ESA ASTRONAUT SELECTION 2021 Your way to space CONTENTS Your way to space 3 International Space Station 20 Who can apply? 4 Gateway 21 Requirements to apply 5 Orion European Service Module 22 Parastronaut project 6 Rockets 23 Selection process 7 ESA Member States 24 How to apply 8 Establishments and facilities 25 The European Space Agency: space for everyone 9 Benefits of spaceflight 10 Infographics 26 ESA astronauts 11 Images 27 Astronauts in space 12 Videos 28 Astronauts on Earth 13 Websites 29 Support team 14 Contact 30 Phases of training 15 Training locations 16 This document contains videos and links to web pages for CAVES 17 more information. Click on the and icons to discover more information. Links to recommended images, videos and Pangaea 18 animations are provided towards the end of this information kit. ESA’s human and robotic exploration destinations 19 An internet connection is required to access the webpages. February 2021 2021 February 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 test pilot degree. Calm under pressure. 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 EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY: 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 Restoring muscle information about each subject and how AI robotics S loss from bedridden it is helping people on Earth. for factories M patients Remote Scaling up T biofuel production U ultrasound 52 R techniques Odour-absorbing sportswear H Improving nutrition Y Space tech usedsurgery with easy-to-grow during laser eye supplements Conserving gas during transport by freezing New CT-scanners for bone imaging techniques Lung diagnosis system Non-invasive open-heart surgery thermometer used in Boosting immune ESA ASTRONAUTS Umberto Guidoni Claudie Haigneré Roberto Vittori Philippe Perrin Frank De Winne European astronauts on the International Space Station 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 Hans Schlegel Paolo Nespoli Christer Fuglesang Thomas Reiter Roberto Vittori André Kuipers Pedro Duque 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 Luca Parmitano Alexander Gerst Samantha Cristoforetti Andreas Mogensen Tim Peake 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? Matthias Maurer Thomas Pesquet 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