ESA Astronaut Reserve at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre

The first half of the ESA Astronaut Reserve in the training hall at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. Members of the ESA Astronaut Reserve—Sara García Alonso from Spain, Andrea Patassa from Italy, Arnaud Prost from France, Amelie Schoenenwald from Germany, and Aleš Svoboda from Czechia began training at EAC on 28 October 2024. The programme covers selected modules of ESA’s one-year basic training typically completed by career astronauts, equipping members of ESA’s astronaut reserve with the skills needed to support Europe’s future space exploration and scientific research. Training includes technical and operational skills, spacecraft systems, survival exercises in water and winter conditions, and initial spacewalk training.