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ESA Astronaut Class of 2022

In 2022, ESA selected 17 individuals to form a new class of astronauts. Among them, five astronaut candidates are currently undergoing basic training at the European Astronaut Centre in preparation for future space missions. Follow their journey as they train to become the next generation of space explorers.

Basic astronaut training

Houston, you’ve got visitors

Last week, members of ESA’s astronaut class of 2022 embarked on their first overseas field trip. They visited NASA’s facilities at the Johnson Space Centre (JSC) in Houston, Texas, USA, to get familiar with the environment where they will spend a significant part of their training once assigned to a mission.

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ESA Astronaut Class of 2022

Astronauts assemble: reserve reunion

The ESA astronaut class of 2022 was selected exactly a year ago. Most members of the astronaut reserve made their first visit as a group to the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany this week.

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Marcus Wandt

The story behind the Muninn mission patch

Patches are an integral part of every astronaut mission. Space agencies print out a cloth reproduction that astronauts wear during their flight, a tradition that started sixty years ago.

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Marcus Wandt

The astronaut in me

Becoming an astronaut was never a master plan for Marcus Wandt. There were many things that intrigued him as a kid, and while the idea was unlikely, it remained a captivating dream that took root and slowly grew stronger.

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Training

Between two worlds

Every week spent in a different place, in a different time zone. A myriad of training lessons, countless instructors, and never-before-seen technology. A life between airports, the new faces, the non-stop learning… and no time for lunch.

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Basic astronaut training

Sink or spacewalk

After three months of intensive training, ESA astronaut candidates Sophie Adenot, Rosemary Coogan, Pablo Álvarez Fernández, Raphaël Liégeois, and Marco Sieber have immersed themselves into the world of spaceflight and exploration, gaining valuable insights into their future roles.

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