Andrew Yee[_1_]
May 21st 08, 04:22 PM
ESA News
http://www.esa.int
19 May 2008
ESA astronaut recruitment now open
ESA has today opened applications for talented individuals wishing to become
an astronaut in the European Astronaut Corps. There has not been a selection
campaign since 1992, so this is a rare opportunity to be at the forefront of
ESA's human spaceflight programmes including future missions to the ISS, the
Moon and beyond.
Prospective candidates can now carry out the first step of the application
procedure by filling in details online at
http://www.esa.int/astronautselection
Applicants will be asked to enter some personal information and contact
details, and to upload a private-pilot medical examination certificate, from
an Aviation Medical Examiner who has been certified by their national
Aviation Medical Authority; or alternatively the ESA Medical Statement,
approved by a physician (see also specific requirements). Then within 24
hours the candidate will receive login details to fill in a detailed
application form.
The shortlisted candidates will then go through a series of additional
selection procedures. At the end of the process four candidates will be
invited to become members of the European Astronaut Corps and begin basic
training at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. The final
appointments will be officially announced in 2009.
The selection procedure includes:
* two stages of psychological and professional aptitude evaluation,
including behavioural and cognitive skills tests
* medical evaluation: including clinical examination by aero-medical
physicians and clinical specialists, laboratory screening tests, and special
procedures
* a formal interview: as potential ESA staff members, the astronaut
candidates will go before an ESA selection board for further professional
assessment
The ideal candidates should be competent in relevant scientific disciplines,
such as life sciences, physics, chemistry and medicine and/or be an engineer
or experimental test pilot, and should have demonstrated outstanding
abilities in research, applications or the educational field, preferably
including operational skills. A good memory and reasoning ability,
concentration, aptitude for spatial orientation and manual dexterity are
also prerequisites. Applicants should be fluent in English (Russian being an
asset) and should have high motivation, flexibility, team competence,
empathy with others and emotional stability.
"As a former astronaut I have been looking forward to the start of the
selection procedure with a great deal of anticipation," says Michel Tognini,
Head of the European Astronaut Centre. "With the recent additions of ESA's
Columbus laboratory to the ISS and the Automated Transfer Vehicle serving as
an ISS logistics spacecraft, European human spaceflight has now entered a
new era with respect to science and operations. Building on the past 30
years of experience of ESA astronauts, we now need high-calibre people to
spearhead ESA's vision of ISS exploitation and future human exploration of
our solar system."
Candidates from all 17 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) are
welcome to apply.
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM3TR0YUFF_index_1.html ]
http://www.esa.int
19 May 2008
ESA astronaut recruitment now open
ESA has today opened applications for talented individuals wishing to become
an astronaut in the European Astronaut Corps. There has not been a selection
campaign since 1992, so this is a rare opportunity to be at the forefront of
ESA's human spaceflight programmes including future missions to the ISS, the
Moon and beyond.
Prospective candidates can now carry out the first step of the application
procedure by filling in details online at
http://www.esa.int/astronautselection
Applicants will be asked to enter some personal information and contact
details, and to upload a private-pilot medical examination certificate, from
an Aviation Medical Examiner who has been certified by their national
Aviation Medical Authority; or alternatively the ESA Medical Statement,
approved by a physician (see also specific requirements). Then within 24
hours the candidate will receive login details to fill in a detailed
application form.
The shortlisted candidates will then go through a series of additional
selection procedures. At the end of the process four candidates will be
invited to become members of the European Astronaut Corps and begin basic
training at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. The final
appointments will be officially announced in 2009.
The selection procedure includes:
* two stages of psychological and professional aptitude evaluation,
including behavioural and cognitive skills tests
* medical evaluation: including clinical examination by aero-medical
physicians and clinical specialists, laboratory screening tests, and special
procedures
* a formal interview: as potential ESA staff members, the astronaut
candidates will go before an ESA selection board for further professional
assessment
The ideal candidates should be competent in relevant scientific disciplines,
such as life sciences, physics, chemistry and medicine and/or be an engineer
or experimental test pilot, and should have demonstrated outstanding
abilities in research, applications or the educational field, preferably
including operational skills. A good memory and reasoning ability,
concentration, aptitude for spatial orientation and manual dexterity are
also prerequisites. Applicants should be fluent in English (Russian being an
asset) and should have high motivation, flexibility, team competence,
empathy with others and emotional stability.
"As a former astronaut I have been looking forward to the start of the
selection procedure with a great deal of anticipation," says Michel Tognini,
Head of the European Astronaut Centre. "With the recent additions of ESA's
Columbus laboratory to the ISS and the Automated Transfer Vehicle serving as
an ISS logistics spacecraft, European human spaceflight has now entered a
new era with respect to science and operations. Building on the past 30
years of experience of ESA astronauts, we now need high-calibre people to
spearhead ESA's vision of ISS exploitation and future human exploration of
our solar system."
Candidates from all 17 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) are
welcome to apply.
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM3TR0YUFF_index_1.html ]