Bladerunner John to be first ‘parastronaut’
PARALYMPIC sprinter John McFall is not only over the moon, he might even walk on it, after becoming the world’s first disabled astronaut.
Bladerunner John, 41, who won a 100m bronze medal at the Beijing Games in 2008, will train with the European Space Agency (Esa) as a “parastronaut”.
Experts will carry out a study to see if he can blast off on a mission of a lifetime.
John, below, of Frimley, Surrey, and Northern Irelandborn astronomer Rosemary Coogan, 31, were picked for the Esa’s 2022 Astronaut Training Class yesterday.
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15 others were chosen from 22,523 applicants. Trauma and orthopaedic surgeon John lost his right leg in a motorbike accident at 19.
He said: “When Esa announced they were looking for a candidate with a physical disability, I thought it was such an inspiring and exhilarating opportunity. “I think I can bring lots of things to the feasibility study, but I think in particular I can bring inspiration that science is for everyone and that space is for everyone.” Science minister George Freeman said the announcement was a brilliant day for “British science and British values”.