The world has got its first 'parastronaut'. Does that mean space is finally accessible to all?
The European Space Agency made history last week with the announcement of the first “parastronaut”, 41-year-old UK citizen John McFall.
He is the first candidate selected for the Parastronaut Feasibility project, described by the European Space Agency as
McFall, a former Paralympic sprinter, had his right leg amputated after a motorcycle accident at age 19.
Most of us are familiar with images of gruelling astronaut selection tests and training from movies such as The Right Stuff. The European Space Agency seeks to answer the practical question of what changes to training and equipment need to be made for a physically disabled person to travel to space.
NASA first selected astronauts, the Mercury Seven, in 1959. Recruitment was limited to male military test pilots less than 40 years old, in excellent physical and mental health, and less than 1.8 m tall (the Mercury capsule was tiny).
Today, NASA uses a similar basic eligibility screening. Applicants must have 20/20 vision (corrective lenses and laser eye surgery are okay) with blood pressure under 140/90 when seated and a height between 1.49 m and...
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