but for the first time, esa is widening its pool of talent by recruiting the first ever para astronaut. i think, being an amputee, being an astronaut was never really on my radar. john mcfall is a paralympian sprinter. his right leg was amputated above the knee after a motorbike accident. he s been selected using exactly the same criteria as all european astronauts. the only difference is he has a disability. i thought i would have the skills, the mix of skills and scientific background that i could really help them answer this very aspirational question of, can we get someone with a physical disability into space, to work in space safely? all astronauts have to undergo rigorous training. part ofjohn s job will be to test how the kits like spacesuits and spacecraft need to be adapted. his selection doesn t mean he ll definitely get to go into space,
the european space agency has revealed its class of 2022 including the first ever para astronaut . paralympianjohn mcfall, who is a sprinterfrom the uk, will be taking on the new role. during the announcement he said it was an exciting and he hopes to inspire others. we now announce our para astronaut for 2022 and that isjohn mcfall. applause. please come forward. congratulations, john, it s great to have you with us here at the front of the stage. i d love to ask you a little bit more about why you applied to be an astronaut, first of all. well, when when it was announced they were looking for a candidate with a physical disability, i thought it was such an inspiring and exhilarating opportunity and i looked at the person s specification and i thought, wow, this is this is really aspirational. this is very brave and
stories in the headlines. the european space agency has chosen the british paralympic sprinter, john mcfall, as the first astronaut with a disability tojoin the space training team. he will work with designers and engineers to see if it s possible for him to go into space. john mcfall was named as part of the class of 2022 . 0ur science editor, rebecca morelle has the story. it s the job of dreams, with an office that s got spectacular views, offering an out of this world experience. many would love to be an astronaut, but very few make the cut. now in paris, the european space agency has added some new names to the roll of honour. selected from more than 22,000 applicants, this is the astronaut class of 2022. but for the first time, esa is widening its pool of talent by recruiting the first ever para astronaut. i think being an amputee, i think, being an amputee, being an astronaut was never really on my radar. john mcfall is a paralympian sprinter.