1,362 aspiring astronauts and 29 aspiring parastronauts with physical disabilities who have passed the first selection phase to enter the European Space Agency (ESA): chosen from over 23,000 candidates who had responded to the call last spring, they are the majority men (61% among aspiring astronauts and 72% among parastronauts) and will continue the selection process by undergoing psychological and cognitive tests, in order to then be able to access interviews and medical examinations.
This was announced by ESA.
“We were impressed with the quality of the candidates,” says Guillaume Weerts, ESA's Head of Space Medicine.
The selection to become astronauts "is a very competitive process - adds Antonella Costa, Esa Human Resources Business Partner - already meeting the initial criteria to participate is something to be proud of".
After this first screening, made on the basis of the questionnaire and the documents submitted by the candidates together with the application for participation in the call, the selection process will continue with cognitive, personality and motor coordination tests, then with individual and group practical tests.
The medical examination will then follow to verify that the physical and mental abilities of the candidates meet the international standards required for long-duration space missions.
Then there will be interviews, to test the technical and behavioral skills, checks on the training course and those on the criminal record.
Finally, there will be an interview with the ESA general manager, which will lead to the final decision.
The announcement of the members of the next astronaut class is scheduled for next fall.
