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L’European Space Agency he announced 17 new astronaut candidatesincluding the first parastronaut of history, the Briton John McFall. There are 5 career astronauts – Sophie Adenot (France), Pablo Álvarez Fernández (Spain), Rosemary Coogan (UK), Raphaël Liégeois (Belgium) and Marco Sieber (Switzerland) – and 11 reserve ones, including the Italians Anthea Comellini And Andrea Patassa.
The physically disabled astronaut candidate will participate in the Parastronaut Feasibility Project to develop options for the inclusion of physically disabled astronauts in human spaceflight and possible future missions.
The 2022 class that will take up training in Cologne next year was presented in Paris by ESA Director General Joseph Aschbacher: the agency had not recruited for 13 years, in the previous one of 2009 Samantha Cristoforetti and Luca Parmitano had been selected. These are the words of David Parker, Human & Robotic Exploration Director:
It is an extraordinary moment for human spaceflight and for Europe. Following the successful launch of Artemis I with ESA’s European Service Module propelling Orion towards the Moon, we are at the forefront of human space exploration. We are delighted to have this highly talented group of people to advance European science and operations on the International Space Station and beyond.
After a year of preparation, the 5 career astronaut candidates will begin training for the ISS. Those selected to board the station in orbit will receive further training on specific tasks to be performed on board. The 11 reserves will not participate in the training but will receive a consultancy contract and will be trained in case they are assigned to a mission.
During the presentation event of the new class of astronauts, ESA announced the 17% increase in the budget to strengthen its presence in space. Europe’s independent access to space is defined as crucial for ensuring the benefits that space brings to life on Earth – including climate change monitoring and mitigation, safe navigation and communications under European control, and rapid and resilient crisis responses.
ESA has also announced that it will continue to participate in missions to the ISS until 2030.
- Climate: 2.7 billion euros. Among the missions are ESA’s new Earth Explorer, Harmony, which will provide data on the dynamics of oceans, land and ice, and MAGIC, which will measure the volume of water in oceans and glaciers.
- Scientific programme: €3.2 billion. We will work on the Cosmic Vision program in anticipation of Voyage 2050.
- Space exploration: 2.7 billion euros. Primarily for Terrae Novae mission to low Earth orbit, the Moon and Mars.
- Connectivity on Earth: 1.9 billion euros.
- Space security: €731 million.
- Space transport: budget increased to 2.8 billion euros, especially for Ariane 6 and Vega-C.
- Technology: budget increased to 542 million euros.
ESA will be present on the Lunar Gateway with three astronauts: among these there will be one between Samantha Cristoforetti and Luca Parmitano, according to the provisions of the formal commitment of the space agency.
[…] Italy has been guaranteed a flight to the Lunar Gateway for an Italian astronaut from the class of 2009.
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