UK: In a significant step towards enabling people with physical disabilities to work and live in space, the European Space Agency on Wednesday named the first "paraastronaut".

The 22-nation organization announced that it has selected former British Paralympic runner John McFall as one of 17 new staff selected for astronaut training.

He will take part in a feasibility study that will enable ESA to determine the prerequisites for people with disabilities to participate in upcoming missions.

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In an interview published on the ESA website, McFaul said: "It's been quite a whirlwind experience because as a disabled person, I never thought being an astronaut was a possibility, so the excitement was a huge feeling. "

As ESA fills its astronaut ranks for the first time since 2009, he will train alongside 11 reservists, five new career astronauts and five new career astronauts.

Last year, ESA advertised positions for people who are fully capable of passing its customary rigorous psychological, cognitive and other tests, but are restricted from becoming astronauts because of the limitations of the hardware available in light of their disabilities.

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It received 257 applications for the "parastronaut" position, a parallel position for astronauts with disabilities. His selection was praised by disability equality advocacy group Scope as "a major step forward".

According to Alison Carey, the charity's Head of Communications, "Better representation of disabled people in influential roles would really help to improve attitudes and break down the barriers that many disabled people face today."

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McFall, who had his right leg amputated at the age of 19 due to a motorcycle accident, won a bronze medal in the 100 meters at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.

The agency said the doctor, who is 31 years old, will assist ESA engineers in making necessary hardware modifications to make professional space flight more accessible to more qualified people.

McFaul said that future generations should know that science is accessible to all and that hopefully they too will be able to travel to space.