DO YOU WANT TO BE AN ASTRONAUT?

After more than 10 years, ESA (European Space Agency) is looking for new astronauts. Applications will be open from 31 March to 28 May 2021.

At this link you will find information on how to apply, once the deadline opens.

You will have to register, fill in the application form, answer an online questionnaire and upload a series of documents certifying your state of health, level of English, etc.

But what do you need to be an astronaut?

The starting conditions are as follows:

• Minimum Master’s degree and three years of experience in one of the following fields of knowledge: Natural Sciences (Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geology …..), Medicine, Engineering, Mathematics or Computer Science.
• Be a citizen of one of the ESA countries or a partner country.
• Good knowledge of English (C1)
• Strong motivation, given the working conditions: irregular working hours, travel, distance from family and social life, etc.
• Remain calm under pressure.
• Willing to participate in life science experiments.
• For the first time, people with disabilities can participate.

As you can see, the selection conditions mean that not everyone is qualified to apply. Due to the need for qualifications and experience, you must be at least 26 years of age.
But if you meet the requirements and submit the application, the steps that are followed (they are eliminatory) are as follows.

• Candidates are screened, those who do not meet the requirements are excluded.
• Psychological tests.
• Practical and psychometric tests.
• Medical selection.
• First phase of interviews.
• Second phase of interviews.
• Announcement of successful candidates.

If you pass all the phases and are selected, are you already an astronaut? No, not yet. In conversation with Matthias Maurer (German astronaut) when he was in Jaén at the Space Talks event (Jaén 12/11/2018), it is necessary to do a training period that goes through the following phases.

• Basic training. One year at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne.
• Pre-assignment trainingof variable duration at multiple locations
• Increased trainingabout two years in multiple locations depending on the mission assigned.

This is not to describe what is done in each of the phases of training, but you can imagine that it is an in-depth training in all the necessary scientific and technological areas. Remember that astronauts are on their own in space flight and have to know everything and do everything.
Taking into account the selection period (about 18 months) plus the training period (a few years), a person who intends to become an astronaut will not go on a mission for at least 7 years from the time he or she applies for selection.

The training places, apart from the first year in Cologne, are located all over the world, in the USA, Russia, Japan, etc. In addition, training takes place in environments considered to be similar to possible extraterrestrial environments such as the Canary Islands or in caves. Also, underwater, in submarine bases where the astronauts live together as if they were in a space vehicle and where they carry out training experiments.
As you can see, the preparation is tough, which is logical if we understand what an astronaut has to face.
What happens if you can’t apply or are not selected? Well, you are already an astronaut on the biggest spaceship in existence, Earth. We travel with her through the universe and your mission as an “astronaut” inhabitant of her is to go where no one has gone before, and that is achieved with training, taking care of the ship and collaborating globally.

Luis José García García (Biotecnomago)