ESA portrait of Carmen Possnig

Carmen Possnig from Austria was selected as a member of the ESA Astronaut Reserve in November 2022. She began her Astronaut Reserve Training at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) near Cologne, Germany, in January 2025. 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, biology and radiation lessons, training in human behaviour and performance, winter survival exercises and initial spacewalk training familiarisation.