Appendix I Astronaut Selection Criteria How can I apply? You can apply online via the ESA web portal (www.esa.int/astronautselection - whenever the next selection is announced). Registration begins with Pre-registration: you will need to provide identity information and a JAR-FCL 3, Class 2 medical examination certificate or equivalent, from an Aviation Medical Examiner who has been certified by his/her national Aviation Medical Authority; or alternatively the ESA Medical Statement, approved by a physician. What are the steps in the selection process? 1. initial selection according to basic criteria 2. psychological tests for selected candidates 3. second round of psychological tests and interviews 4. medical tests 5. job interview The final list of applicants is submitted to the Director General of the European Space Agency for recruitment. Where can I apply? Registration takes place online and selected candidates are informed about the locations for the testing and interviews. © Springer International Publishing AG 2017 208 E. Seedhouse, Tim Peake and Britain’s Road To Space, Springer Praxis Books, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-57907-8 Appendix I: Astronaut selection criteria 209 What are the required disciplines and qualifications to apply? What should I study? Typically, candidates should be knowledgeable in the scientific disciplines and should have demonstrated outstanding abilities in appropriate fields, preferably including opera- tional skills. Candidates can apply based on their academic or piloting credentials. Candidates sub- mitting their applications based on their academic credentials should have a university degree (or equivalent), at the masters or preferably doctorate level, in the fields of the ­natural sciences (physics, biology, chemistry, and Earth sciences or related disciplines), medicine, engineering, information technology or mathematics. Flight and other opera- tions experience are an asset. Candidates submitting their applications on the basis of their qualifications as pilots will have logged a minimum of 1,000 hours in various high-performance aircraft. They should be test pilots and/or hold a university degree or equivalent (bachelors level or higher) in one of the aforementioned disciplines. Successful candidates should have at least three years of experience in their respective professions and will have passed the necessary medical and psychological examinations, which will be administered during the astronaut selection process. It is a strong asset, but not mandatory, to have studied aeronautics and astronautics. Above all: no matter what you have studied, you should be good at it. I don’t speak English, should I apply? This post requires a solid command of the English language, and it is an advantage to know another foreign language. I don’t speak Russian, should I apply? Yes, speaking Russian is an asset but not a requirement. This is the second official language aboard the ISS, so you will learn it during astronaut training. Which medical and psychological standards will be used to select the candidates? An ESA Astronaut requires a multitude of skills, capabilities and characteristics. One important component of finding someone with the ‘right stuff’ is an assessment of how healthy each applicant is from a medical and psychological perspective. In general, normal medical and psychological health standards are used. These standards are derived from evidence-based medicine, verified from clinical studies. • An applicant should be able to pass a JAR-FCL 3, Class 2 medical examination or equivalent, conducted by an Aviation Medical Examiner certified by his/her national Aviation Medical Authority. 210 Appendix I: Astronaut selection criteria • The applicant must be free from any disease. • The applicant must be free from any dependency on drugs, alcohol or tobacco. • The applicant must have the normal range of motion and functionality in all joints. • The applicant must have visual acuity in both eyes of 100 percent (20/20) either uncorrected, or corrected with lenses or contact lenses. • The applicant must be free from any psychiatric disorders. • The applicant must demonstrate cognitive, mental and personality capabilities to enable him/her to work efficiently in an intellectually and socially highly demanding environment The rationale behind requiring an initial medical screening certificate will help ensure that astronaut applicants already possess a minimum level of health that is also required for anyone desiring a private pilot license. The JAR-FCL 3 Class 2 (or equivalent such as those from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), European military or professional pilot medical certificate, or ESA Astronaut Applicant Medical Statement medical examination) is able to detect, efficiently and rela- tively inexpensively, many of the most common health-related factors that would prevent an applicant from becoming a private pilot, and hence also an astronaut. This helps to streamline the process and ensure that applicants with the most likely chance for success are approved to continue to the next phase of the selection process. Obviously, there are more rigorous health demands to become an astronaut, hence the dedicated round of very intensive medical examinations that happen later in the selection process. The JAR-FCL 3 Class 2 medical certificate is a European-wide accepted standard developed by the Joint Aviation Authority. It can only be issued by specifically certified physicians (i.e., aeromedical examiners). Recognizing that it may not be feasible for every interested applicant to obtain a JAR-FCL 3 Class 2 medical certificate, ESA will also accept an equivalent medical statement that has been authorized by a physician (for example a general medical practitioner). The ESA Astronaut Medical Statement includes equivalent medical and health exami- nations to the JAR-FCL 3 Class 2, but can be authorized by a physician (e.g. general practitioner). Remember, it is very important that you ONLY upload the Medical Certificate. Do NOT upload any medical data information associated with your Medical Certificate. Do I need to be fit to become an astronaut? Which sport should I pursue? It is important to be healthy, with an age-adequate fitness level. We are not looking for extreme fitness or top-level athletes – too many over developed muscles may be a disad- vantage for astronauts in weightlessness. There is no specific sport that can be recommended. Physical activities are in general beneficial to your health. Appendix I: Astronaut selection criteria 211 How can I prepare for the medical tests? During the medical selection, applicants will undergo numerous tests across many health areas. Some tests are physically demanding, like bicycle or treadmill exercises. Some may also be invasive and others may be just questionnaires. There is nothing you can do gener- ally to prepare for these medical examinations. If an examination requires specific prepa- rations, such as fasting before giving a blood sample, applicants will receive instructions. Do astronauts develop serious health problems during their stays in space? No, there are no dangerous conditions that develop because of spaceflight. However, the space environment is hazardous and the astronauts’ well-being depends on life-support systems. Weightlessness does have temporary potentially negative effects on human phys- iology, such as physical deconditioning and bone demineralization. The ESA Crew Medical Support Office and its staff are responsible for avoiding such hazards and ­preventing the space environment from affecting the physical and mental health of the astronauts. The environment and life-support systems are closely monitored, and there is a thorough preventive and countermeasure program. Is it more difficult for a woman to become an astronaut? No, from the physical point of view, it is not harder for a woman. The medical and ­psy­chological requirements for women and men are identical, apart from, of course, some gender-­specific medical examinations. Physical fitness and cardiovascular fitness are always evaluated on an individual basis and the fitness target values are adjusted to the physiological differences between men and women. A woman therefore does not have to meet the male norms, and vice-versa. My vision is not perfect; can I still become an astronaut? There is no clear yes/no answer because there is such a multitude of visual defects. However, vision problems account for most disqualifications. The main tests involve visual acuity, color perception and 3-D vision. Wearing spectacles or contact lenses is not a reason for disqualification per se, but it has to be evaluated if, for example, a visual defect is known to progress rapidly. This could mean disqualification. Minor visual defects, even though requiring lenses, may be regarded as compatible with space duties. Recently, a variety of surgical interventions to correct visual acuity has become more common. Some of these procedures will lead to disqualification, while others are accept- able. Every case will be judged individually. 212 Appendix I: Astronaut selection criteria In general, people applying to become European Astronauts (applicants) will need to submit many detailed pieces of information, participate in several rounds of psychological and medical screenings and participate in several interviews. What can you expect during the medical and psychological selection process when you apply to become an ESA Astronaut? The psychological and medical selection is a rather