Britons hoping to take their career to new heights are being encouraged to apply to become the UKs next astronaut in a recruitment drive launched on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
For the first time in over a decade, the European Space Agency (ESA) is on the lookout for astronauts to join its latest cohort of space explorers.<\/p>\n
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People of any age and walk of life are invited to enter the rigorous screening and selection process, so long as they are fit, healthy and calm under pressure.<\/p>\n
Experience of the space sector is not essential, but candidates will at least need a relevant Masters degree or to be qualified as an experimental test pilot and qualify as a parastronaut.<\/p>\n
There is also special call for candidates with physical disabilities and from diverse backgrounds to apply to the programme.<\/p>\n
British astronaut Major Tim Peake, who in 2015 became the first British astronaut to take part in a spacewalk, is piloting the new campaign.<\/p>\n
Major Peake said: Over the next few years and decades, space exploration will become even more exciting as we travel back to the Moon and even further to Mars.<\/p>\n
For space missions to succeed, they require highly motivated people from diverse backgrounds to combine their skills and work as a team.<\/p>\n
The Governments Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, Amanda Solloway, said the UK aims to be seen as a leading space-faring nation.<\/p>\n
After intensive training, which will include a three-week caving exercise and a course in practical geology, the new astronauts will take their first flights into space when they are deployed to the International Space Station.<\/p>\n
Applications will open at the end of next month and stay open until the end of May.<\/p>\n
There will then be a 17-month process of psychological, practical, psychometric and medical screening and testing, before the successful applicants are appointed in October 2022.<\/p>\n
They are likely to be part of the crew on the ESAs next missions to the moon in the late 2020s and throughout the 2030s.<\/p>\n
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Space exploration recruitment drive: Could you be the UKs next astronaut? - iNews<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Britons hoping to take their career to new heights are being encouraged to apply to become the UKs next astronaut in a recruitment drive launched on Tuesday. For the first time in over a decade, the European Space Agency (ESA) is on the lookout for astronauts to join its latest cohort of space explorers Continue reading