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Paralympian could become first astronaut with disability to live and work in space
Key takeaways
- Mc Fall, who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident when he was 19, was selected by the European Space Agency in 2022 for a study on physically disabled astronauts.
- And now a new agreement - between the UK government and US commercial space company Vast - means the UK Space Agency will be able to secure sponsorships to fund a spaceflight for him.
- The father-of-three from Hampshire won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games after learning to run again while at Swansea University and training with other Welsh Paralympic athletics.
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Nicholas Bourne BBC Wales Watch: John Mc Fall explains how his prosthetic leg works in a weightless environment Paralympian and NHS surgeon John Mc Fall is one step closer to becoming the first physically disabled astronaut to reach orbit.
Mc Fall, who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident when he was 19, was selected by the European Space Agency in 2022 for a study on physically disabled astronauts.
And now a new agreement - between the UK government and US commercial space company Vast - means the UK Space Agency will be able to secure sponsorships to fund a spaceflight for him.
Article preview — originally published by BBC News. Full story at the source.
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