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United Kingdom·Technology

British Paralympian John McFall set to become first astronaut with physical disability in orbit

Tuesday, 2 June 2026, 06:10 · 1 min read

British surgeon and Paralympian John McFall could make history as the first person with a physical disability to live in orbit, following a deal between the UK Space Agency and Vast, a California-based startup building the Haven-1 commercial space station (a compact orbital outpost roughly the size of a single-decker bus, scheduled to launch in 2027). McFall, 45, who lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident before winning bronze at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and later qualifying as an NHS orthopaedic surgeon, is a member of the European Space Agency's astronaut reserve and has already been cleared for orbital activities. The planned two-week mission aboard Haven-1 would examine how the space environment affects both his body and modern prosthetic limbs, with potential benefits for amputee rehabilitation and the development of lighter, more adaptable prosthetics for disabled people on Earth.

Sources
The GuardianBritish Paralympian could be first astronaut with physical disability to live in orbit ↗︎
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