John McFall is part of our astronaut reserve. Following a motorcycle accident that resulted in the amputation of his right leg at the age of 19, John learnt to run again. He became a professional track and field athlete in 2005, going on to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a @paralympics sprinter.
In November 2022, John was selected as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve and to take part in ESA’s feasibility study “Fly!” to improve our understanding of, and overcome, the barriers space flight presents for astronauts with a physical disability.
📹 European Space Agency (ESA) 📸 Novespace/N. Courtioux
Ever wondered how astronauts prepare for the weightlessness of space? In Bordeaux, France, our astronauts train for microgravity using parabolic flights! These special flights create brief periods of zero gravity, mimicking the conditions of space.
By performing a series of steep climbs and descents, the plane allows astronauts to experience intense 2G forces before entering a 22-second weightless phase! This crucial training helps future astronauts adapt to moving, working, and even jumping in zero gravity.
Join us as we follow Rosemary Coogan, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and John McFall on their parabolic flight training.
Credits: ESA – European Space Agency Footage: ESA/Novaspace
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We are Europe’s gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October 2023, the European Space Agency opened the doors to the European Space Research and Technology Centre, ESTEC, in the Netherlands. Where science meets science fiction, the theme of this year’s open day was ‘Science Fiction Gets Real’, highlighting how science fiction has inspired scientists and engineers to join ESA, and turn once imaginary concepts into science fact. The single largest ESA establishment invited the public to meet astronauts, view spacecraft – including a rare chance to view ESA’s asteroid mission Hera as it undergoes testing – and peer behind the scenes of Europe’s space adventure, along with a full schedule of events and talks from Space Rocks, celebrating the art and culture of science and space.
0:30 – NL Space Tent, showcasing the Netherlands in space, organised by the Netherlands Space Office, NSO 1:00 – ESA Earth Observation Stand in the Rainbow Corridor 1:08 – Dutch ESA astronaut André Kuipers takes to the Space Rocks stage to announce that the annual Association of Space Explorers ASC Planetary Congress will take place at ESTEC in 2024 1:21 – Spanish ESA astronaut Pedro Duque joins the Mayor of Noordwijk Wendy Verkeij; ESA Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality and Head of ESTEC Dietmar Pilz; ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher; NSO Director Harm van de Wetering; a Moonshots NL 24 student, André Kuipers on a panel discussing the ASE Planetary Congress in 2024 1:24 – John McFall, member of ESA’s Astronaut Reserve 1:46 – The ESTEC Test Centre, Europe’s largest satellite testing facility 1:51 – ESTEC’s Erasmus Innovation Centre, including a showcase on human spaceflight 2:00 – The formal opening of the new Earth to Space exhibit at ESTEC’s visitor centre Space Expo wth Dietmar Pilz; Space Expo Director Barbara Hoppel and Josef Aschbacher
Credits: ESA – European Space Agency
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We are Europe’s gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Get to know the ESA Astronaut Class of 2022 as they answer the following questions: – Why did you apply to become an astronaut? – Tell us about your background – How did you feel when you found out you would be part of ESA’s Astronaut Class of 2022? – What excites you most about human exploration, and how do you see yourself as part of this challenge? – What message do you have for young people today who are passionate about space and science?
00:00 – 00:02 – Intro 00:03 – 05:20 – Sophie Adenot from France 05:21 – 07:48 – Pablo Álvarez Fernández from Spain 07:49 – 11:33 – Meganne Christian from the United Kingdom 11:34 – 15:59 – Anthea Comellini from Italy 16:00 – 19:50 – Rosemary Coogan from the United Kingdom 19:51 – 23:45 – Sara García Alonso from Spain 23:46 – 27:10 – Raphaël Liégeois from Belgium 27:11 – 32:19 – John McFall from the United Kingdom 32:20 – 35:58 – Andrea Patassa from Italy 35:59 – 40:41 – Carmen Possnig from Austria 40:42 – 45:30 – Arnaud Prost from France 45:31 – 48:41 – Amelie Schoenenwald from Germany 48:42 – 54:05 – Marco Sieber from Switzerland 54:06 – 56:23 – Aleš Svoboda from Czech Republic 56:24 – 1:02:09 – Sławosz Uznański from Poland 1:02:10- 1:04:55 – Marcus Wandt from Sweden 1:04:56 – 1:08:47 – Nicola Winter from Germany
We are Europe’s gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
