In the autumn of 2000, a bike accident left young John McFall without his right leg. His life changed overnight but he was not going to give up. In fact, john was only getting started twenty two years and countless Paralympic medals later, John McFall became the world's first specially abled astronaut, appointed by the European space agency. The para-astronaut experienced his first zero gravity parabolic flight test on Thursday. As he took his first 'vomit comet' to space!
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Now on to a story that is out of this world, quite literally. In the autumn of 2000,
a bike accident left young John McFaul without his right leg. His life changed overnight,
but he was not going to give up. In fact, John was only getting started.
22 years and countless Paralympic medals later, John McFaul became the world's first
specially abled astronaut, appointed by the European Space Agency. The para-astronaut
experienced his first zero-gravity parabolic flight test on Thursday, as he took his first
vomit comet to space. What is that? Our next report, getting you all the details.
It's been an eventful journey for John McFaul.
He has had an illustrious career prior to his stint as the first para-astronaut ever.
After losing his leg and learning how to walk again with a prosthetic,
McFaul took up running as a leisure activity first and then competitively.
The highlight of McFaul's career as a Paralympian came in 2008,
when he won the bronze medal for the 100-metre race at the Beijing Paralympics.
But McFaul was only getting started. The Paralympian has now put a pause on his career
as a doctor after the ESA selected him to be the first para-astronaut in space.
I never dreamt of being an astronaut. I was always hugely interested in science and
always looked to the stars when I was a child. But when I became an amputee,
like the military, there are medical restrictions
on joining. I wouldn't be able to join as an amputee with a physical disability.
So it was only when ESA announced they were looking for a candidate with a physical disability
to embark on this project that it really sparked my interest and enthusiasm for this project.
The European Space Agency has recruited McFaul to take part in a paradigm-shifting study.
McFaul will observe how his prosthetic leg behaves in zero gravity as compared to Earth.
John McFaul will take the first steps to determine how the specially abled
can take their journey forward, beyond planet Earth.
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