Tag: Europe space agency

Space diversity: Europe’s space agency gets 1st parastronaut
Technology

Space diversity: Europe’s space agency gets 1st parastronaut

[ad_1] The European Space Agency made history Wednesday by selecting an amputee who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident to be among its newest batch of astronauts — a leap toward its pioneering ambition to send someone with a physical disability into space.John McFall, a 41-year-old Briton who lost his right leg when he was 19 and went on to compete in the Paralympics, called his selection at Europe's answer to NASA “a real turning point and mark in history.” “ESA has a commitment to send an astronaut with a physical disability into space ... This is the first time that a space agency has endeavored to embark on a project like this. And it sends a really, really strong message to humanity,” he said. The newly-minted parastronaut joins five career astronauts in the final selection unv...