🦿It’s a parastronaut

Meet John McFall, a Paralympian who won bronze in the 100m T42 event at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics before moving on to work as a trauma and orthopedic surgeon.

Then, career #3 came calling: In 2022, when the European Space Agency (ESA) announced a new class of trainee astronauts, John was one of the names chosen – making him the first ever "parastronaut." 

• The runner has taken part in the “Fly!” feasibility study ever since, which aims to assess and solve the challenges a disabled person might face in space.
• John went through both winter and sea training modules, as well as multiple zero-gravity flights. According to the TSA, his training marks “a significant milestone in the journey towards inclusivity in space exploration.”

🚀 Looking ahead... While John doesn't have a flight date yet, he's hopeful he'll make it up to space eventually.