spacetoday.net: ESA selects new astronaut class

ESA selects new astronaut class

Posted: Sat, Nov 26, 2022, 8:38 AM ET (1338 GMT)
The European Space Agency announced a new class of 17 astronauts Wednesday. The class, the first selected by ESA since 2009, includes five "career" astronauts will will join ESA full time and start training next year, becoming available for future ISS assignments. Eleven are considered "reserve" astronauts who will keep their current jobs but receive some training and be eligible to be called up if needed for future missions. The last member of the class, John McFall, is a "parastronaut" candidate who will participate in a feasibility study to determine if people with physical disabilities can participate in space flights. The new class joins ESA's seven current active astronauts.