Diversity in space comes to the fore as ESA announces new astronauts

The European Space Agency has unveiled the next generation of astronauts after its first recruitment campaign in more than a decade.

When it launched last year, more than 22,000 applicants signed up in hopes of making the world’s grumpy tires disappear.

Now Europe’s response to NASA has unveiled the Astronaut Class of 2022, which includes professional astronauts, astronaut reserve members, and astronauts with physical disabilities for a feasibility project.

Two of the chosen ones, Rosemary Coogan and John McFall, are from the United Kingdom.

ESA was specifically looking for people with physical disabilities in an initial effort to determine what modifications to the space station would be needed to accommodate them.

McFall won a bronze medal in the 100-meter dash at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games and will participate in the Parastronaut Feasibility Project to better understand and overcome the barriers posed by physically disabled astronauts during spaceflight.

According to ESA, no major Western space agency has ever sent a paratronaut into space.

Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti said, “We didn’t evolve to go into space, so we’re all handicapped when it comes to space travel.

“What takes us from disability to space travel is just technology.

“This is a feasibility study and we’ll see what exactly is needed, how much it’s going to cost, but that’s the goal.”

Dan Huot, a spokesman for NASA’s Johnson Space Center, home to the US agency’s astronaut corps, said: “We at NASA are following ESA’s selection process for paraastronauts with great interest.”

ESA’s pioneering recruitment campaign did not specifically focus on ethnic diversity, but emphasized the importance of “representing all parts of our society”.

The European Bureau received applications from all 25 Member States and Associate Members, but most came from France, Germany, Great Britain and Italy.

During the two-day ESA council to be held in Paris from Tuesday to Wednesday, France, Germany and Italy also announced an agreement on Tuesday for a next-generation European space launch project as part of a clear effort to better compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and possibly other missile programs in the US and China.

What do you need as an astronaut?

NASA recently outlined some of the preferred skills for future moonwalkers.

Apparently you need technical and operational skills, but also “fun” and team players.

Those are the soft skills.

Some of the more elite requirements include a master’s degree in a STEM field from an accredited institution, or two years of work toward a Ph.D. in a related field of science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

Alternatively, you can go to a doctor or a doctor of osteopathic medicine. If none of these appeal to you, NASA will also consider someone who has completed a nationally recognized test pilot school program.