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ESA SELECTION 2021 Your way to space February 2021 Benefits ofspaceflight The European Space space Agency: for everyone How to apply processSelection Parastronaut project Requirements to apply apply?can Who Your way to space ESA’s human and robotic exploration destinations Pangaea CAVES Training locations Phasesof training team Support onEarth Astronauts inspace astronauts ESA CONTENTS

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26 25 21 30 29 28 27 24 23 22 20 For the first time since 2008, ESA is seeking new astronauts to join a journey of discovery for the benefit of Earth.

This collection of infographics gives a small insight into the role of an ESA astronaut, selection requirements, astronaut training, what ESA does and – most importantly – how you can apply! Are you ready? Read on for your way to space. WHO CAN APPLY?

There are many paths to becoming an astronaut… ESA is seeking candidates with a Master’s degree (or higher) and a minimum of three years’ experience in:

Natural Sciences Medicine Engineering Mathematics Computer Sciences

Applications from all qualified candidates, ESA is also issuing a special call for candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, with physical disabilities to apply to its astronaut beliefs, age, or other characteristics, are welcome. reserve. Discover this new opportunity on the ESA astronaut selection website. REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY

All aspiring astronauts must fulfil requirements described in the vacancy notice. These include, but are not limited to:

Strong motivation and ability to cope Citizen of an ESA Member with irregular working hours, frequent or Associate Member State. travel, and long absences from home, family and regular social life. Master’s degree (or higher) in: natural sciences (including physical sciences, Earth, atmosphere Flexible with regards to place of work or ocean sciences, biological sciences, medicine), (inside or outside Europe). engineering, mathematics, computer sciences; or an experimental degree. Calm under .

Three years’ relevant professional Willing to participate post-graduate experience, showing in life science experiments. progressive increase in responsibilities.

Fluent in English (minimum CEFR C1). Knowledge of additional languages (minimum CEFR B1-B2) is an asset. PARASTRONAUT PROJECT 170 160

150 As part of ESA’s commitment to enhance The selected candidate(s) will work with inclusiveness and fair representation, 140 ESA to assess and optimise the conditions the Agency is launching the parastronaut 130 allowing people with physical disabilities A. STRONAUT feasibility project to assess the to work and live in space. conditions for including astronauts 120 with disabilities to work in space. A. STRONAUT This project is a new endeavour for 110 Europe and a global first. 100

90 The educational and psychological requirements for these candidates are the 80 same as for the ESA astronaut selection. A. STRONAUT However, with respect to physical 70 requirements, this feasibility project will allow the inclusion of candidates with 60 The feasibility project aims at offering the following disabilities: professional spaceflight 50 opportunities to a wider pool of • a lower limb deficiency, as follows: talents. Starting with selected disabilities 40 - Single or double foot deficiency to have a thorough understanding of the through ankle 30 potential challenges in terms of safety - Single or double leg deficiency and operations in space, the scope of 20 below the knee disabilities may then be extended aiming • a pronounced leg length difference at broader inclusion. 10 • a short stature (<130 cm) SELECTION PROCESS

RECEIVING 31 March to PSYCHOLOGICAL July to November MEDICAL May to July INTERVIEW September 2022 APPLICATIONS 28 May 2021 TEST SERIES 2021 SELECTION 2022 ROUND 2

APPOINTMENT May to June PRACTICAL AND January to April INTERVIEW July to September SCREENING AND 2021 PSYCHOMETRIC 2022 ROUND 1 2022 ANNOUNCEMENT TESTING

October 2022

The situation regarding COVID-19 may change this schedule. HOW TO APPLY

1 Applications open 2 Submit a complete 3 Create an account 4 Upload all documents specified in the vacancy notice: 31 March 2021 application online through and answer an online a Europass CV (in English) and close 28 May 2021 the ESA careers website questionnaire a motivation letter (in English) before the vacancy closes a copy of your passport a medical certificate issued by an aviation medical examiner showing you are medically certified for a Private Pilot Licence or higher. You do not need to actually hold a pilot licence.

Please take care when applying. All incomplete, late, or incorrectly submitted applications will be disregarded without exception. THE : SPACE FOR EVERYONE

Established in 1975, ESA now has 22 Member States and cooperates with many others. These countries are home to more than 500 million European citizens. If you’re one of them, then we’re working for you.

