Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

CTOnews.com, Nov. 24 (Xinhua)-- the European Space Agency (ESA) on Wednesday appointed the world's first "quasi-astronaut" (parastronaut) with physical disabilities, which is an important step forward for "people with physical disabilities to work and live in space." ESA has chosen former British Paralympic sprinter John McFarr (John McFall) to join 16 others in astronaut training.

McFall will participate in a feasibility study to enable ESA to assess the conditions required for persons with disabilities to participate in future space missions. CTOnews.com learned that he would attend the training with five new professional astronauts and 11 reserve personnel.

McFall, whose right leg was amputated in a motorcycle accident at the age of 19, won a bronze medal of 100 meters at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. The agency said the 31-year-old doctor would help ESA engineers design the hardware changes needed to open up professional space flights to more qualified candidates.

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