Illustration of Haven-1 on orbit with Dragon docked. Credit: Vast
The UK Space Agency and commercial space firm Vast have partnered to secure sponsorship for British astronaut John McFall’s potential 2027 mission, making him the first person with a physical disability to enter orbit
On June 2, 2026, the UK Space Agency and the US commercial space company Vast signed a Memorandum of Understanding that could see British astronaut John McFall become the first person with a physical disability to live in orbit.
Under the new agreement, the UK Space Agency will support Vast in securing corporate sponsorships to fund a space flight for McFall. If successful, the mission will launch as early as 2027 to Haven-1, which is scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station.
Mission background and astronaut selection
John McFall, an NHS surgeon from Hampshire and a former Paralympic sprinter who won a medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident when he was 19 years old. In 2022, the European Space Agency selected him for its Fly! Project, an initiative designed to study the inclusion of astronauts with physical disabilities in long-duration space missions.
Last year, McFall became the first person with a physical disability to be medically cleared for a long-duration space flight. Since 2023, he has been training at the European Astronaut Centre in Germany, where his preparation has included zero-gravity parabolic flights, remote environment survival training, and learning to pilot a light aircraft.
If the newly announced mission goes ahead, McFall will become the first British astronaut to travel into space since Tim Peake’s mission concluded in 2016.
Max Haot, Vast CEO, said:
We are honoured to collaborate with the UK government on advancing its leadership in space. The potential opportunity for John McFall to join a future Haven-1 mission is another example of how commercial space stations can expand access to space, support greater crew inclusivity, and enable meaningful medical research that benefits humanity.
Microgravity research and Earth benefits
During his time aboard the Haven-1 commercial space station, McFall is scheduled to conduct scientific research focused on human physiology and movement. His work will specifically investigate musculoskeletal adaptation, the performance of prosthetics in microgravity, and how humans maintain balance and move in a space environment.
The findings from these experiments are expected to provide clinical and practical benefits for millions of people on Earth. The data could lead to the development of lighter and more adaptable prosthetic limbs, improve medical understanding of conditions like osteoporosis and muscle wastage, and offer new insights into physical rehabilitation techniques for amputees.
Broader international collaboration
Beyond funding the specific flight opportunity for McFall, the agreement establishes a broader framework for cooperation between the United Kingdom and the United States in low Earth orbit. The partnership will focus on shared scientific research, technology development, and public education initiatives.
The agreement also aims to build stronger economic links between Vast and the UK space sector, connecting British businesses, investors, and researchers directly to commercial space infrastructure.
Government officials noted that this collaboration will support high-growth domestic sectors, including advanced manufacturing and life sciences, while positioning British industry at the forefront of the global space economy.