Mrs Simonetta Di Pippo, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight and ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain with the six individuals who will become Europe's new astronauts were presented at a press conference held at ESA Headquarters in Paris, France, on 20 May 2009. The new recruits will join the European Astronaut Corps and start their training to prepare for future missions to the International Space Station, and beyond.
From left to right: Mrs Simonetta Di Pippo, Luca Parmitano, Alexander Gerst, Andreas Mogensen, Samantha Cristoforetti, Timothy Peake and Thomas Pesquet, Jean-Jacques Dordain.