Overview
- The UK Space Agency and US company Vast signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to help secure sponsorships that could fund a spaceflight opportunity for John McFall.
- John McFall was selected by ESA’s Fly! Project in 2022, became the first person with a physical disability medically cleared for a long‑duration mission last year, and has trained at the European Astronaut Centre since 2023.
- If funded and approved, McFall could fly to Vast’s planned Haven‑1 commercial station as early as 2027 and conduct microgravity experiments on prosthetics, musculoskeletal change and human movement.
- The mission is not confirmed and depends on three things: corporate sponsorship to cover costs, Haven‑1’s successful launch and operational readiness, and subsequent regulatory and mission approvals.
- The MoU also creates a wider UK‑US partnership for low Earth orbit research, technology development and STEM engagement and could re‑connect UK industry to commercial station markets while potentially sending the first Brit to space since Tim Peake.