Our mission is the peaceful exploration and use of space for the benefit of everyone. We watch over Earth, develop and launch inspiring and unique space projects, fly astronauts and push the boundaries of science and technology, seeking answers to the big questions about the Universe.

We are a family of scientists, engineers and business professionals from all over Europe, working together in a diverse and multinational environment. Space-age metals Understanding for artificial limbs BENEFITS OF SPACEFLIGHT brain trauma

applicableastronauts to elderly directly Research on

Space-age metals for lighter, more fuel Human and robotic spaceflight contributes efficient aircraft I Removing odours to a circular economy. Our research from frying food decreasing bacteria N and technology developments improve Cholesterol- Enabling telerobotics energy efficiency, automation, robotics and in disaster areas artificial intelligence, as well as habitation, Better tasting crops D with less waste recycling, waste management and additive N Ion plasmas to manufacturing processes and technology. disinfect hospitals Turning 85% U A of waste water Click on the benefits to the right for more into fresh water

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open-heart surgery thermometer used in Boosting immune ESA ASTRONAUTS Claudie Haigneré European astronauts on the International STS-100 Andromède Marco Polo STS-111 Odissea April — May 2001 October 2001 April — May 2002 June 2002 October — November 2002 Frank De Winne Léopold Eyharts Roberto Vittori André Kuipers

OasISS STS-122 STS-122 Esperia Celsius Astrolab Eneide DELTA Cervantes May — December 2009 February — March 2008 February 2008 October — November 2007 December 2006 July — December 2006 April 2005 April 2004 October 2003

Christer Fuglesang Paolo Nespoli Roberto Vittori André Kuipers

Alissé MagISStra DAMA PromISSe Volare Blue Dot Futura Iriss Principia August — September 2009 December 2010 — May 2011 May 2011 December 2011 — July 2012 May — November 2013 May — November 2014 November 2014 — June 2015 September — October 2015 December 2015 — June 2016

You? Luca Parmitano Alexander Gerst Paolo Nespoli Thomas Pesquet ? Cosmic Kiss Alpha Beyond Horizons Vita Proxima Autumn 2021 April 2021 July 2019 — February 2020 June — December 2018 July — December 2017 November 2016 — May 2017 ASTRONAUTS IN SPACE Social Experiments Phone calls with Perform experiments autonomously family and friends. or in contact with mission control. Spacewalk Lunch Exit the Space Station to install new experiments 12 or carry out maintenance. 11 00 1 23 13 Usually an all-day event. 1022 142 Fitness Maintenance 9 21 15 3 Exercise for two hours Make sure all equipment per day, seven days a 8 20 164 as well as the Station itself week. 19 17 is in tip-top shape. 7 18 5 Breakfast 6

Health check Participate in weekly Weekends conferences with doctors. Dinner Carry out housekeeping, public relations and voluntary tasks, Sleep plus spare time. Daily meeting Eight hours 20-minute meeting about the day’s planned per day. activities and any changes to the schedule from mission control. ASTRONAUTS ON EARTH

Tasks ESA astronauts perform Education and outreach when they are not in space. Training Attend special events, speak Refresher sessions, language with young people about ESA classes, medical training, and space topics. mission-specific training. Office work Attend meetings and briefings, serve on boards, advise on procedures and protocols. Mission support Public relations and media Lead team in charge of Give interviews, host visits, ESA astronaut operations record special messages, and crew support. social media. Exercise Maintain an adequate level of fitness through sport and exercise. CAPCOM Mission control Travel Guide astronauts through Travel for events, spacewalks and conferences, training Special assignments operations by radio from and longer-term postings Participate in analogue missions such mission control. with partner agencies. as NASA’s NEEMO and ESA’s CAVES and Pangaea training. SUPPORT TEAM

Space exploration is a team effort, requiring many functions. Here are a few other roles that help ensure mission success. Eurocoms Trainers Europe’s specialist communicators Astronaut trainers prepare crew members and biomedical engineers are the voice link to carry out tasks and experiments in space. between astronauts in space and ground control teams on Earth. Planners An astronaut’s time is a precious resource, Crew support planners make sure this is scheduled for use The wellbeing of astronauts and their in the most efficient way. families is supported by a dedicated crew operations team. Flight directors The team at ESA’s Medical experts make sure astronauts work safely in Europe’s Flight surgeons, exercise specialists, space laboratory, and command and control administrators and other experts take care systems from the ground. of an astronaut’s health. Public relations, media Scientists and researchers and communications Principal investigators and their teams This team brings the fascinating science develop and support the experiments and operations of astronaut missions to astronauts perform in . the attention of the public.

