Posted: Thu, May 21, 2009, 6:27 AM ET (1027 GMT)
The European Space Agency announced Wednesday six new astronauts, including the first British and Danish members of the European astronaut corps. The six new European astronauts include British pilot Timothy Peake and Danish engineer Andreas Mogensen. The other new European astronauts include two Italians, Samantha Cristoforetti and Luca Parmitano; one German, Alexander Gerst; and France's Thomas Pesquet. The six, selected from over 8,400 candidates, are the first ESA astronauts selected since 1992. The six will begin training at the European Astronaut Centre in Germany for missions to the ISS, and potentially the Moon, starting in 2013.

Related Links:

•  BBC article
•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  Copenhagen Post article
•  Deutsche Welle article
•  ESA press release