The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that John McFall, a British surgeon and former Paralympian, has been medically cleared for a mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), making him the world’s first astronaut with a physical disability to achieve this milestone.
McFall, 43, who lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident at 19, expressed pride and gratitude at the opportunity. Since being named to the ESA’s astronaut reserve in 2022, McFall has undergone rigorous training and evaluations to assess the feasibility of a crew member with a prosthetic leg joining a space mission.
On Friday, the ESA confirmed that McFall met all medical and physical requirements for a long-duration mission on the ISS.
“This is way bigger than me—this is a cultural shift,” McFall said during an online press conference. He added that he was relatively passive during the process, focusing on meeting the health and performance standards required of all astronauts.
Although a launch date has yet to be set, the ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration, Daniel Neuenschwander, noted that McFall is now an astronaut like any other, awaiting a mission assignment.
“Now he’s an astronaut like everybody else who wants to fly to the space station,” Neuenschwander said, adding that all ISS partners, including the United States, had approved McFall’s medical clearance.
The mission represents a significant moment for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in space exploration. Despite DEI policies facing challenges from the current U.S. administration, Neuenschwander reaffirmed the ESA’s commitment to European values of inclusion.
The next phase of the study will explore the necessary modifications to hardware and prosthetics to help McFall adapt to the challenges of space travel. McFall believes these advancements will benefit the broader prosthetic-using community on Earth.
“This technology is going to trickle down and have benefits for prosthetic users in wider society,” he said.
McFall’s groundbreaking journey marks a historic step toward expanding opportunities for individuals with disabilities in space exploration.
