How do you become a European astronaut? #AstronautWeek https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👩🏽‍🚀" title="Woman astronaut (medium skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Woman astronaut (medium skin tone)">

Here are the key requirements https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Down pointing backhand index" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index"> https://spacecentre.co.uk/blog-post/how-do-you-become-an-astronaut/">https://spacecentre.co.uk/blog-post...

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👨🏻‍🚀" title="Man astronaut (light skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Man astronaut (light skin tone)"> @esa last recruited a class of astronauts in 2008, and the key requirements and statistics of that recruitment can tell us a lot about what it will take to be selected in the future. #AstronautWeek

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💻" title="Personal computer" aria-label="Emoji: Personal computer"> Basic requirements:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌍" title="Earth globe europe-africa" aria-label="Emoji: Earth globe europe-africa"> National of an @esa member state
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎂" title="Birthday cake" aria-label="Emoji: Birthday cake"> Aged 27-37 years old
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="📏" title="Straight ruler" aria-label="Emoji: Straight ruler"> Between 153 to 190 cm
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💬" title="Speech balloon" aria-label="Emoji: Speech balloon"> Fluent in English
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎓" title="Graduation cap" aria-label="Emoji: Graduation cap"> Degree in science, engineering or medicine
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🥼" title="Lab coat" aria-label="Emoji: Lab coat"> 3 years professional work experience in a related field
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎽" title="Running shirt with sash" aria-label="Emoji: Running shirt with sash"> Physical fitness appropriate for age

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💻" title="Personal computer" aria-label="Emoji: Personal computer"> In addition, the initial online application asked for preferred experiences including:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🛩️" title="Small airplane" aria-label="Emoji: Small airplane"> Pilot
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💬" title="Speech balloon" aria-label="Emoji: Speech balloon"> Language fluency in Russian, French, or German
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏙️" title="Cityscape" aria-label="Emoji: Cityscape"> Living and working abroad
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚑" title="Ambulance" aria-label="Emoji: Ambulance"> Medical or emergency responder
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧪" title="Test tube" aria-label="Emoji: Test tube"> Hands-on experimental research
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤿" title="Diving mask" aria-label="Emoji: Diving mask"> Sport activities

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💻" title="Personal computer" aria-label="Emoji: Personal computer"> The online application is just the start.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇬🇧" title="Flag of United Kingdom" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of United Kingdom"> In 2008, at the start of @esa& #39;s latest astronaut recruitment, 8,413 applications were successfully submitted, with 10% from Britain.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👨🏿‍🚀" title="Man astronaut (dark skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Man astronaut (dark skin tone)"> From this initial pool, only 900 applicants were invited to take additional tests.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="📘" title="Blue book" aria-label="Emoji: Blue book"> @astro_timpeake describes many of the cognitive puzzles that his class were tested on in his book: The Astronaut Selection Test Book. https://www.waterstones.com/blog/the-astronaut-selection-test-book-pit-yourself-against-these-exclusive-sample-questions">https://www.waterstones.com/blog/the-...

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧠" title="Brain" aria-label="Emoji: Brain"> Following the cognitive tests, and some additional questionnaires that explored the medical history and personality traits of the applicants, only 2% (190 applicants) of the initial pool were selected for further psychological testing.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🗒️" title="Spiral note pad" aria-label="Emoji: Spiral note pad"> After these tests, only 45 applicants were successful and passed on for further medical testing. After medical testing, only 22 were invited for final interviews with a panel of senior @esa managers.

Of these, only 10 applicants were interviewed by @esa& #39;s Director-General.