It’s one small step for man, one giant leap for inclusivity: British Paralympian and orthopaedic surgeon John McFall has been cleared for takeoff as the world’s first disabled astronaut.
McFall took up running after losing his right leg in a motorbike accident at 19 years old. He went on to win multiple medals for Great Britain in sprint events, but his latest endeavour looks set to rocket him from the running track to the International Space Station (ISS).
Back in 2022, McFall was one of 16 men and women chosen from more than 22,500 applicants for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) first class of astronauts in 13 years.
