Accessibility of Human Spaceflight

Day: Wednesday 16 October
Time: 16:35 - 17:20 CEST
Location: Red Hall, Level 1, North Wing, MiCo Convention Centre

For the first time since 2008, ESA sought in 2021 new astronauts to join a journey of discovery for the benefit of Earth in 2021. In a first for ESA and human spaceflight worldwide, ESA launched a call for interest for individual(s) who are psychologically, cognitively, technically and professionally qualified to be an astronaut, but who live with a physical disability that would normally prevent them from being selected due to the requirements imposed by the use of current space hardware. The intention of the vacancy of ‘Astronaut (with a physical disability)’ is to select individual(s) with a specific physical disability to join ESA’s astronaut reserve.

ESA received 27 applications from individuals with a physical disability. In November 2022 ESA’s Director General has selected John McFall from the UK to become Member of the ESA Astronaut Reserve as “Fly! Feasibility Study” member.

In close coordination with NASA, the UK Space Agency and Industry companies ESA is studying the feasibility of sending John to Space.

The panelists from ESA, NASA and the UK Space Agency will give an update about the study and how likely it is that we will see John in Space. Of course, also John himself will give first hands information how the study is going.