N° 53–2024: ESA Astronaut Reserve starts training in October

The first group of members of the ESA Astronaut Reserve - consisting of Sara García Alonso (Spain), Andrea Patassa (Italy), Arnaud Prost (France), Amelie Schoenenwald (Germany) and Aleš Svoboda (Czechia) - will arrive at EAC on 28 October.

A second group - consisting of Meganne Christian (UK), Anthea Comellini (Italy), John McFall (UK) and Carmen Possnig (Austria) - will start training on 13 January 2025.

This Astronaut Reserve training will cover selected modules of ESA’s one-year basic training programme , typically completed by career astronauts. The training will equip the members of the Astronaut Reserve with the skills needed to support Europe’s future space exploration and scientific research.

“This October, we are excited to launch a new phase in the development of Europe's Astronaut Reserve, further underscoring ESA’s commitment to support our Member States in their human spaceflight ambitions. By equipping these talented individuals with the necessary skills for future space missions, we are not only enhancing Europe’s readiness to adapt to the evolving landscape of human space exploration, but also positioning ourselves to lead in this rapidly developing domain,” said ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher.

The Astronaut Reserve training will include basic technical and operational skills, spacecraft systems, as well as survival exercises in water and winter conditions in preparation for potential emergency situations. Additionally, they will receive initial spacewalk training, including scuba diving in ESA's Neutral Buoyancy Facility. This underwater training simulates the conditions of a spacewalk, allowing astronauts to practice how to move and operate outside a spacecraft, such as when performing critical repairs or installing equipment on the International Space Station.

“We are looking forward to welcoming our members from the ESA Astronaut Reserve back to the European Astronaut Centre. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for Europe's space exploration ambitions,” said ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander. “This Astronaut Reserve training is designed not only to enhance the readiness of the astronaut reserve but also to ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of future space missions, driving progress and innovation in the field.”

On 23 November 2022, ESA selected the 17 members of the ESA astronaut class 2022. The five career astronauts - Sophie Adenot, Pablo Álvarez Fernández, Rosemary Coogan, Raphaël Liégeois, and Marco Sieber - completed their one-year basic training and officially graduated as ESA career astronauts in April 2024. The remaining 12 are part of the ESA Astronaut Reserve, standing ready for future missions and additional training. Two members of the Astronaut Reserve, Marcus Wandt and Sławosz Uznański, have been assigned to missions, with Marcus having completed his mission in February 2024 and Sławosz preparing for a mission scheduled for no earlier than spring 2025. 
Quotes from members of the ESA astronaut reserve here.

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