Title: ESA astronaut selection is open. Apply before 28 May 2021.
Applications are open for Astronaut Candidates at ESA
ESA astronaut news
In April 2021, Frank de Winne, Manager of the International Space Station (ISS) representing the European Space Agency (ESA) announced that at the end of 2021 German astronaut Mattias Morrer will go to the ISS onboard another SpaceX flight, and in 2022, Italian Captain Samantha Cristoforetti will fly back to ISS after her first mission, Expedition 42 in 2016. Captain Cristoforetti holds the record for the longest uninterrupted spaceflight by a European astronaut at 199 days, 16 hours.
De Winne also reminded the public that after more than a decade, ESA is recruiting astronauts. The window for applications closes on 28 May 2021.
Apply to be an astronaut
As soon as possible:
- Familiarise yourself with the application requirements and process. To visit the ESA page Calling for future astronauts.
- If you like what you find, go to the page Launch your career.
- Download and read the Astronaut Application Handbook from that page or click here (6MB PDF). If you think becoming an Astronaut Candidate is for you, go back to the last page and click Apply Now.
- Select the job from the jobs page that opens: Astronaut or Astronaut (with a physical disability).
- Click the Apply Now on that page to take you to a Career Opportunities at ESA page to create an account or log in if you already have one.
- Upload your documents (CV, Motivation letter and Image of your passport) and complete personal details. You can Save your changes until you are ready to Submit and potentially Shoot up for the stars, where the sky is no longer the limit.
Requirements
A guide to the requirements and explanation of each section is in the Astronaut Applicant Handbook (see above).
In essence, you need to have at least one Master’s degree and 3 months experience working in Natural science, Medicine, Engineering, Mathematics or Computer Science.
Who can apply? Need a Master’s degree and 3-year experience in natural sciences, medicine, engineering, mathematics or computer sciences. ESA, 2021.
You will also need to have experience with teamwork, positions of responsibility, work in the field outside of the office. You will be willing to perform physical activities, exercise daily, train underwater, perform manual activities, operate and participate as subject of science experiments and much more.
Timeline
The process of selection before any training commences takes roughly a year and a half. Applications close at the end of May 2021 and results of the selection will be announced in October 2022. The process takes 7 steps after the initial application: Screening, psychological testing, practical and psychometric testing, medical selection and 2 rounds of interviews before appointment.
Selection process: 8 steps from May 2021 to Oct 2021. ESA, 2021.
You can do it!
Apply, apply and good luck!
Reach for space! ESA, 2021.
