Space travel
Into space with a prosthesis?
ESA astronaut John McFall during training at the European Astronaut Center (EAC). photo
© P. Sebirot/ESA /dpa
John McFall, a former Paralympic athlete, has been selected by Esa for the newly created position of “parastronaut”. However, his participation depends on the results of the investigation.
Can a disabled British astronaut use one Prosthesis travel to the International Space Station ISS? The European Space Agency Esa should check this. It’s about whether John McFall’s artificial leg doesn’t emit toxic gases, even over a long period of time, as the British newspaper “Telegraph” reported on Saturday.
The Paralympics athlete was selected by Esa a year ago for the newly created position of “parastronaut” – as an astronaut with a physical disability. Whether the 42-year-old is actually allowed to fly into space also depends on the investigation, which is scheduled to be completed in 2025. McFall lost his right leg after an accident when he was 19.
“These are things you don’t necessarily think about,” McFall told the Telegraph. “The base is made of carbon fiber and has some kind of high-density foam inside. The carbon fiber base is impregnated with a resin. The foam is made of polymers.”
The fact that these materials emit gases to a certain extent could be risky in a closed circuit like the ISS. Because on the space station the air is constantly recycled and the gases cannot be filtered out.