He soon became one of the top sprinters in his category, even going on to win the bronze medal in the 100-meter dash at the Paralympic Games in Beijing back in 2008.
He then pursued a career in medicine and qualified as a surgeon. His journey did not stop there; a colleague informed him that the ESA was seeking participants from the Paralympics keen on becoming astronauts. McFall was ecstatic and applied to become the first astronaut with a physical impairment.
John McFall has now become a part of ESA's "Fly" study, a project that aims to investigate space exploration for individuals with disabilities. He has relocated to Cologne for tests and training.
In preparation for this, he recently underwent weightlessness and the effect it had on his prosthesis during zero-gravity flights. McFall described his experience as "satisfying."
However, there are several tests that still need to be completed before he can truly embark on his journey. "No one has ever flown into space with a prosthesis before," he said, "so we need to carry out a series of tests to ensure my suitability and that of my prosthesis for space travel."
McFall highlighted the importance of his prosthesis in space, emphasizing the need to react promptly in emergencies while on the space station. He also trains rigorously, engaging in activities like running, cycling, and strength training every day - all of which are necessary for all astronauts to maintain their physical health while in space.
The coming months will reveal whether his efforts are successful.
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Source: symclub.org
