EUROPEAN ASTRONAUTS

EUROPEAN ASTRONAUTS

Beginning in 1983, ESA astronauts took part in missions on the Space Shuttle and the Russian Mir space station, gaining a wealth of experience.

In 1990, the European Astronaut Centre was established in Germany to train European astronauts for missions to the International Space Station. Most have already flown on missions to the Station, playing a vital role in the assembly and operation of key elements.

With the Station fast nearing completion, a resident crew carries out research ranging from life sciences and human physiology to materials science, delivering results that cannot be achieved here on Earth. Such studies bring new benefits, from understanding the causes of diseases or developing techniques for their prevention and treatment, to the introduction of new manufacturing processes.

ESA recruited six new astronauts in 2009 to prepare for the next decade of human spaceflight and exploration. Having completed their basic training at the end of 2010, Luca Parmitano and Alexander Gerst have already been assigned to fly to the Station as flight engineers in 2013 and 2014, respectively.