European Space Agency adds 5 new astronauts in only fourth class since 1978. Over 20,000 applied

For the past year, five fit, academically superior men and women have been spun in centrifuges, submerged for hours, deprived temporarily of oxygen, taught to camp in the snow, and schooled in physiology, anatomy, astronomy, ...
On Monday, the five Europeans and an Australian graduated from basic training with a new title: astronaut.

At a ceremony in Cologne, Germany, ESA added the five newcomers to its astronaut corps eligible for missions to the International Space Station, bringing the total to 11.

ESA has negotiated with NASA for three places on future Artemis moon missions, although those places will likely go to the more senior astronauts, according to ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. The agency is also supplying the for the Orion crew capsule. ESA relies on NASA and others to get its astronauts to space.
It is only the fourth astronaut class since 1978 for the 22-country agency, chosen from among 22,500 applicants. Another twelve were selected as reservists, but were not sent to basic training. Not surprisingly, the five have resumes studded with advanced scientific and medical degrees, , experience flying planes, helicopters, gliders and balloons, and "leisure" activities like rowing, scuba diving, hiking, skydiving, cycling, sailing, and kayaking,

The group formed "a very good team" devoid of personal rivalry, said Aschbacher. "I told them, one of you will fly first and one will fly last, and they accepted that of course, but from the heart, not just lip service ... the team spirit is very pronounced."

From left, Rosemary Cooga of Britain, Sophie Adenot of France, Raphael Liegeois of Belgium, Pablo Alvarez Fernandez of Spain, Katherine Bennell-Pegg of Australia and Marco Sieber of Switzerland, pose for a family photo at the graduation ceremony of astronaut candidates of the Class of 2022 at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, Monday, April 22, 2024. The new ESA astronauts took up duty at the European Astronaut Centre one year ago to be trained to the highest level of standards as specified by the International Space Station partners. Also concluding a year of astronaut basic training is Australian astronaut candidate Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who has trained alongside ESA's candidates. Credit: AP Photo/Martin Meissner

From left, Sophie Adenot of France, Raphael Liegeois of Belgium, Rosemary Cooga of Britain, Pablo Alvarez Fernandez of Spain, Katherine Bennell-Pegg of Australia and Marco Sieber of Switzerland, stand at the graduation ceremony of astronaut candidates of the Class of 2022 at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, Monday, April 22, 2024. The new ESA astronauts took up duty at the European Astronaut Centre one year ago to be trained to the highest level of standards as specified by the International Space Station partners. Also concluding a year of astronaut basic training is Australian astronaut candidate Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who has trained alongside ESA's candidates. Credit: AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Marco Sieber of Switzerland arrives to an interview after the candidates of the Class of 2022 graduation ceremony at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, Monday, April 22, 2024. ESA astronaut candidates Sophie Adenot of France, Pablo Alvarez Fernandez of Spain, Rosemary Coogan of Britain, Raphael Liegeois of Belgium and Marco Sieber of Switzerland took up duty at the European Astronaut Centre one year ago to be trained to the highest level of standards as specified by the International Space Station partners. Also concluding a year of astronaut basic training is Australian astronaut candidate Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who has trained alongside ESA's candidates. Credit: AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg of Australia smiles during the candidates of the Class of 2022 graduation ceremony at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, Monday, April 22, 2024. ESA astronaut candidates Sophie Adenot of France, Pablo Alvarez Fernandez of Spain, Rosemary Coogan of Britain, Raphael Liegeois of Belgium and Marco Sieber of Switzerland took up duty at the European Astronaut Centre one year ago to be trained to the highest level of standards as specified by the International Space Station partners. Also concluding a year of astronaut basic training is Australian astronaut candidate Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who has trained alongside ESA's candidates. Credit: AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Astronaut Rosemary Coogan of Britain speaks during the candidates of the Class of 2022 graduation ceremony at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, Monday, April 22, 2024. ESA astronaut candidates Sophie Adenot of France, Pablo Alvarez Fernandez of Spain, Rosemary Coogan of Britain, Raphael Liegeois of Belgium and Marco Sieber of Switzerland took up duty at the European Astronaut Centre one year ago to be trained to the highest level of standards as specified by the International Space Station partners. Also concluding a year of astronaut basic training is Australian astronaut candidate Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who has trained alongside ESA's candidates. Credit: AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Astronaut Sophie Adenot of France talks to the Associated Press after the candidates of the Class of 2022 graduation ceremony at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, Monday, April 22, 2024. ESA astronaut candidates Sophie Adenot of France, Pablo Alvarez Fernandez of Spain, Rosemary Coogan of Britain, Raphael Liegeois of Belgium and Marco Sieber of Switzerland took up duty at the European Astronaut Centre one year ago to be trained to the highest level of standards as specified by the International Space Station partners. Also concluding a year of astronaut basic training is Australian astronaut candidate Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who has trained alongside ESA's candidates. Credit: AP Photo/Martin Meissner