ESA Certifies First Astronaut with Physical Disability; John McFall; "GO" for ISS Mission

In a historic moment for government human spaceflight, the European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that John McFall, a reserve astronaut in its corps, has been medically cleared for long-duration missions to the International Space Station (ISS).

This milestone marks the first time a person with a physical disability has been approved for astronaut training with the potential to live and work aboard the ISS.

A Historic Certification

McFall, a former Paralympian, lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident at the age of 19 and has used a prosthesis ever since. Despite this, he has now been certified by a multinational medical board to participate in extended space missions, setting a precedent for inclusivity in human spaceflight.

“John is today certified as an astronaut who can fly on a long-duration mission on the International Space Station, and I think this is an incredible step ahead in our ambition to broaden the access to society to space,” - Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration

“It is fantastic to see that John and the team at ESA have proved it is technically possible for someone with a physical disability like his to live and work on the International Space Station,” - Liz Johns, Interim Head of Space Exploration at the U.K. Space Agency

The Road to Certification

McFall’s journey began in 2022 when ESA selected him as part of its latest astronaut class. His selection came under a special effort to recruit a “parastronaut,” testing whether individuals with certain physical disabilities could safely perform the duties required for spaceflight.

Following his selection, McFall participated in the “Fly!” feasibility study, a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether his condition would impact the safety and feasibility of ISS operations. The study explored over 80 topics, including medical considerations, spacecraft operations, and training adaptations.

“Let’s not underestimate all elements linked to safety procedures when you operate on the International Space Station...In all honesty, I was personally expecting some eventual showstoppers there, and I’m really happy to see that we went through that and it’s behind us.” - Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration

Breaking Barriers in Perception

While technical challenges were manageable, ESA found that changing mindsets proved to be the most significant hurdle.

“The main difficulty that we faced was not really technical but about the mindsets...People have preconceptions of what a person with a physical disability can achieve, and you have to go again, explain again and demonstrate.” - Jerome Reineix, Fly! Study Manager at ESA

“The reception has been very warm and positive from the international partners there because of the detailed, methodical, exhaustive work we’ve done here with the feasibility study.” - John McFall, ESA Astronaut

Future Mission Prospects

Despite being cleared for ISS missions, McFall has not yet been assigned to a flight. As a reserve astronaut, he remains in a pool of candidates awaiting specific mission assignments.

“Now he is an astronaut like everybody else who wants to fly to the space station, waiting for a mission assignment...Today we cannot give any date.” - Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration

ESA’s astronaut class of 2022 included five full-time career astronauts and 12 reserve astronauts, like McFall. Historically, long-duration ISS missions have been reserved for full-time career astronauts.

Potential Private Spaceflight Opportunities

Some reserve astronauts have secured flight opportunities through the private sector, such as Marcus Wandt, who flew on Axiom Space’s Ax-3 mission, and Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, set to fly on Ax-4 later this year.

McFall has also been linked to a potential private astronaut mission under consideration by the U.K. Space Agency in partnership with Axiom Space. This proposed “all-U.K.” spaceflight, first discussed in a memorandum of understanding signed in October 2023, could be commanded by former ESA astronaut Tim Peake, who joined Axiom as a strategic adviser in July 2024.

A New Era of Inclusive Space Exploration

“Whatever the mission architecture and financing scheme is, today we have the clearance to fly John, and this is the most important point.” - Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration

As the ISS nears its planned retirement in 2030, ESA aims to ensure all of its career astronauts from the 2022 selection class fly a long-duration mission.

McFall’s certification marks a significant step toward making space more accessible to a diverse range of individuals. With his inclusion, ESA has shattered long-held perceptions of who can become an astronaut, proving that determination and scientific progress can pave the way for a more inclusive future in space exploration.

Whether through a government mission or a private venture, John McFall is poised to make history as the first astronaut with a physical disability to live and work aboard the International Space Station.