Find out more about ESA careers. PHASES OF TRAINING

Astronaut training is constantly evolving. However, there are three key phases for European astronauts.

BASIC Introduction to: • ESA • Basic astronaut skills A. STRONAUT TRAINING • International space programmes • Russian language One year, at European • Engineering and science fundamentals • Survival skills Astronaut Centre • Space systems and vehicles

Gain in-depth knowledge: PRE-ASSIGNMENT • Resource and data operations, robotics • Medical practices and payloads TRAINING • Navigation • At this stage astronauts also Length varies, at • Maintenance support operations for ongoing all partner sites • Spacewalks missions

INCREMENT Once assigned a spaceflight: TRAINING • Prepare for assigned mission Around two years, • Focus on specific tasks and at multiple locations experiments to be performed in space TRAINING LOCATIONS

Canadian Space Agency ESA European Astronaut Centre Robotics Training Centre European Astronaut Centre Home to ESA’s astronaut corps, it trains Montreal, Canada Cologne, Germany Europeans to fly to the International Space Station, while preparing for an exciting future Roscosmos of space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. NASA Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre Star City, Russia Houston, United States 200+ People involved in astronaut training across the globe.

A. STRONAUT JAXA SpaceX Tsukuba Space Center Dragon training Tsukuba Science City, Japan Hawthorne, United States 30+ NASA Roscosmos Astronauts from all Kennedy Space Center over the world train Florida, United States Baikonur, each year at ESA’s astronaut centre. CAVES

CAVES stands for Cooperative The cave environment provides many Adventure for Valuing and Exercising space-relevant conditions, including human behaviour and performance isolation from the outside world, Skills. The three-week course confinement, minimal privacy, prepares astronauts to work safely technical challenges, as well as limited and effectively in multicultural equipment and supplies for hygiene teams in an environment where and comfort. Participants must adapt to safety is critical – in caves. living and working together in a unique environment to meet scientific and exploration objectives.

Constant attention to safety rules, procedures and equipment is critical to the successful completion of the mission. PANGAEA

The Pangaea course provides European astronauts practical knowledge of geology of Earth, Moon and to prepare them to work with planetary scientists and engineers in the next exploration missions.

The course is split into several parts over a year, in these locations: Astronauts train to work together with robots, scientists and engineers on Earth, Earth and lunar geology Moon highland terrain using the best field geology and planetary Nördlinger Ries crater, Lofoten, Norway observation techniques. Germany Martian sedimentary Geological field training geology and surface and astrobiology processes Lanzarote, Spain Bletterbach canyon, ESA’S HUMAN AND ROBOTIC EXPLORATION DESTINATIONS

ESA’s Human and Robotic Exploration programme will see astronauts and robots explore low Earth orbit on the International Space Station, the Moon and Mars to bring back knowledge and benefits on Earth. European Large Logistic Lander Earth International Return Space Station Orion Orbiter European Service Sample Module Fetch Rover

Gateway Sample I-Hab Container Cislunar Transfer Vehicle Esprit Trace Gas ExoMars Orbiter Rover

400 km 385 000 km 55 — 400 million km INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

The International Space Station is an example of broad cooperation, uniting Europe, USA, Russia, Japan and Canada in one of the largest partnerships in the history of science.

The Station is one of the greatest engineering works The endeavour has brought achieved by humankind, and proof that it is humankind together to live possible to sustain life away from Earth. Results and work in space uninterrupted for relating to the effects of long stays in orbit teach over two decades. us how to manage the risks of future human missions farther out in space. GATEWAY

The lunar Gateway will be assembled and operated in a highly elliptical The space station will orbit around the Moon. also offer a place to relay communications and is a base for scientific research.

Astronauts will use the Orion spacecraft to travel to the Gateway. It will be a staging post for missions to the Moon and Mars. It will provide shelter and a place to stock up on supplies for astronauts en route to more distant destinations.

The Gateway has a mass of around 40 tonnes and will consist of a service module, a communications module, a connecting module, an for spacewalks, a place for the astronauts to live and an operations station Astronauts will be able to occupy the to command the Gateway’s robotic arm or rovers on the Moon. Gateway for up to 90 days at a time. ORION EUROPEAN SERVICE MODULE

Orion is a NASA spacecraft set for missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.

