ESA seeks new astronauts | Media event

For the first time in over a decade, the European Space Agency (ESA) is seeking new astronauts.
This one-hour-long briefing with ESA experts and astronauts outlines the selection criteria and desirable traits for astronauts. It also provides further detail around the ‘Fly!’ Feasibility Study and astronaut reserve, as well as ESA’s vision for the next 10 years of human and robotic exploration.

Participants:
Jan Wörner, ESA Director General
Samantha Cristoforetti, ESA astronaut
Tim Peake, ESA astronaut
David Parker, ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration
Frank De Winne, Head of the European Astronaut Centre
Jennifer Ngo-Anh, ESA Research and Payloads Programme Coordinator
Lucy van der Tas, ESA Head of Talent Acquisition

Moderator:
Ninja Menning, Communication Department

Event in other languages:

#ESA
#AstronautSelection
#YourWayToSpace

[coenogo]

I’m too young and unexperienced to apply right now. I just see this as more time for me to prepare for when I get my chance! Go ESA!

[juliaforst]

I'm 25 and in the middle of my Neuroscience Master's programme. I'm based in Germany and very fluent in German, English and Polish. This career is my biggest dream!

[aniaa]

Such an opportunity happens once in a lifetime. 13 years ago I was too young, next time I will be too old to try.

[mehdimokeddem]

ESA selection : 2021-2022
me : 18 years old

The next selction is for me 💪( if there will be one )

[dr]

Always to young maybe I’ll get lucky in 10 years time

[paralympianandylewis]

I’m an amputee, Paralympic, World and European gold medalist, private pilot, adventure seeker and always wanted to got to space, however don’t have a masters degree so rules me out (only an honourably one) good luck everyone who’s applying

[jensrenders]

Is that 3 years of experience at the beginning or end of the selection proces? With a selection process of 16 months that makes a huge difference.

[aliceseaman]

Sadly I’m only 15 but this is definitely something I want to do in the future!

[chikenmilk]

I’ll have to wait a couple more years! Would love to apply but i am only 15, Good luck for the ones trying and thank you ESA for everything you do <3

[marissabalidoy]

Shared this in my FB timeline. <3 Is the call for career and reserve astronauts open only to European member states?

[espoirtsague]

Thank you for the conférence. We have learn many thinks about the Space area.

[marounjayden]

It's been my dream to be an astronaut since i was 6. I watched an ISS fly by in front of the moon. Then I saw the live event of when we landed Curiosity on mars. Im 14 now, I see that i have many fellow future astronauts which i would love to meet in the future. Thank you very much, Hope to see you one day in the future!

[josefinaugustsson]

I’m to young right now and I hope I get lucky in 10 years💫💫 This is my dream job and I’m going to work to get there!

[snuffying]

for all you that say you are too young for this! you are not too young! there are so manyof us who are on the contrary, too old for this!!!! we have no chance of ever getting a degree like they need for hte minimal reqs, or to shape our life in such a way that we have the needed skills, but you, YOU have the power to shape your life the way you want it to be! go choose a STEM degree! enjoy it! you are the hope of our future generations!

[blink]

They can send people to space, but can't find the mute button, I think I'll apply I should have a chance!

[selina]

I immediately state that I find this new policy adopted by a space agency EXCELLENT. Leaving aside all the conjectures that can be made about this revolutionary opening by ESA for the recruitment of "Astronauts", I would say that the question is very practical. With all due respect to the members of the Military and Civil Aviation, what is more effective, training a pilot to become a scientist or a scientist to become an astronaut? The geologist Harrison Schmitt in the Apollo 17 mission, the sacrifice of the teacher Christa McAuliffe in 1986 and all the "civilian tourists" who became astronauts must have taught us something.
Whatever specialist work a person has to perform must not be conditioned by the work environment and the means by which she must reach it. In the early days of aviation, no researcher traveling to another continent was required to also be the pilot of that plane. After all, even the researchers in the bases in Antarctica are prepared to work in that hostile environment, but no one would think of making a mountaineer who has climbed Everest a scientist working at the south pole. After all, the work to be done in the ISS lasts 6 months compared to a journey of a few hours.
Good Luck!

[jacciullo]

I would like to apply but sadly i'm only 14.

[kayalawton]

I would absolutely love to apply but I’m not old enough yet... hopefully when I’m older I will try

[albusdumbledore]

I’m a train driver with a bachelors degree in engineering. Unfortunately, even NASA’s latest recruitment last March now want masters degree too. Previously, they asked for only bachelors degree. Would have loved to apply otherwise.

[henrymac]

Absolutely gutted. I'm 52 but meet all the other application requirements