Hi, It's Matt For only the fourth time ever,
the European Space Agency has opened up applications to become an astronaut!
And this time round they’re inviting a much wider range of people to apply,
Because lots of the requirements you might expect aren’t there!
You don’t have to be a pilot, young, American, or as fit as an olympic athlete,
and you can even apply if you’ve got a physical disability!
So maybe you’re eligible without even realising, let’s see!
While NASA in the USA and Roscosmos in Russia might be the agencies you
think of when it comes to human space flight, they’re not the only ones!
ESA, the European Space Agency has had their own astronauts Since the 1970s,
but they haven’t been open for applications since 2008.
If you didn’t know, I’m a massive spaceflight fan. And my inner child who wanted to be an
astronaut is very excited that the chance has got that little bit closer for me,
and even more closer for some of my friends!
Lets go through the requirements,
and for comparison, I’ll keep track of how eligible I am as I go.
Firstly, this rare chance is only open for people with citizenship in one of 24 countries:
The 22 ESA member states, or the two ESA Associate states.
I’ll point out here that ESA and the EU are independent. They’re separate organisations.
As for professional qualifications you have to have either:
A Masters degree In medicine, engineering, maths,
natural sciences or computer sciences, OR
Be a qualified experimental test pilot or test engineer.
And you’ll need 3 years postgrad professional experience
And to be fluent in english.
There’s no requirement to be a pilot, unlike in some programs!
Next, are the Physical requirements:
You have to be under 50 years old. Which is actually the largest age range
I’ve seen in an astronaut selection, last time the maximum age was in the late 30s!
You must be able to get a Class 2 Private Pilot medical certificate.
You don’t have to be a pilot, just fit enough to be a private one.
This includes eyesight in line with the private pilot requirements
Before COVID, I had actually started learning to fly, and will need one
of these to continue doing it. If I can get one in before the
Astronaut applications close I might let you know how I get on.
You also need A “Normal weight” BMI as defined by the WHO.
Good hearing No dependency on
drugs, alcohol or tobacco No psychiatric disorders
And a height Between 150 and 190cm tall,
to enable assignment to space missions using current technology.
Notice that while it’s important to be healthy,
ESA does not look for extreme fitness or high-level athletes.
The last set of requirements are based on what you’d end up doing as an astronaut.
So you’ need to be comfortable with the following:
Arduous Physical exertion Swimming
Parabolic flight training in the Vomit Comet Extensive underwater training - For spacewalks
they train underwater for full 8 hour days! Learning to drive if you can’t already
Teamwork under stress Risk Management
They’re understandably looking for people with specific traits, but this time the
pool of people who can apply is a lot wider! There are two different application routes:
Astronaut And Astronaut with Physical Disability.
Through the Astronaut application process, they’re looking for 4-6 career astronauts,
And in another new move, a pool of 20 reserve astronauts.
The reserve astronauts will come from everyone
who successfully completed the full astronaut hiring process,
But won’t be immediately recruited. They can keep their current job,
but can be called in for specific spaceflight missions if and when they come.
This is intended for temporary or one-off missions:
For example commercial missions, more than what ESA normally does on the ISS,
or anything else that ESA may do.
ESA are the first space agency to have a ParAstronaut Feasibility Project, and they’ve used
Paralympic classifications as a basis.
Both the Astronaut and Astronaut with physical
disability application have the same main requirements,
but this new role allows people with Lower limb deficiencies,
leg length difference, or short stature under 130cm to apply too!
They’ll be conducting extensive research into whether adjustments
to space vehicles or space stations are needed or possible, to fly safely.
Do you want to apply? You’ve got until 28th May 2021.
I’m too big and not qualified enough, so you’ve got one less person in your way!
Have a look in the video description below, I’ve put links to more information about the
requirements, what the astronauts will be doing, and how to apply!
Thanks for watching! I’m @MattGrayYes on all the socials,
And if you want to buy my merch it’s at shop.mattg.co.uk