Fly!

Fly! aims to make space missions accessible for all. For the first time, ESA is exploring whether an astronaut with a physical disability could embark on a long duration mission to the International Space Station. At the heart of the Fly! Project is John McFall, a former Paralympic athlete and orthopaedic surgeon who became a leg amputee after a motorcycle accident. The programme demonstrates ESA’s commitment to increasing diversity and expanding its pool of astronaut talent. 

John McFall – the expert on Fly!  

John McFall was selected in 2022, becoming the first person with physical disability to be a member of ESA's astronaut reserve. ESA launched the Feasibility Study phase of Fly! focusing on John's disability: lower limb amputation. John's expertise helps develop innovative solutions for people with physical disabilities facing space-related challenges, such as microgravity adaptation, fitness and technology integration.