McFall’s journey to the stars is nothing short of extraordinary. After losing his right leg in a motorbike accident at the age of 19, he refused to let adversity define his future. Instead, he took up running, eventually representing Great Britain on the world stage and securing multiple sprinting medals. But now, McFall is trading the track for the vast expanse of space, proving that no frontier is out of reach.
In 2022, McFall was selected as one of 16 individuals from a staggering pool of over 22,500 applicants to join the European Space Agency’s (ESA) first new class of astronauts in over a decade. What set his selection apart? He was the first astronaut candidate with a disability, handpicked for the ESA’s revolutionary Fly! feasibility study. The mission: to determine whether a para-astronaut could successfully live and work in the microgravity environment of space.
For two years, McFall worked with a team of engineers, scientists, and medical experts, pushing the boundaries of possibility. The verdict? A resounding ‘yes.’ Late last year, the ESA concluded that not only is it feasible for an astronaut with a prosthetic limb to venture into space, but McFall himself has been officially approved for a groundbreaking six-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
“I feel hugely proud,” McFall shared. “But this isn’t just about me—it’s a cultural shift. One of the most important roles of an astronaut is conducting vital scientific research in microgravity, and I hope my journey proves that the discoveries we make in space have a real impact on life here on Earth.”
With this historic approval, the Fly! project now moves into the mission-ready phase. The next steps include finalizing McFall’s scientific experiments for the ISS and certifying his prosthetic leg for space travel—another first in the history of human spaceflight.
Liz Johns, interim head of space exploration at the UK Space Agency, expressed her enthusiasm: “We are looking forward to supporting John in this next phase. This is groundbreaking work that no other space agency has done before.”
McFall’s mission is more than just a personal achievement; it’s a testament to human resilience, innovation, and the boundless potential of inclusive exploration. As he prepares for launch, the world watches in anticipation, knowing that history is about to be rewritten—one giant leap at a time.
Photo from European Space Agency
