The 22-nation agency said it had selected former British Paralympic sprinter John McFall as part of a new generation of 17 recruits picked for astronaut training.

He will take part in a feasibility study designed to allow ESA to assess the conditions needed for people with disabilities to take part in future missions.

>"Better representation of disabled people in influential roles will really help improve attitudes and break down the barriers that many disabled people face today,"

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Shit, for a moment I read it as 'pastronaut' and thought it was about Italian cooking in space.

Just trying so hard to be a good person. This guy will do things I will never be able to accomplished but come on the title.

The following submission statement was provided by /u/yourSAS:

The 22-nation agency said it had selected former British Paralympic sprinter John McFall as part of a new generation of 17 recruits picked for astronaut training.

He will take part in a feasibility study designed to allow ESA to assess the conditions needed for people with disabilities to take part in future missions.

>"Better representation of disabled people in influential roles will really help improve attitudes and break down the barriers that many disabled people face today,"

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z2wor8/europe_names_worlds_first_disabled_astronaut/ixikr5t/

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This has been a concept thrown around by sci fi writers for a long time; people with one or two legs missing or diminished in mass due to disability or intention are in some ways more adapted to working in zero gravity. Legs aren't really needed on a spacecraft, but take up space, maintenance calories, and grams of accelerant needed for lift out of the gravity well.

One might even say it gives them a leg up on the competition.

It's based off an old school fighter pilot with no legs.

Because his blood couldn't pool in his feet, he could sustain more G's.

So when Sci Fi, they extrapolated that. Sometimes giving them robot legs to keep the benefit but still walk

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SLS: Spaghetti Launch System

Another interesting idea was to use deaf astronauts. Certain types of deafness make a person immune to motion sickness, which could be ideal when using centrifugal gravity.

I just find it sad his parents didn’t name him first….

Don’t want to be picky but would it be better to not make a show out of it, like look he’s a parastronaut! We are so progressive!… I think he is just an astronaut, what is the point of labelling people as para-something. I just don’t think they necessarily like that, I may be wrong but anyway

I never heard of that before. Interesting.

I agree, he should just be given the title of astronaut, unless he’s onboard with the idea of something else with the goal of inspiring others, which these things are usually about and can make a meaningful impact on people in similar circumstances.

So, I get where you're going here with the Gs and all, but how does the fighter pilot work the rudder pedals with no legs?

While not quite at the same level as an amputation. Hayley Arceneaux has a prosthetic leg bone due to bone cancer and has a level of disability. She was part of the first private SpaceX crewed flight, Inspiration 4.

Russia has been sending para-soldiers to fight in Ukraine so they should get recognition for their efforts too.

Becoming an astronaut will cost an arm and a leg.

Another part I don't like is the idea that he's being selected as a gift. An ESA sacrifice.

If that's true, they selected a subpar astronaut and put the other crew at risk in a deadly situation for a PR boost. Not to mention it is disgustingly patronizing.

If it isn't true, then they are diminishing everything this guy ever achieves by making it seem like he got it because he's disabled. And all for a PR boost.

son of a... Take my angry upvote

I thought european space farers were called spationauts.

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With their robot legs of course

If Flying Spaghetti Monster-ism adherents don’t already call themselves Pastronauts, it’s a strong contender.

It allows them to more effectively do a barrel roll.

Both is true, ESA wants to investigate how different disabilities affect people in space, and so they set out to find people with physical disabilities that were best suited for Astronaut work.

We gotta learn from somewhere, and as Spacetravel becomes safer, we can send people with less narrow requirements than traditional Astronauts.

It used to be that Astronauts couldn't wear glasses, but now they can.

It's a pastafarian breakaway group who believe in some ancient pastronaut theories about the earthly incarnation of the spaghetti monster.

They are not saying it was aliens ... but ...

So it will not be : "Its one small step for man",
Any idea what someone on a wheelchair can say?

Doesn’t matter if your legs atrophy if you can’t use em anyway! (Or it might, idk, not doctor)

So you're telling me I'm more likely to be able to go into space as a person living with disability than I am to be put on the disability pension in Australia? Awesome news!

if anybody we should send Swedish Chef. How heavy could a muppet be?

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Let’s roll!

I agree it's really important.

But all the talk about "representation" generates the impression that he didn't get there based on merit, especially to those around him.

The news can say "First X to Z!", but the statement from the selecting agency should always be "They were the best one for the job".

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But that is the ESA announcement, he was the best qualified applicant for the para-astronaut position.

Representation is more media fluff, him being disabled was a criteria for the job.