Invitación a los medios de comunicación: Rueda de prensa sobre el estudio de viabilidad «¡Vuela!» con John McFall

Journalists are invited to attend a hybrid press briefing with ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander and ESA Astronaut Reserve Member John McFall on Friday 14 February from 10:00 to 11:00 CET at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany.

The media will be briefed on the completion and success of ESA's Fly! feasibility study.

Announced in November 2022 during the Ministerial Council held in Paris, France, this unique and innovative study aims to understand and challenge the limitations that physical disabilities pose to human spaceflight.

The Fly feasibility study will be completed in late 2024, successfully demonstrating that it is technically feasible to carry a person with a physical disability like John on a six-month mission to the International Space Station as a member of a fully integrated crew. This study supported the desire to ensure that space exploration is not limited by physical restrictions and that all people can contribute to our collective understanding of the cosmos and the benefits of spaceflight for life on Earth.

Next steps?

The end of the feasibility study marks the beginning of the next phase: Flying! Mission completed. This is an essential step towards carrying out the first long-duration mission by a physically disabled astronaut.

For more information, please attend the press conference on site at the EAC, European Astronaut Centre or online.

Programa

Friday, February 14, 10:00 - 11:00 CET

Participants:

Daniel Neuenschwander, Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA

John McFall, ESA Astronaut Reserve Member & Fly! Expert in

the project

Jerome Reineix, Director of the Fly! studio

Alessandro Alcibiade, Fly! Flight surgeon

Media Registration

Media representatives are invited to register by Friday 7 February at 18:00 CET to be present on-site at the EAC or to receive links to attend virtually via https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form/

Individual interviews must be requested via media@esa.int . The press conference on the "Fly!" feasibility study will also be broadcast live on esawebtv.esa.int on 14 February 2025 starting at 10:00 CET.

For more information

Fly! website

John McFall Biography

Astro Chat with John McFall

Daniel Neuenschwander Biography

Images

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images

https://photolibrary.esa.int/home-page /

Terms and conditions for the use of ESA images:

www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images

If you have questions or would like more information related to ESA images, please contact spaceinimages@esa.int directly.

Videos

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos

https://www.esa.int/esatv/Videos_for_Professionals

Terms and conditions for the use of ESA videos:

https://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Terms_and_Conditions

If you have any questions or would like more information related to ESA videos, please contact spaceinvideos@esa.int directly.

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About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe's gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation created in 1975 with the mission of coordinating the development of European space capabilities and ensuring that investment in space translates into benefits for the citizens of Europe and the world at large.

ESA is composed of 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovakia, Latvia and Lithuania are Associate Members.

In addition, ESA has established formal cooperation with four other EU Member States. Canada participates in some of ESA's programmes through a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA is able to undertake programmes and activities that would otherwise be beyond the scope of any single European country. It collaborates in particular with the EU in the implementation of the Galileo and Copernicus programmes, as well as with Eumetsat in the development of meteorological missions.

You can find more information about ESA at www.esa.int