ESA recruits a new class of European astronauts (Forwarded)

European Space Agency
Press Release No. 12-2009
Paris, France 20 May 2009

ESA prepares for the next generation of human spaceflight and exploration by
recruiting a new class of European astronauts

ESA today presented the six individuals who will become Europe's new
astronauts. 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.

The new astronauts a

1. Samantha Cristoforetti, Italian
2. Alexander Gerst, German
3. Andreas Mogensen, Danish
4. Luca Parmitano, Italian
5. Timothy Peake, British
6. Thomas Pesquet, French

They were selected following a Europe-wide recruitment process that started
last year. Following thorough psychological, medical and professional
screening that started with 8413 valid applications, they are the first new
recruits to join the European Astronaut Corps since 1992 under this
second-ever astronaut selection carried out by ESA.

The choice of six was made taking into account flight opportunities planned
not only under ESA programmes and activities but also those planned in the
frame of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Italian Space Agency
(ASI) and NASA. This was done in agreement with the Italian authorities and
in accordance with the ESA Council decision in 2002 to create a single corps
of astronauts in Europe.

"We are at a turning point in ESA's human spaceflight activities. Last year,
with the launch of the Columbus laboratory and the Jules Verne Automated
Transfer Vehicle, ESA became a fully-fledged member of the International
Space Station partnership. We are now entering a new phase of utilisation of
the unique capabilities offered by the ISS and preparation for international
exploration of the Moon and beyond," said ESA Director General Jean-Jacques
Dordain.

"This new phase required the recruitment of young talent able to draw on the
experience gained by the existing astronauts, able to become, step by step,
the representatives of Europe in space who, together with their
international colleagues, will live, work, explore and bring back to planet
Earth and its citizens their unique experience, their accomplishments and
their confidence in the future. They all represent the generation that will
move from low earth orbit to the Moon," Dordain added.

"I am very proud of the result achieved with this selection," said Simonetta
Di Pippo, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight. "Proud, as a European, of the
calibre of the candidates, proud of the organisational efforts made by ESA
and in particular by the European Astronaut Centre. This result exceeds our
greatest expectations. Not only do we have a group of outstanding
astronauts; we also have a representation of European countries that
reinforces the support for human spaceflight and exploration in Europe." She
added: "With the ISS lifetime being considered for an extension to 2020 and
beyond, I believe today's selection of six new astronauts shows where Europe
stands."

"This is a very important day for human spaceflight in Europe," continued Di
Pippo. "These young men and women are the next generation of European space
explorers. They have a fantastic career ahead, which will put them right on
top of one of the ultimate challenges of our time: going back to the Moon
and beyond as part of the global exploration effort."

Europe's new astronauts will start their basic training at the European
Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. With ESA's ISS partners also
having completed or currently finalising their own recruitment campaigns,
they will also join a new class of international astronauts who will be
prepared for future space missions to the International Space Station from
2013 onwards.

For further information:

ESA Media Relations Office
Communication and Knowledge Department
Phone: + 33 1 5369 7299
Fax: + 33 1 5369 7690
Queries: Media @ esa.int

[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMRO90OWUF_index_1.html ]