UK Paralympic athlete selected for European Space Agency astronauts' training group

A Paralympic sprinter from the UK has been named among the latest intake of astronauts recruited by the European Space Agency.

- Ian Sample

John McFall, 41, becomes the first astronaut with a physical disability, or para-astronaut, to be recruited by the space agency in a drive to overcome the barriers that prevent disabled people from participating in space missions.

Also joining the astronaut class of 2022 - the agency's first new recruits since 2009-is Dr Rosemary Coogan, 31, who spent time in the Royal Navy reserve and gained a PhD in astronomy before working at the French Space Agency.

Coogan becomes the first British woman to join ESA as a career astronaut and the second person from the UK to join the agency's astronaut corps after Tim Peake, a member of the class of 2009.

Another UK-born scientist, Dr Meganne Christian, 34, who worked in Antarctica before lecturing in Italy on problem-solving and decision-making, joins ESA's astronaut reserve.

A new venture for ESA, the reserve consists of astronauts who passed the selection process but will continue in their regular jobs until a mission opportunity arises.