New class of European Space Agency astronauts announced

Three Britons, including the first-ever “paraastronaut”, are part of the European Space Agency’s first new astronaut group in nearly 15 years.

John McFall, Rosemary Coogan and Megan Christian were included in the list of 17 men and women selected from 22,523 applicants.

They hope to follow in the footsteps of current British astronaut Tim Peake, who spent six months on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2016.

A father of three, McFall, 41, had to have his right leg amputated after a motorcycle accident at the age of 19.

He learned to run again and became a professional track and field athlete in 2005 before winning a bronze medal for Team Great Britain in the 100m at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

Reaching for the stars: Three Britons, including the first-ever

Reaching for the stars: Three Britons, including the first-ever “paraastronaut”, are part of the European Space Agency’s first new astronaut group in nearly 15 years. John McFall (pictured), Rosemary Coogan and Meghann Christian were named in class 17.

Rosemary Coogan

Megan Christian

John McFall, Rosemary Coogan (pictured left) and Megan Christian (right) were selected from 22,523 applicants.

WHO CREATED THE NEW ESA ASTRONAUT COHORT?

Astronaut career

  • Rosemary Coogan – UK
  • Sophie Adeno – France
  • Pablo Alvarez Fernandez – Spain
  • Raphael Liegeois – Belgium
  • Marco Sieber – Switzerland

Cosmonauts-reservists

  • Megan Christian – UK
  • Nicola Winter – Germany
  • Markus Wandt – Sweden
  • Antea Comellini – Italy
  • Sara Garcia Alonso – Spain
  • Andrea Patassa – Italy
  • Carmen Possnig – Austria
  • Arnaud Prost – France
  • Amelie Schönenwald – Germany
  • Alesh Svoboda – Czech Republic
  • Slavos Uznanski – Poland

Disabled astronaut

Mr McFall has a background in sports and exercise and holds a bachelor’s degree from Swansea University.

He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 2016 and is currently the Registrar of Trauma and Orthopedics based in the South of England.

People with disabilities were previously excluded from one of the most exclusive and demanding jobs on earth – and beyond – due to strict eligibility requirements.

But after conducting a feasibility study, the ESA said potential candidates could include people with lower limb defects, whether from amputations or birth defects.

Ms Coogan holds two master’s degrees from the University of Durham and a PhD in astronomy from the University of Sussex.

From a young age, she spent several weeks a year away from home aboard military training vessels and land bases as a Cadet Chief of the Sea Cadets from 2002 to 2009.

In her spare time, she enjoys rowing, scuba diving, hiking, cycling, kayaking and yoga.

Her other interests include playing the piano, cooking, board games and spending time with family and friends.

The 2022 ESA astronaut class was announced at 1540 CET (1440 GMT) during the agency’s ministerial council in Paris.

Ms. Coogan is one of five professional astronauts selected to begin active training.

Others include Sophie Adenot from France, Pablo Alvarez Fernandez from Spain, Raphael Liegeois from Belgium and Marco Sieber from Switzerland.

Ms. Christian is one of 11 reservist astronauts who will continue their regular work and will not immediately start training astronauts, although they may be called up later.

Among them are also Nicola Winter from Germany, Markus Wandt from Sweden, Anthea Comellini from Italy, Sara Garcia Alonso from Spain and Andrea Patassa from Italy.

Carmen Possnig from Austria, Arno Prost from France, Amelie Schönenwald from Germany, Ales Svoboda from the Czech Republic and Slavos Uznański from Poland round out the class.

Ready to launch: the European Space Agency introduced its new class of astronauts

Ready to launch: the European Space Agency introduced its new class of astronauts

They were announced at the Ministerial Council of the European Space Agency in Paris.

They were announced at the Ministerial Council of the European Space Agency in Paris.

The British decided to follow in the footsteps of Helen Sharman and Tim Peake, ESA's first British astronaut.

The British decided to follow in the footsteps of Helen Sharman and Tim Peake, ESA’s first British astronaut.

ESA CRITERIA FOR ASTRONAUTS

To be eligible to apply, an individual must:

  • have a master’s degree (or higher) in science, medicine, engineering, mathematics, or computer science OR have a test pilot qualification
  • speak English
  • have a good knowledge of a second language
  • be calm under pressure and be willing to participate in life science experiments
  • be flexible about where you work

Ms Christian also holds Italian, Australian and New Zealand citizenship in addition to her British citizenship.

She attended the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia and graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Chemistry.

From 2018 to 2019, Ms Christian worked as a scientist at Concordia Station in Antarctica. She returned there again from October 2020 to January 2021.

Ms. Christian’s favorite sports include rock climbing, rafting and scuba diving.

She has a black belt in Hapkido and enjoys sewing, knitting and crocheting.

The new astronaut reservist is also an avid singer and an active member of several choirs, where she has served as a board member and assistant choreographer.

ESA’s new professional astronauts will begin work at the European Astronaut Center in Cologne, Germany.

After completing 12 months of basic training, new astronauts will be ready to begin the next phase of training on the space station, and once assigned to a mission, their training will be tailored to the specific tasks of the mission.

They will first fly to the ISS, but may eventually go to the Moon or even further.

ESA has provided three astronaut trips to the Lunar Gate, which is to be built in orbit around the Moon, and hopes to be able to send Europeans to the surface of our natural satellite in the future.

Applicants were only eligible if they were test pilots or had a master’s degree or higher in science, medicine, engineering, mathematics, or computer science.

Fluency in English was also essential, as was the ability to remain calm under pressure and a willingness to participate in life science experiments.

The largest number of applications came from France (7,087), followed by Germany (3,695) and the UK (2,000).