John McFall, a British Paralympian and orthopaedic surgeon, is poised to become the first person with a physical disability to live in orbit, following a deal between the UK Space Agency and US startup Vast. The company is building Haven-1, a small commercial space station slated for launch in 2027.
McFall, a member of the European Space Agency's astronaut reserve, could embark on a two-week mission to Haven-1 shortly after its launch. The station, smaller than a single-decker bus, will accommodate up to four astronauts and features a maplewood interior, a domed Earth-observation window, and a microgravity research lab.
The mission will study how space affects McFall's body and modern prosthetic limbs, which rely on sensors and microprocessors. Research could lead to lighter, more adaptable prosthetics and improve understanding of conditions like osteoporosis and muscle wastage, aiding amputee rehabilitation.
McFall, 45, from Hampshire, lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident at 19. He won bronze in the 100m at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and later became an NHS orthopaedic surgeon. Selected for Esa's Fly! project in 2022, he aims to challenge perceptions about disability in space.
“I want to be a good astronaut,” McFall said. “I don’t want it to be a PR stunt. I’m very happy to be a pioneer, but first and foremost, I want to do a good job.” If successful, he would be the first Briton in space since Tim Peake's 2015-16 ISS mission.
