NASA is known for sending people up into space with proper equipment in order to find out more and more about this wide universe of ours. It is quite apparent that the organization has to do a proper and thorough check on the people whom they are about to send up to space. This takes a huge amount of work and dedication.
After several years, for the first time, NASA has recruited a physically disabled person to go up into space. This has been a revolutionary decision and everyone has applauded NASA for its new venture into space. Who is this person that has gained so much trust with the authorities that he could be sent up to space with a physical disability? What made him so competent? Let us get to know!
Who Is John McFall?
The first astronaut with a physical disability to be sent to space is John McFall. John McFall had his leg amputated at the age of 19 due to a motorcycle accident. John McFall is not one of the ordinary strangers whom you can challenge for a fistfight. He became an avid sprinter after he lost his leg in the accident. It is to be said that his desire to learn surpassed the standard desire of most people. He learned his game well and won a bronze medal in the 100 meters race in the Beijing Paralympics. He did not seem quite content with this achievement and went ahead to prove himself worthy in the field of medicine and surgery.
He trained as an orthopedic surgeon soon after he had won the bronze medal. It is quite apparent that nothing can quench his thirst for being a frontrunner in whichever field he is in. Now, after getting through all of these hurdles with a brave face and staunch heart, John McFall is training to become an astronaut with NASA. The European Space Agency had informed Mr. McFall that he will be one of the newest recruits for space endeavors. He has already made his name being a Paralympic winner, and a surgeon, and now, he is moving ahead to be the first astronaut with a physical disability to be chosen as a recruit.
Words Of Mr. McFall
With the team composed of 16 members, Mr. McFall is just one of the faces of diversity. He has stated that he could bring inspiration to all, and to him, inspiration is a part of science. He had always been interested in the events of space and shared with the media that he wanted to become an astronaut when he was just a boy. This is indeed incredible that even when the motorcycle accident took his leg, it could not snatch away his dreams. Mr. McFall believes that space is for all and that everyone should be able to access the beauty of space at their own leisure.
The recruitment of John McFall is indeed ground-breaking. The authorities have mentioned that it really inspires them when they see Mr. McFall working so hard and pushing himself over all limits to get what he wants. He will be a pioneer person to educate and inspire other disabled people to get interested in being an astronaut. Even his training procedure can help NASA to design protocols that can help disabled people to get into space as able and functional astronauts.
Members Added To John McFall’s Team
Although his spirit is indomitable, it will not be possible for the team to be composed only of John McFall. NASA is trying to bring forward an ethnically diverse team in order to ensure that each nation gets something out of this move to space. John McFall is accompanied by Dr. Rosemary Coogan and Dr. Megan Christian in this mission. Coogan will be the very first UK woman who was to join ESA with the mission of being a career astronaut. Coogan had already served in the Royal Navy and also earned a Ph.D. in astronomy when she was working with the French Space Agency. Rosemary Coogan is only the second person who is able to join the astronaut corps from the United Kingdom after Tim Peake. She mentioned that she will immediately start training because she already had previous experience in the field.
Dr. Megan Christian is the third recruit who is 34 years old and also born in the United Kingdom. She worked in Antarctica before this mission and was also in Italy on lectures about problem-solving and decision-making measures. ESA has brought forward a new initiative that will allow astronauts to continue their regular jobs but at the same time be ready when the mission comes along. This would allow them to lead a normal life rather than get all engulfed in different kinds of training procedures.
Application Process
ESA had received more than 22,000 applications from that who were looking to become astronaut recruits for NASA. The four-step selection process which was set up by ESA, allowed them to get the very best candidates for the mission. This selection process also included a complete medical examination which could help to evaluate the health conditions and physical abilities of the individual, personally and within the groups.
Multiple interviews were organized in order to get the very best recruits for this mission. Only 1,361 applicants were chosen and 27 people with physical disabilities made it to the second round of selection.
Conclusion
NASA is regularly developing one or another mode of technology that can allow access to space for most people across the world. That is why, they are choosing people of common descent in order to ensure that space becomes a commodity for all, not only the scientific community.
The recruitment of John McFall is a great step towards this venture. It has been decided that more and more people with disabilities will be brought into the recruits. Training measures and equipment might change with time but this will ensure that people like John McFall get proper access to space missions.