ESA has designed Orion’s European This is the first collaboration Service Module – the powerhouse between ESA and NASA on that will supply the spacecraft with a transportation vehicle that will carry electricity, propulsion, thermal control, astronauts farther into space air and water. than ever before. ROCKETS Going to space

Getting to space requires a rocket launch. These are the rockets that ESA astronauts could be launched on.

The Russian , commercial SpaceX Crew Dragon and Boeing Starliner fly to the International Space Station.

The Space Launch System rocket will launch the

ROSCOSMOS Orion spacecraft on Artemis missions to the Gateway and the Moon. 50 m 70 m 52 m 110 m

Roscosmos SpaceX Boeing NASA Organisation Soyuz FG Falcon 9 Atlas V Space Launch System Rocket Soyuz MS spaceraft Crew Dragon Starliner Orion Spacecraft ESA MEMBER STATES

ESA is an international organisation with 22 Member States. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.

Member States Associate Members Austria Italy Latvia Belgium Luxembourg Slovenia Czech Republic The Netherlands Denmark Norway Long-standing Cooperating State Estonia Poland Canada Finland Portugal France Romania Cooperating States in Europe Germany Spain Bulgaria Greece Sweden Croatia Hungary Switzerland Cyprus Ireland United Kingdom Lithuania Malta Slovakia

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INFOGRAPHICS

Your way to space Who can apply? Requirements to Parastronaut project Selection process How to apply The European Space Benefits of apply Agency: space for spaceflight everyone

ESA astronauts Astronauts in space Astronauts on Earth Support team Phases of training Training locations CAVES Pangaea

ESA’s human and International Space Gateway Orion European Rockets ESA Member States Establishments robotic exploration Station Service Module and facilities destinations IMAGES

Ten years of ESA’s Running Spacewalk Orion Gateway Spacewalk training CAVES course Pangaea course 2009 class of experiments astronauts

ESA astronauts, Science Spacewalk Orion Gateway Training CAVES course Pangaea course class of 2009

ESA astronauts, Science Spacewalk Orion European Gateway concept Training CAVES course Pangaea course class of 2009 Service Module VIDEOS

International Space A decade of Human spaceflight Visions of human Alpha mission Blue Dot mission Tour of the Destination: low Station: 20 years in European space and robotic spaceflight and training — Thomas summary — Columbus laboratory Earth orbit 60 seconds science on exploration future robotic exploration Pesquet Alexander Gerst with Tim Peake Columbus

New eyes — Wall of the world — Space medicine: Space medicine: Science: Foams Science: fluid Science: growing Science: boiling Thomas Pesquet Alexander Gerst staying fit in space staying healthy in mixtures blood vessels space

Space Station Three months of Dizziness Sloshing liquids Gyroscopes in space Training for a CAVES 2019 Pangaea-X science with science in space experiment with with Thomas with Tim Peake spacewalk with Samantha with Alexander Tim Peake Pesquet Matthias Maurer Cristoforetti Gerst WEBSITES

ESA ESA astronaut Careers at ESA ESA astronauts The European European Astronaut International Space Orion selection astronaut corps Centre Station

Gateway Human and robotic Luca Parmitano Alexander Gerst Samantha Andreas Mogensen Tim Peake Thomas Pesquet exploration Cristoforetti

Matthias Maurer ESA exploration CAVES and Pangaea Lunar web Human and Robotic CAVES videos ESA videos for ESA Explores blog blog documentary Exploration on professionals: Fit for podcast YouTube space

ESA Brand Centre — ESA Patch CONTACT

Ninja Menning www.esa.int/YourWayToSpace Head of Newsroom and Media Relations [email protected] ESA ESTEC, Netherlands .com/EuropeanSpaceAgency

Jules Grandsire Corporate Communication Manager instagram.com/EuropeanSpaceAgency [email protected] ESA Headquarters, Paris, France youtube.com/EuropeanSpaceAgency Marco Trovatello Communication Programme Officer [email protected] flickr.com/EuropeanSpaceAgency ESA EAC, Cologne, Germany

Rosita Suenson linkedin.com/company/european-space-agency/ Communication Programme Officer [email protected] ESA ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands .com/esa twitter.com/esaspaceflight

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