British Paralympian is first person with physical disability cleared for space mission

Sprinter and surgeon John McFall given medical certification for mission lasting up to six months

A British Paralympic sprinter and surgeon has become the first person with a physical disability to be cleared to fly to the International Space Station in a landmark for human space exploration.

John McFall, 43, is a member of the European Space Agency's astronaut corps and is now waiting to be assigned a mission after a feasibility study concluded there were no technical or medical reasons why he should not fly.