Winks to women and opens to disabled people, the new astronaut recruitment campaign that the European Space Agency (ESA) will launch on March 31st: the goal is to select from 4 to 6 'owners' and 10-20 'reserves' in view of the new missions on the Space Station and the Moon, as well as for flights with commercial and international partners.
Challenges that require super preparation in scientific subjects, but also motivation, flexibility and versatility.
Those under-50 who are convinced they have what it takes, can submit their application online, by connecting to the website www.esa.int/YourWayToSpace.
Aspiring astronauts should step forward "to test themselves and discover something more about themselves," says ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.
"They don't have to think about the position or the goals they can reach, but what they can give them to space exploration and the agency."
We must in fact remember that "the astronaut, if he is lucky, spends 5-10% of his time in space: the rest he spends on Earth, covering very different roles".
This is why the announcement traces a very precise identikit of aspiring astronauts, who must be "motivated, but also versatile and flexible", explains Antonella Costa, Human Resources Business Partner.
To apply "you must be a citizen of a Member State or associated with ESA, with a specialist degree or a higher degree in natural sciences, medicine, engineering, mathematics or computer science, but we also accept an experimental test pilot's license", explains Costa .
"In addition we ask for at least three years of work experience and fluent English, and possibly an additional language. The maximum age to apply is 50, in order to give access to at least two flights."
"Diversity is one of our greatest assets", underlines Ersilia Vaudo-Scarpetta, Chief Diversity Officer of ESA, recalling how the recruitment campaign will try to attract the attention of girls to increase female participation, "which reached 16%. in previous campaigns ".
In the sign of inclusion, the call for the first time also opens to those with specific physical disabilities (an amputation at the level of the feet or below the knees, a strong difference in leg length or a stature less than 130 centimeters), selected after a consultation with the International Paralympic Committee.
The 'Parastronaut' project will be a feasibility study: "for this reason we cannot guarantee that the parastronaut will fly into space - underlines Parmitano - but we will put all our effort into understanding how to adapt the programs".
The aspiring astronauts will have to submit their application by 28 May.
The selection process, structured in six phases, will end in October 2022. 4 to 6 astronauts will be hired directly by ESA, but all those who have passed the selection will be able to become reserves, awaiting a contract to fixed time for a short-term mission.
"My advice to candidates - says Parmitano - is to enjoy the selection, a unique opportunity to meet extraordinary and super-qualified people. I admit, however, that waiting for the results is unnerving: I remember that when I received the fateful phone call I burst into cry with joy, the tension finally had an outlet ".
