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SKY'S THE LIMIT: Darren Conroy

Wheelchair man in space 'first'

Robert Bottomley
30/ 6/2003

DAREDEVIL Darren Conroy is heading for a new frontier for wheelchair users - space.

The psychology teacher from Poynton, who has used a wheelchair for almost 20 years after being paralysed in a car crash, has previously parachuted, piloted a light aircraft and plays wheelchair rugby.

Now he will be the first quadriplegic person to get a taste of space travel on a special zero gravity flight from Russian space centre Space City.

Darren, 40, who teaches at Poynton High School, will be taken 30,000 feet up in a converted cargo plane before the aircraft goes into "freefall" and he experiences weightlessness as the plane plummets to earth.

As he escapes gravity's pull, Darren will be able to float, twist, turn and somersault in thin air.

The flights are similar to the ones used by cosmonauts as part of their rigorous training before they go on real space missions.

Before being allowed on the flight, Darren had to convince the organisers, American company Space Adventures and bosses at Space City, the Russian version of NASA that he is physically able to cope with the rigours of the flight.

As the plane, which has a padded interior, plummets towards earth Darren will experience the thrill of weightlessness, then huge G-forces as the plane pulls out of its nosedive.

Until recently Space City, near Moscow, was top secret and its existence was hidden from even the Russian military. Now the space centre is planning to host the first space tourist flights.

Darren said: "Since being a kid I always wanted to experience zero gravity after watching space films. Everyone wants to fly, and this is the next best thing.

"I heard about the zero gravity flights on the radio about four years ago and when I heard they were commercially available I thought 'Great!'

"There is no reason why I cannot do it. I had to send a letter from my hospital's spinal injuries unit and doctors said there was no problem but the request had to go to the board of Space City for them to agree to it.

"I will have a go at everything. Before my accident I used to go caving and would love to do that again. I am trying to get in touch with a cave rescue team to ask if they will take me down."

Darren travels to Moscow next week for the £2,500 trip of a lifetime.